Agenda
Meetings will take place at the Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel. The agenda is subject to change. All times listed are Eastern time.
Attending this conference earns you credits toward your NTCA certificate for course code T110, T101 and B113. Learn more about NTCA certificate programs.
11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Registration and Information
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Preconference Workshop I
Spot the Threat: Hands-On Log Analysis and Security Investigation
Dan Burwitz, Cybersecurity Manager, Vantage Point Solutions
Ann Scripture, Cybersecurity Engineering Analyst, Vantage Point Solutions
Logs are one of the most valuable yet underutilized sources of cybersecurity intelligence. In this interactive workshop, through real-world scenarios and hands-on exercises, attendees will learn how to review and interpret common log sources to uncover unauthorized access, brute-force attacks, malware activity and other security events. Whether you are new to security operations or looking to sharpen your investigative skills, you will leave with practical techniques and repeatable workflows you can immediately apply in your own environment.
Presented by
2:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Preconference Workshop II
Defend Your Network: Outsmarting Cyberthreats in Modern Telecom
Matt Barrett, Chief Operations Officer, CyberESI
Jill Canfield, Senior Counsel, Womble Bond Dickinson
Joseph Drissel, CEO/Founder, CyberESI
Stephen Sharbaugh, Associate, Womble Bond Dickinson
Matthew Smith, Director of Risk Controls Assessments, CyberESI
Cybersecurity and privacy countermeasures are required to protect the modern telco. Join Womble Bond Dickinson and CyberESI as we explore real-world tactics hackers are actively using today to breach telcos and the countermeasures that can stop them. We will expose the most vulnerable attack surfaces, reveal how threat actors bypass controls and challenge you to rethink your cybersecurity strategy and investments to withstand regulatory scrutiny and evolving threats. Come prepared for collaborative “group think.” Our session begins and ends with group and room-wide discussion.
Presented by:
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
First-Time Attendee Session
Gene de Vore, Director of Data Operations, Consolidated Business Services, LLC
Lorna Gilmore, Policy Analyst, NTCA
New to the conference? Join conference veterans and staff for a rundown of what to expect, and connect with fellow first timers before the Welcome Reception.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Meet and greet other attendees who are ready to implement protective measures for their customers, networks and companies.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Networking Event: An Evening at Pins Mechanical Co.*
Join your fellow CyberShare Summit attendees for an evening at Pins Mechanical Co. in downtown Columbus. Pins features small-ball games like duckpin bowling and an extensive collection of pinball games, as well as other arcade games. Relax, catch the football game and network with your fellow attendees in the lounge space at Pins while enjoying a buffet dinner.
*There is no cost to attend the event, but attendees must register for the event with the conference registration.
Sponsored by: 
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7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Registration and Information
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet
8:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Opening General Session
Rural Broadband Partners Panel
Brain Ford, Vice President – Federal Regulatory, NTCA
Maribeth Collins, Vice President, Legislative Affairs, Competitive Carriers Association
Brian O’Hara, Senior Director Regulatory Affairs – Telecommunications & Broadband, NRECA
Stephen Sharbaugh, Assistant General Counsel, RWA
Bill Tortoriello, Vice President of Technology and Policy, ACA Connects
Hear from leaders representing the rural broadband partner associations as they discuss the latest regulatory developments, policy priorities and industry trends shaping the broadband landscape. This panel will provide valuable perspectives on emerging issues and what they mean for the cybersecurity, operations and future of rural broadband providers.
Supply Chain Impacts on Cybersecurity
Jerry Cederlund, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Supply Chain, Calix
Daniel Lindley, Cybersecurity Services Director, JSI
Todd Jackson, Director of Workforce Development, Fiber Broadband Association
Cybersecurity extends beyond your network to the vendors and suppliers you rely on every day. This session will explore how supply chain disruptions and vendor risk can affect broadband providers, along with practical strategies for strengthening resilience.
Opening Keynote: Building Cyber Readiness for What Comes Next
Chris Tignor, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft
AI may be accelerating cyber risk, but the fundamentals of readiness remain the same. In this keynote, Microsoft’s Chris Tignor will explore a sustainable approach to understanding risk, protecting critical systems, detecting threats and preparing to respond and recover. Learn how collaboration through the CyberShare ISAC can help rural broadband providers identify threats earlier, share lessons learned and strengthen their collective resilience, whatever the next cyber challenge brings.
10:30 a.m. – Noon
Firewall-Free Forums: Roundtable Discussions
Engage in small group discussions on the topics that matter most to you. Over three rounds of conversations, ask, share, and listen as you gain access to the wisdom of the crowd.
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Group Lunch
Critical Decisions Game Session
Critical Decisions is a fast-paced, interactive cybersecurity card game that challenges players to make tough decisions during realistic cyber incidents. Working through scenarios such as ransomware, phishing, insider threats, and system compromises, participants will select response cards, defend their choices, and discuss the tradeoffs with the group. Bring your lunch or come once you finish to join this fun, hands-on way to strengthen your incident response skills.
1:30 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Threat Hunting With AI
Scott Kaylor, Manager Member Cybersecurity and Network Services, NISC
Threat hunting goes beyond automated detection to proactively uncover hidden threats before they become incidents. Learn the fundamentals of threat hunting, how it differs from traditional monitoring and how large language models can accelerate investigations by identifying patterns and anomalies. The session will also examine the risks of AI-assisted security tools and strategies for using them responsibly and effectively.
Communicating Cybersecurity
Shira Dankner, Director of Security Services, NineStar Connect
David Schmid, Director of Engineering, INDATEL
Michael Vallejo, Chief Information Officer, NTCA
Jeff Walker, IT Manager, Pioneer Communications
Strong cybersecurity depends on more than technical expertise. It requires organization-wide understanding and support. Learn how to translate complex security concepts for nontechnical audiences, gain executive buy-in by framing discussions around business risk and build effective staff education programs.
2:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Strengthening Everyday Tools With Product Hardening
Frank Bulk, Chief Technology Officer, Premier Communications
Scott Kaylor, Manager Member Cybersecurity and Network Services, NISC
Wyatt Zochert, Director of Platform Security, Innovative Systems
Every application is part of your security posture. In this panel, broadband software vendors will share lessons learned and practical strategies for hardening common platforms and software solutions. Hear their best practices for managing access and reducing risk through secure implementation and ongoing administration.
User Management: Securing Identity Across the Organization
John Britton, Vice President of Channel Sales, SilverSky
Curtis Fry, Systems Administrator and Tier II Supervisor, Wabash Communications
Byron Tuley, Director, Regional Sales, NRTC
Effective user management is the foundation of a strong cybersecurity program. Explore best practices for managing identity and access rules, onboarding and offboarding, shadow IT, documentation and more in this practical session.
3:10 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Modernizing Legacy Systems
Matt Barrett, Chief Operations Officer, CyberESI
Shawn Rasmussen, Network and Project Manager, Consolidated Telephone Company
Seth Tabor, Chief Operating Officer, Syntrio Solutions
Legacy systems remain essential to many broadband operations but can introduce significant cybersecurity challenges. This session will examine common risks associated with aging technology, practical strategies for mitigating vulnerabilities and approaches for modernizing systems without disrupting critical business functions.
Building Internal AI Systems
James Borjes, System Operations Administrator, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative
Alex Luke, Business Intelligence Architect, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative
Eric Whiting, Vice President of Innovation and Operations, Hill Country Telephone Cooperative
AI can help cybersecurity teams work smarter by automating repetitive tasks, accelerating investigations, and improving threat analysis. This session explores how the team at Hill Country Telephone Cooperative are developing their own AI tools in-house, their journey overcoming roadblocks and lessons learned through the process.
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
CyberShare Networking Discussion
Scott Algeier, Founder, President and CEO, Conrad, Inc.
Jonathan Braley, Director, Threat Intelligence, Conrad, Inc.
Lorna Gilmore, Policy Analyst, NTCA
Asim Subedi, Cyber Threat Analyst, Conrad, Inc.
In this discussion, panelists will host a mock CyberShare meeting, allowing attendees to see the work and collaboration between active CyberShare participants as they host monthly meetings to learn industry-specific cybersecurity trends, potential threats and become aware of available resources to protect your company.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Networking Reception
8:00 a.m. – Noon
Registration and Information
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet
8:20 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
Sponsored Session
AI-Powered Social Engineering: Real Cases, Real Risks, Real Defenses
Michael Delucia, Fraud Director and Officer, CoBank
Bora Manzanares, Financial Crimes Manager, CoBank
Fraudsters are using AI to clone voices, create deepfakes and impersonate trusted individuals with alarming accuracy. This interactive session will feature a real-world case study, emerging attack trends and practical strategies to prevent customer, vendor and executive impersonation. Learn the tools, controls and best practices needed to protect your organization from the next generation of social engineering attacks.
Sponsored Session presented by
9:00 a.m. – Noon
Closing General Session
Cyber Fire Puzzles
Vincent Chu, Cyber Security R&D Sysadmin, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Gillian Hsieh Ratliff, Project Manager in Cyber Security R&D, Los Alamos National Laboratory
A laptop or tablet is required for workshop participation.
Led by expert security investigators from the United States Department of Energy, Cyber Fire Puzzles is a jeopardy-style forensic exercise. Participants will form small teams to work through a series of puzzle categories designed to reinforce technical knowledge in a “learning-by-doing” setting.