17th July 2025
Chicago, IL

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17th July 2025
Chicago, IL

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About The SJA Leaders in Security Conference

120+ senior professionals from the Americas security industry representing major commercial entities, regulatory bodies, infrastructural departments and more

30+ expert speakers exploring strategy, market challenges and opportunities

Fast-paced agenda covering multiple topics, from cybersecurity to supply chains

Prestigious conference venue in Chicago with well-connected transport links 

Interactive exhibition space, scheduled networking breaks, buffet-style lunch

Opportunities to meet with key stakeholders and industry decision makers

Innovative solutions on show from major industry providers and manufacturers

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Expand your network and directly interact with CEOs, Crisis Management Experts, Operations Directors, Senior Consultants, Risk & Resilience Advisors, Heads of Security and more…

Meet our Advisory Panel

Mike Gips

Michael Gips

Managing Director, ESRM – Kroll (Conference Chair)

Michael Gips is a decorated security professional, attorney, writer, journalist, researcher and business executive. He is Principal of Global Insights in Professional Security, where he consults for multinational corporations, security providers, academic institutions, utilities, law firms, non-profits, healthcare organizations and other businesses and agencies. He joined Kroll in January 2025 as a Managing Director in the ESRM division. Previously Mike served as the Chief Global Knowledge and Learning Officer for ASIS International. Mike has also recently served as Chief Strategy Officer for Emergence Technology Group, Senior Advisor for Cardinal Point Strategies, Senior Advisor for the Network Contagion Research Institute and Advisor for Risk 2 Resilience.

Peter Backman

Peter Bäckman​

Executive Director & Founder – TEDCAP

Peter Bäckman is the Executive Director and Founding Partner of TEDCAP, a leading consultancy specializing in risk management, crisis response and organizational resilience. With more than 30 years of award-winning expertise, Peter is widely recognized as a trusted authority in protecting high-net-worth individuals, government officials and political leaders, as well as safeguarding complex operations for multinational organizations, particularly within the Caribbean and Latin America. Peter has held various leadership positions within ASIS International, including serving as President of the Dominican Republic Chapter, Regional Assistant to the Vice President (ARVP) for the Caribbean region and as a member of the Latin America Mentoring Committee.
EricSeanClay

Eric Sean Clay ​

Vice President of Security – Memorial Hermann Health System

Eric Sean Clay is a transformational security executive with more than three decades of law enforcement and security experience. Eric is sought after as a SME in security issues, delivering presentations at international conferences, as well as frequently appearing in national publications and in media interviews on the topics of healthcare security and workplace violence. Eric serves as the Vice President of Security Services for the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, providing security leadership for 450 security and law enforcement officers at the System’s 17 hospitals and 250 care sites. He is also the current President of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS).

Dean Geribo website picture

Dean Geribo

Vice President, Corporate Security & Business Resilience – Moderna

Since 2020, Dean Geribo has been leading Moderna’s Corporate Security Department, where he oversees global strategies and operations. Prior to joining Moderna, Dean served as Chief Security Officer at Alcon, effectively managing a complex security portfolio that spanned 75 countries and over 20 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Dean’s career in security leadership includes nearly a decade with Novartis, where he advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, from executive protection to regional and business unit management at the middle and director levels. A former law enforcement professional and US Marine, Dean also contributes his expertise as an advisory and board member to organizations within the security and technology industries.

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Hector website image

Héctor Grynberg

Production Security Regional Director – Latin America, Warner Bros Discovery 

Héctor has been working in the private sector for more than 30 years, holding IT and security positions with responsibility across Latin America. He has a proven record of success in different industries and companies such as Nokia, IBM, Microsoft and Abbott Laboratories. He is currently working at Warner Bros Discovery as the Production Security Director for Latin America. Héctor is a member of the ASIS International, ISACA and ACFE organizations. At ASIS, he has been part of several committees responsible for the creation and review of ASIS/ANSI standards: among others, the CSO standard, the creation of the Supply Chain standard, the Security Awareness standard and the review of the Information Assets Protection Guideline. 

Kasia website picture

Kasia Hanson

Founder & CEO – KFactor Global Security Advisory

Kasia is a dynamic security leader with over 24 years of experience in Silicon Valley, specializing in technology and security modernization across physical and cybersecurity, IoT, OT and AI. As CEO and Founder of KFactor Global Security Advisory, she advises organizations on security modernization, advanced technology and business acceleration. During her tenure at Intel, she led global security ecosystem development, shaping technology and go-to-market initiatives.

Brian Harrell

Brian Harrell ​

Former Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection – US Department of Homeland Security 

Brian currently serves as the Vice President and Chief Security Officer (CSO) at AVANGRID, an energy company with assets and operations in 25 states. He is responsible for the company’s cybersecurity, physical security, privacy and resilience departments. In 2018, Brian was appointed by the President of the US to serve as the sixth Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, at the Department of Homeland Security. Brian also served as the first Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Brian has spent time during his career in the US Marine Corps and various private sector agencies.

E Jany Bio 2022

Eduardo Jany

SVP Global Security and Safety – News Corp

Eduardo Jany is the Chief Security Officer for News Corp. He has experience in physical security, travel, crisis management and event security efforts covering more than 26,000 people at over 190 offices worldwide through innovative strategies and processes. He retired from law enforcement as a Captain – Assistant Chief of Police after more than 25 years of police service in Florida, Minnesota and Washington State. He also retired as a Colonel from the US Marine Corps having served 33 years of combined active and reserve duty in Reconnaissance, Special Operations and Infantry assignments as well as prior service in the Army Special Forces.

Jonathan Kassa website picture

Jonathan Kassa

Executive Director – ZeroNow

Jonathan Kassa is a leader in the education safety and security environment. As an entrepreneur, executive, non-profit board member and public servant, he is dedicated to collaborative community-based solutions. He is Executive Director for ZeroNow, a national non-profit determined to end school violence. As Executive Director of the Clery Center, following the Virginia Tech tragedy, Jonathan was described as a “valuable leader in campus safety” in the 2008 (HR) Congressional Record and influenced federal legislation requiring Emergency Notification, hate and bias crime reporting, and amendments to the Violence Against Women Act.

Antoinette King

Antoinette King

Founder & CEO – Credo Cyber Consulting

Antoinette King, CISSP, PSP, DPPS, SICC has more than two decades of experience in the security industry, working in integration, manufacturing and consulting. Antoinette founded Credo Cyber Consulting in 2020 with the goal of providing her clients with a holistic perspective on security, bridging the gap between the physical and cybersecurity domains focusing on data privacy and protection. Antoinette is also the ASIS Women in Security Chair – Publications Committee, and in the Security Industry Association (SIA) is the Co-Chair – Cybersecurity Advisory Board, Member – Data Privacy Advisory Board and Member – Women in Security Forum.  

Roy Lemons Picture Website

Roy Lemons

Chief Security Officer – International Paper

Roy Lemons serves as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for International Paper. Before joining the private sector, Roy’s security management experience spanned a 22-year career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a 12-year tenure in the US military. Roy is an active member of many professional associations, including the International Security Management Association (ISMA), the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) CSO Center. Roy was a contributing author for the ASIS Senior Security Executive Standard and is a frequent contributor for security industry media.

 

Armando Leon 1

Armando Leon

Senior Manager, Security and Infrastructure Protection – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 

With over 25 years of military, law enforcement and security experience, Armando Leon, CPP serves as the Senior Security Manager for the Metropolitan Transit Police Department under Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. In this position, Armando helps manage and oversee a security operation consisting of more than 500 armed and unarmed security officers in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Prior to this position, Armando worked as the Director of Security for The Museum of the Bible. Before moving to the DC area, Armando lived in Miami, Florida and served as a Police Officer in Miami-Dade County.

 

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Nicole McDargh

Nicole McDargh ​

Vice President Corporate Security – Delaware North

J Nicole McDargh, JD, CPP, is the Vice President of Corporate Security for Delaware North, where she oversees strategies to protect the people, places and experiences. With over 30 years of expertise in enterprise security risk management, Nicole has built a career on designing processes that keep businesses running safely and smoothly, no matter the challenges. Previously, Nicole served as VP of Safety and Loss Prevention for Domino’s and Regional Director of Safety and Security for Richemont Luxury Goods. She is also the sometime creator and host of Your Security Boss, a podcast that blends current events with actionable corporate security insights.

JT Mendoza

JT Mendoza ​

JT Mendoza, Executive Director, US Insider Risk Management Center of Excellence

JT Mendoza has over 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Global Head of Insider Risk Management for an international organization with over 800,000 employees in over 140 countries. Prior to joining the commercial sector, JT served as Deputy Director, US Air Force Insider Threat. Before re-joining the USAF, he served as a senior leader within Defense Intelligence Agency’s Counterespionage Division. As the Executive Director of the US Insider Risk Management Center of Excellence, JT is focused on fostering knowledge sharing and resources to raise the tide and lift all insider risk/threat practitioners.

Lisa Oliveri Picture Website

Lisa Oliveri

Director of Global Risk Management, Security and Operations – National Democratic Institute

Lisa Oliveri serves as the National Democratic Institute’s Director of Global Risk Management, Security and Operations. Lisa has a comprehensive background overseeing global safety and security operations for international non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups and academic institutions. Before joining NDI, she served as the Director of Global Safety and Security at the Education Development Center (EDC). Previously, she was the Director of Security at the American Friends Service Committee, where she played a key role in establishing the organization’s first security management program. 

Diego Serpa Picture Website

Diego Serpa

Head of Security Brazil – Colgate-Palmolive

Diego Serpa is prominent in the field of corporate security, serving as Head of Security Brazil at Colgate-Palmolive. Diego is committed to education as a Professor at Bootcamp Business School and serves as a Career Mentor at Academisec. A Reserve Officer in the Brazilian Army Infantry, Diego has been awarded eight merit medals for his services, including the prestigious Medal of Civic Valor. His academic background includes Exercising Leadership Foundational Principles at Harvardx, a Special Intelligence Internship at the Military Intelligence School and a Strategic Intelligence and Corporate Security course by the Association of Graduates of the Higher War School.

Harold Wax Picture Website

Harold Wax

Director of Global Security – PepsiCo, Inc.

Harold Wax has been working in the corporate security field for over 25 years and holds his CPP, PCI and CFCI professional designations. Harold is also a trained Counter-Terrorism Information Officer (CTIO) with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Harold is currently Director of Global Security for PepsiCo, Inc. responsible for security and crisis management for all PepsiCo Canadian Operations including Beverages (Pepsi, Rockstar, Mountain Dew, Aquafina, Bubly, Gatorade, etc.), and Foods (Frito Lay and Quaker Oats). Prior to joining PepsiCo, he was the CSO for BGIS and prior to that, Harold led corporate security and investigations as the CSO for Symcor Inc. 

 

Danielle W

Danielle Weddepohl​

Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management – George Brown College

Danielle Weddepohl currently serves as the Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario. After completing a Master’s degree in Military and Strategic Studies from the University of Calgary, Danielle worked as a Senior Project Officer at the Canada Border Services Agency and as an Intelligence Analyst at the Communications Security Establishment Canada. Danielle later joined Sheridan College’s School of Public Safety where she taught courses across the Investigations and Police Foundations programs, then went on to lead Sheridan’s Safety and Emergency Management team for several years.

Tim Wenzel

Tim Wenzel ​

Associate Managing Director, ESRM – Kroll

Tim Wenzel is Associate Managing Director of Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) at Kroll and the Creator of The Kindness Games, a movement aimed at promoting kindness and positivity within corporate cultures. He is a global security executive with a passion to transform the existing paradigms of leadership, risk management and team building.

 

Victoria H

Victoria Hanscomb

Editor – Security Journal Americas

Victoria Hanscomb is the Editor of Security Journal Americas, having joined the title in November 2022. In her role, she regularly collaborates with experts, leading companies and top manufacturers to bring the latest security news and updates emerging from the Americas security industry to professionals in the sector. Victoria particularly enjoys connecting with the sector at industry events and discovering the newest innovations and developments. Prior to her current role, Victoria worked as a B2B Editor within the drug discovery and pharmaceutical space.  

James T

James Thorpe

Editor – International Security Journal

James is a keen writer, researcher and speaker who graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2020 with a First Class (BA Hons) Degree in English. In 2020, James joined the Centurian Media team. Gaining significant experience as Editor of Security Journal UK (SJUK), he became Editor of International Security Journal (ISJ) in 2022. In his current role, James engages with various businesses, consultants and directors working in a range of disciplines across the global security industry.

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17th July 2025
Chicago, IL

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