Our Story & Leadership

Connecting People to Purpose in Cybersecurity

CyberRISE was formed to address gaps in cybersecurity workforce development, clarity, and support through a coordinated, community-driven approach.

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Our Origin

Why CyberRISE exists.

Cybersecurity threats continue to grow in scale and complexity, while many organizations lack the resources, clarity, or workforce needed to respond effectively. Demand for skilled professionals continues to outpace supply. MSPs face increasing risk with limited support.

CyberRISE was formed by experienced cybersecurity practitioners who recognized these gaps — and chose to address them in ways that no single organization or program could alone.

Every program we run exists to close a specific, real gap — not to duplicate what already exists, but to address what the community actually needs.

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Our Values

The principles that guide every decision we make.

Our values aren't aspirational — they're operational. They shape how we design programs, engage partners, and report on outcomes.

Collaboration

We grow stronger by working side by side. The most resilient cybersecurity ecosystem is one built on shared effort, not competition.

Transparency

We communicate openly and share knowledge freely. Trust is built through honesty, consistency, and openness in everything we do.

Equity

We create access and opportunity for all. Cybersecurity is stronger when it draws from the full breadth of human talent and perspective.

Accountability

We follow through and deliver on our commitments. The communities and organizations we serve deserve nothing less than follow-through.

Long Term Impact

We track outcomes that last beyond today. Our programs and partnerships are designed for durable, lasting change.

Empowerment

We equip people to lead with confidence. Every student, practitioner, and MSP we serve should leave with tools, knowledge, and the ability to support others.

Our Vision

A resilient, accessible, and well-supported cybersecurity community.

We envision a world where every person who wants to contribute to cybersecurity has a clear pathway in, and every organization that needs support has a community to turn to.

Leadership & Governance

Accountable to the community we serve.

CyberRISE is led by experienced cybersecurity practitioners and governed by a board committed to responsible stewardship, transparency, and mission alignment. Per the CyberRISE charter, the Board of Directors cannot receive any financial gain from the organization.

Meet Our Board of Directors

Matt Lee

President

CISSP, CCSP, CFR, PNPT

Senior Director of Security and Compliance at Pax8. Cybersecurity evangelist, creator of the #lockitup movement, international speaker, author.

Robert Cioffi

Treasurer

CTO and Co-Founder of Progressive Computing, Inc. (1993). Seasoned public speaker and advisor, active in technology communities.

Jason Slagle

Secretary

Unix/Network engineer, President of CNWR, Inc. Specializes in Unix System Administration, Systems Automation with Puppet, Network Design, and Data Center design. Board member at MSPGeek, Inc.

Executive Director

Meet Our Executive Director

Stephen Kellogg