2022 ISSA International Awards Gala 

MGM Grand Las Vegas

Welcome Speech

Candy Alexander

Award Categories

Volunteer of the Year

Presented by ISSA Awards Committee Co-Chair, Mark Hahn.

Finalists:

• KJ. Patrice Sedjio
• Debi Caldwell
• Janelle R. Hsia

Professional of the Year

Presented by ISSA International Board Director, David Vaughn.

Finalists:

• Srikant Mantravadi 
  

Organization of the Year

Presented by ISSA International Board Director, Betty Burke.

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Chapters of the Year

Presented by ISSA International Board Director, Alex Grohman. 

Finalists:

• In the Small Chapter of the Year category
  • The Chattanooga Chapter
    
    
• In the Medium Chapter of the year category:
  • The Central Ohio Chapter
  • The Middle Tennessee Chapter
  • The Texas Alamo Chapter
  • The Minnesota Chapter
    
    
• In the Large Chapter of the Year category:
  • The Raleigh Chapter

   

ISSA Honor Roll

Presented by ISSA International Board Directors, Debbie Christofferson and Lee Neely.

 Honorees are:

• Colleen Murphy
• Glenn York
• Kurt Danis
• Mohamed N. El-Guindy
• Damion Suggs

President’s Award 

Presented by ISSA International Board President, Candy Alexander.

Finalists:

• Christopher Gorog – CEO/CTO of BlockFrame, host of the New Cyber Frontier Podcast, and a published author.
• Lawrence D. Abrams – Owner, founder and Editor in Chief of BleepingComputer.com
• Caroline Wong - Chief Strategy Officer at Cobalt & Host of Humans of InfoSec Podcast

ISSA Hall of Fame

Presented by ISSA International Board Directors, Bill Danigelis and Jimmy Sanders.

Inductees:

• Sandra Joyce
• Wendi Whitmore
• Dale Meyerrose
• Matthew Bishop
• Diane Janosek

ISSA Education Foundation

Presented by ISSA International Board Vice President and Education Foundation Vice President, Deb Peinert

In addition to our recognition tonight of our ISSA Award Winners and Fellows Designees, we also want to look to the future of our industry.  As many of you may be aware, the ISSA Education Foundation is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) public charity that raises funds each year to provide scholarships to college students studying for a degree or career in cyber security or a related field.  The Foundation also offers a training scholarship from SANS and Grant opportunities provided by Cloud Security Alliance for those looking for career advancement or to change careers focusing on cyber security.

This year the ISSA Education Foundation offered 4 scholarships, adding a one-time only scholarship in memoriam of Philippe Courtot, former Chairman and CEO of Qualys.

The Philippe Courtot Memorial Scholarship valued at $5,000

• This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate, Tiffany Dinh who is attending the University of Alabama, Huntsville.

The Howard A. Schmidt Memorial Scholarship valued at $3,500 and is awarded to an Undergraduate.

• This year’s scholarship recipient is Arisa Chue attending Stanford University.

The E. Eugene Schultz, Jr., Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a Graduate student, also valued at $3,500.

• This scholarship is awarded to Johanna Jacob from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

The last scholarship awarded by ISSAEF is the Shon Harris WIS Memorial Scholarship.  This $2,000 scholarship is awarded to a student at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

• This year’s awardee is Veronica Mitchell who is working on her doctorate at Capella University.

In addition to the Foundation scholarships, we help run scholarship programs for ISSA chapters.  This year we offered scholarships for the ISSA Alamo Chapter and ISSA Metro Atlanta Chapter.

• The Alamo George "Chip" Meadows Memorial Scholarship for $1,500 is awarded to Johanna Jacob who is attending the University of Texas, San Antonio.
  
  
• The Alamo Women's Scholarship, valued at $1,000, is awarded to Constance Ross who is also attending the University of Texas, San Antonio.
  
  
• The Alamo Minority Scholarship, also for $1,000, is awarded to Melissa Gallego from the University of Texas, San Antonio.
  
  
• The Alamo 2-year College Scholarship for $500, is awarded to Izaiah Medina attending St. Philips College.
  
  
• The Metro Atlanta ISSA Chapter awarded the Metro Atlanta Kennesaw University Scholarship, valued at $1,000 to Akintayo Awoye, attending Kennesaw State University.

CSA Professional Development Grant, totaling $2,000.

These grants are awarded to an information technologist interested in a promotion, professional development, career enhancement, or any individual wanting to transition into cybersecurity.  This year two $1,000 grants were awarded to: 

• Shandrienne Campbell who will use this grant towards the Security +.
  
  
• Anna Seitz who will use her grant toward the SANS MGT525: Managing Cybersecurity Initiatives and Effective Communication course.

SANS E. Eugene Schultz, Jr. Memorial Training Scholarship. 

The applicant must choose an On Demand SANS course and describe how they will benefit.  

• The recipient of this scholarship was awarded to Daria Pop who will be taking the On Demand version of FOR610: Reverse-engineering Malware:  Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques course.

ISSA Senior Members

ISSA Senior Membership is reserved for those ISSA Members with 8 years or more of professional experience, who are endorsed by their ISSA chapter and have 5 years or more of membership in the ISSA.

This year we elevated the following ISSA Members to ISSA Senior Member status:

• Kelly Wise
• Marcia Mangold
• Susan Richards
• Ricardo Soler
• John D. Johnson
• Jonathan Weaver
• Eric Smith
• Timothy Thatcher
• Eric Bailey
• Jim Henderson
• Daniel Almadani
• Art Cooper
• Bruce Heard
• Melissa Langlois
• Bruce Heard
• Sean McElroy
• Gordon Glenn
• Parcero Mangente
• Steve Stewart
• Kyle P. Johnson
• Grzegorz Cenkier
• Alan Hautea
• Ernest Campos
• Ashley Barton
• Deborah Caldwell
• Brian Ngac 

ISSA Fellows

Presented by ISSA International Board COO, Dr. Shawn Murray.

Next, we are pleased to recognize our new ISSA Fellow.  Becoming an ISSA Fellow is a highly selective process.  Only 2% of the ISSA active membership can become an ISSA Fellow.

2022 Fellows

• Don Baham
• Curtis Coats
• Laura Harder
• Sidney Spunt
• David Vaughn
• Lora Woodworth

ISSA Distinguished Fellows

Presented by ISSA International Board President, Candy Alexander.

Lastly tonight we celebrate those who have earned our highest designation of Distinguished Fellow.  To become an ISSA Distinguished Fellow is an extremely selective process, only 1% of the ISSA active membership can become an ISSA Distinguished Fellow.

2022 Distinguished Fellows

• Kurt Danis
• Elliot Franklin
• Colleen Murphy
• Karen Worstell

Board Recognition

Wrap Up

Closing Dessert Reception