
Houston CISO Community
Executive Summit
June 25, 2025 | Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria
June 25, 2025
Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria
Collaborate with your peers
Get together with Houston's top CISOs to tackle shared business challenges and critical priorities facing your role today. Participate in this one-day, local program with peer-driven topics and interactive discussions with your true C-level peers.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CISOs today:
Implementing and optimizing robust data sharing and lifecycle management practices
Equipping users with safely-integrated AI tools and practices
Charting the future of the CISO role amid increasing regulatory scrutiny and organizational shifts
Houston CISO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the summit agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CISOs, For CISOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Mike Coogan
Brinks Home
VP, IT Services & CISO

Doug Rinehart
Marigold
CISO

Anthony Souza
Corteva Inc
VP & CISO

Genady Vishnevetsky
Stewart Title Company
CISO

Joy Wangdi
LyondellBasell
Cybersecurity Trust Officer
What to Expect
Agenda
8:00am - 8:30am Registration & Breakfast
8:30am - 9:15am Keynote
Everyone Can Teach You Something – Mentoring Up, Down & Horizontal

Bemi Anjous
CISO
Noble Corporation

Anthony Dayao
CIO
Motiva
Nobody knows everything, and everyone you meet can teach you something. This philosophy has served Bemi Anjous well throughout his cybersecurity career -- all the way from programmer to CISO -- allowing him to build meaningful relationships and find mentors across all levels of an organization.
In this insightful and motivating keynote address, Bemi reflects on how he learned to lead by "listening first" and developing a fearless mindset that inspires confidence and fosters connection with his team and his leadership at Noble Corporation and beyond, sharing lessons learned and tips he hopes will empower his CISO peers to excel not just as technology leaders, but also as people leaders.
9:15am - 9:40am Networking Break
9:40am - 10:25am Breakout Session
The State of the CISO Market
Hosted by Google Cloud Security

Jamey Cummings
Partner
JM Search

Linda Marcone
CISO & VP, Information Security
Crate & Barrel
The time to keep abreast of what's happening in the CISO market -- in Houston and beyond -- is not when you're ready to make your next move, it's now. Jamey Cummings, a partner at JM Search and co-leader of the firm’s security practice, brings us a frank conversation informed by what he's hearing from both organizations and CISOs as they go through the search process.
Join this session to hear insights and ask questions about:
- Understanding the dynamics and trends influencing the CISO market
- Calibrating requirements and expectations around hot topics like total compensation and protections for CISOs
- Preparing and positioning yourself -- or members of your team -- as a top candidate for that next opportunity
9:40am - 10:25am Executive Boardroom
Establishing Cyber Resilience Across the Cloud
Hosted by Rubrik

Tyler Baker
Regional VP, Sales Engineering - Enterprise West
Rubrik

Brad Hollingsworth
Senior Director, Cyber Security
Mattress Firm

Gordon Groschl
CISO and Director, Healthcare Technology Management
Texas Children's Hospital
In an era where users are ubiquitous and digital operations sit in the cloud and beyond, it’s key to move beyond a foundational security approach and focus on achieving cyber resilience. The task at hand involves navigating complexity and upholding visibility and control to ensure uninterrupted operation despite cyber threats.
Join this session to explore:
- Enhancing security and cost-effectiveness across diverse cloud environments
- Leveraging AI innovations while addressing global regulatory and data privacy standards
- Sharing best practices for implementing effective cloud operations across a global footprint
9:40am - 10:25am Executive Boardroom
Cutting Through the Noise – Bringing Clarity to Security

Zac Fletcher
Assistant VP, IT Security
Service Corporation International

Sven Hahues
CISO
University of Houston System
There's a lot of "noise" in cybersecurity every day: alerts, reports, emails, tickets, notices, checklists, meetings, etc. But all this activity doesn't automatically translate into forward progress, and CISOs know it's their job to find the meaning mixed up in all the noise to lead their teams with clarity.
Join your peers for a frank discussion about:
- Discerning the difference between true signals and noise
- Leveraging these signals to add meaningful context to security strategies
- Elevating risk conversations to move beyond checklists and frameworks
10:25am - 11:10am Networking Break
10:35am - 11:00am Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Peer-to-Peer Meetings
Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.
11:10am - 11:55am Breakout Session
Presenting with Impact – Crafting a Compelling Narrative
Hosted by Wiz

Keith Turpin
CISO
The Friedkin Group Inc

Stephanie Franklin-Thomas
VP & Global CISO
Medtronic

John Barrow
CISO & Senior Director, Cybersecurity
J.B. Poindexter

Charles Franklin
CTO, Assistant Superintendent of Technology Services & Information Services
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Gaining leadership buy-in for risk mitigation is not just about the metrics; it’s about the story. Truly impactful cybersecurity leaders work to reframe conversations about risk by not only developing consistent and quantifiable models, but also ensuring key stakeholders can understand risk on an emotional level, meeting ELT and board members where they are and equipping them to engage thoughtfully in risk discussions.
Join this session to hear from CISO peers who have a strong grasp on crafting compelling risk narratives and have collaborative table discussions focused on:
- Sharing best approaches for clear, impactful reporting that contextualizes risk
- Speaking the language of business to show alignment between cybersecurity objectives and organizational goals
- Identifying the key elements of risk reporting that build visibility and trust with top leadership
11:10am - 11:55am Executive Boardroom
Reducing Application Delivery Tech Debt from the Inside Out
Hosted by Island

Matt Pour
VP, Solutions Engineering
Island

Darwin Jebha
VP & CIO
Thermon Manufacturing

Jim Gatwood
Chief of Cybersecurity Architecture & Operations
CB&I

Rob Crawford
CISO
Hess
With high volumes of sensitive data now flowing through web browsers, three in five organizations say data leakage is likely given current IT and security infrastructures. Stop playing catch-up. Discover new approaches to enterprise operations to reduce risk while simplifying operations.
Join this roundtable to discover:
- How disparate IT and security solutions create technical debt
- What challenges impact internal and end user stakeholders
- How simplifying IT can strengthen security, and boost productivity
11:10am - 11:55am Executive Boardroom
Checking in on Your Operating Model

Marc Crudgington
VP, IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity
Crane Worldwide Logistics

Michael Schnabel
Vice President and Interim CIO
University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio
As enterprises rapidly accelerate their digital initiatives, CISOs are tasked with striking a delicate balance between implementing the right structures and strategies to safeguard organizational assets and delivering services and applications faster than ever before. How are CISOs updating their operating models and team structures to keep pace with the changing nature of business priorities and the changing technology landscape?
Join this conversation to hear how your peers are:
- Evolving security operating models to deliver better speed, agility and security while optimizing cost savings
- Assessing how their business units may evolve in line with new technological innovations
- Positioning their team as security advocates and demonstrating business value
11:55am - 12:30pm Lunch Service
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Houston CISO Community Executive Summit.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue & Accommodation
Hyatt Regency Houston GalleriaComplimentary valet parking provided by Gartner C level Communities
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria at a reduced conference rate. Reservations should be made online or by calling 832-803-1234. Please mention Houston CISO Executive Summit to ensure the appropriate room rate.
Deadline to book using the discounted room rate of $169 USD (plus tax) is June 2, 2025.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.