Tackling Cybersecurity: Building a Strong Foundation and Blocking Threats Ahead of the Pro Football Draft

John Stephens, CISSP, CRISC, CISA, CEH, Pentest+, Security+, ITIL Foundation
CISO, Convergence Networks

John has over 20 years of experience providing IT and security services across a broad range of industries, including government, not-for-profit, health care clients, professional services, hospitality, manufacturing and retail. His areas of specialty include compliance, IT security assessments, penetration testing, and strategic security consulting and security programs development. 

At Convergence Networks, John is responsible for the overall security posture and program for the organization, and he provides security input into our customer solutions.

John began his career implementing security and remote access solutions for small to medium size businesses in Michigan before moving to the Pacific Northwest where he joined a local Managed Services Provider, providing IT services to clients across a broad range of industries, supporting over 100 local area businesses and nearly 6,000 managed nodes. As a result, he has extensive experience and skill in designing and implementing secure solutions within all kinds of businesses, with all kinds of budgets, requirements, and regulatory environments including HIPAA, PCI, CMMC/DFARS, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and others.

This breadth of his experience has provided him a keen understanding of how best to direct and implement security in a manner that optimizes its impact while minimizing its overhead.

Art Thompson III 
Chief Information Officer (CIO), City of Detroit

Art Thompson is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the City of Detroit, Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). Prior to this appointment, Art served as the Director of Public Safety and Cyber Security for DoIT. Art is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Supply Chain Management. He has over fifteen (15) years of technical experience with the public safety environment and managing both union and non-union employees across multiple areas.

Art possess strong technical skills include radio management, Cyber Security, mobile technology, and desktop installation, as well as software and hardware maintenance. His responsibilities included, but were not limited to, managing Desktop Support, Mobility Support, Network Administration and Cyber Security Teams all of which he confidently championed. Art began his career with DoIT as the Manager for Mobility Support. His accomplishments as Manager further revealed his advanced technical skills and managerial abilities, which lead to his promotion to Director. After serving nearly three (3) years as Director, he further excelled in management and in handling budgetary issues. Art’s vision, dedication, motivation, and commitment to the City of Detroit, ultimately lead to his appointed as CIO.

Starting his career in the emergency response sector, Art quickly learned how to operate in the rapidly changing and demanding medical field. Quickly rising through the ranks to grow and develop in the private industry. Frequently traveling and working with various partners across the Midwest to help grow companies thru technical advancements.

Art is a result-driven, motivated and efficient technology professional. He is an effective communicator and presenter recommending solutions for top-level management. He is a resourceful big-picture thinker who confidently accomplishes business objectives through outstanding technical direction. Art is a proactive and committed individual recognized for his multi-tasking ability and getting the job done!