NEW YORK STATE CYBERSECURITY MANUFACTURING INITIATIVES GRANT
Spring 2025 Finger Lakes Cybersecurity Event
April 17, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Global Cybersecurity Institute, RIT, 1 Kimball Dr, Rochester, NY, 14623
Whether it’s due to industry standards, government requirements, an eye towards growth, or a desire to keep your business and client’s information protected, cybersecurity should be on the forefront of the priorities of every manufacturer.
We’re excited to bring you cybersecurity expert speakers and panelists for this event discussing:
- Why hackers are targeting manufacturers and what can happen if there is a breach
- How to improve your organization’s cybersecurity posture to protect your organization’s operations, personnel, intellectual property, client commitments, and customer data
- How the evolving CMMC guidelines will impact manufacturers in the future
If you are a manufacturer that wants to protect your sensitive information, the time is now for cybersecurity!
Agenda
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9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Breakfast & Registration
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9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Welcome
- Master of Ceremonies – Dr. Everton H. Henriques (FuzeHub)
- Welcome – Cory Albrecht (AIM)
- Welcome – Annette Brenner, (NextCorps)
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9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Speaker I
- Dr. Justin M Pelletier (RIT)
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10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Speaker II
- Paul LaPorte (AIM)
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10:50 AM - 11:45 AM
Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Dana Citron (OrbitalFire)
- Panelist: Dr. Justin M. Pelletier (RIT)
- Panelist: Paul LaPorte (AIM)
- Panelist: Annette Brenner (NextCorps)
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11:45 AM
Tour of the Global Cybersecurity Institute
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1:00 PM
Workshop Ends
Event Speakers
Dr. Justin M. Pelletier
Dr. Justin M. Pelletier – Professor of Practice and Director of the Cyber Range at the Rochester Institute of Technology
Justin M. Pelletier is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Cyber Range at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Dr. Pelletier teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Department of Cyber Security within RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. He also orchestrates security assessments for partner organizations and is the founding director for the NSA-funded National Consortium for Cyber Governance, Risk and Compliance, which is housed within RIT’s ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute. He holds a PhD in Information Assurance and Security, an MBA in Entrepreneurship, and a BS in Computer Science. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Pelletier was a civil servant in the intelligence community and a member of the modeling and simulations working group within the U.S. National Security Council. He is a combat veteran and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Pelletier has authored more than three dozen scholarly articles, book chapters, and patents focused on security and information economics.
Paul LaPorte
Paul LaPorte – Cyber Security Coordinator, Advanced Institute for Manufacturing
As an IT professional for 10 years, Paul has provided a variety of IT and Cyber Security solutions and training in the fields of engineering, manufacturing, education, commerce, insurance, and more. Paul has an A.S in Microcomputer Technologies: Technical Support and a B.S. in Network and Computer Security. Prior to joining AIM, Paul was the Interim Director of Information Technology at the Utica School of Commerce.
Dana Citron
Dana Citron – VP, Marketing, OrbitalFire Cybersecurity
Dana Citron is an experienced marketing leader within the B2B tech space. As Vice President of Marketing at OrbitalFire, Dana combines her master storytelling skills with her track record of delivering high-growth marketing performance to amplify OrbitalFire’s mission of simplifying, automating, and solving security challenges for the underserved – small businesses. Prior to OrbitalFire, Dana spent over 20 years leading marketing strategies at tech companies including CommerceHub, Channeltivity, and SommlHealth. Dana is also a sought-after speaker and moderator for both industry and charity events.
Annette Brenner
Annette Brenner – Senior Business Advisor, Growth Services, NextCorps
Annette identifies and develops new clients and projects as she promotes all of NextCorps’ manufacturing growth services to the region’s small- and mid-sized manufacturers. This includes finding the best service providers and potential funding resources for projects such as strategic business solutions and growth services, lean enterprises, quality management, market development, product design, and prototyping.
Prior to NextCorps, Annette has been a senior research engineer and global buyer for General Motors, graphic designer, lecturer, and has held multiple machine shop positions, from office to operations. Annette has chemical engineering degrees from The University of Akron and the University of Kentucky, and an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. Annette enjoys problem solving with the manufacturers in our region for the diverse products they make and with the wide range of service providers that partner on projects to provide solutions.
Cory Albrecht
Cory Albrecht – Director, Advanced Institute for Manufacturing
Since 2007 Cory has been assisting manufacturers in the Mohawk Valley Region through the New York State Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program as the Director of MVCC’s Advanced Institute for Manufacturing (AIM). In this role, Cory works with over 700 Mohawk Valley Regional manufacturers with the goal of helping them increase their competitiveness and grow businesses.
Dr. Everton H. Henriques
Dr. Everton H. Henriques – Director of Manufacturing and Technology Initiatives, FuzeHub
Dr. Everton H. Henriques is the Director of Manufacturing and Technology Initiatives at FuzeHub. His focus is helping the manufacturing community, general industry, start-ups, local colleges, and universities to advance innovation and technology. He is a co-founder and vice president of the former Panasonic Plasma Display Laboratory of America, Inc. (formerly Plasmaco, Inc.). In 1999 Plasmaco made the first full color 60-inch HD plasma display television in the world. Everton was an engineering manager at IBM’s Kingston plasma display manufacturing facility and spent 32 years in the plasma business. Everton was also a research chemist for Texaco, Inc. He received the BS and MA degrees in Chemistry, with emphasis in Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, from SUNY New Paltz. He received the IBM Business Decision Making (MBA Fundamentals) Certificate from the Darden School of Business at UVA. He received several invention awards from IBM and was inducted into the School of Business’ Hall of Fame at SUNY New Paltz in 2010. In May 2022 Everton provided the Commencement address at the State University of New York at New Paltz and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
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