Centric Consulting AI and cybersecurity experts will moderate and participate in upcoming panel discussions at CDO Magazine’s Data, AI, and Security Week.
The CDO Magazine’s Data, AI, and Security Week, set for October 1-3 in Mason, Ohio, aims to showcase companies that are using strategic business practices to drive success, making it a pivotal gathering for those passionate about harnessing the power of data and security.
Centric Consulting is a gold-level sponsor of the event, which is split into three distinct elements: the CDO Magazine Summit, an AI boardroom event, and the CDO Magazine Cybersecurity Summit. Both summits have a variety of featured learning tracks where top professionals can share insights and knowledge.
Cybersecurity Summit
The Cybersecurity Summit is a premier gathering of experts and visionaries in the cybersecurity field.
Centric’s Vice President and Cybersecurity Service Offering Lead David Lefever and National AI Capability Lead Tim Hoolihan will participate in a keynote panel titled “AI-Driven Cybersecurity: Transforming Defense Strategies with Real-Time Threat Detection and Future Trends” on Thursday, October 3, at noon. Lefever will lead a conversation exploring the most pressing questions in AI-driven cybersecurity and address whether AI can help close the cybersecurity talent gap.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming the cybersecurity landscape, but it also introduces new challenges that organizations must be prepared to face,” Lefever said. “I’m excited to discuss how these AI-driven technologies are shaping the future of threat detection and response with other industry experts.”
Panelists will also dive into the integration of AI for threat detection and incident response, exploring how organizations can maximize these tools while maintaining secure, resilient systems. As the regulatory environment surrounding AI continues to shift, the panel will discuss how businesses can stay ahead of compliance requirements without sacrificing innovation. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to strike the right balance between AI-enhanced security and human oversight in critical processes.
Other panelists will include Maurice Hampton, a cybersecurity strategist at Microsoft, and Jake Lorz, vice president and CISO at Cintas.
CDO Magazine Summit
The CDO Magazine Summit is staged to champion companies across the globe that are using data strategically to better understand their users, customers and the market sector. Attendees will walk away with new insights and best practices that will help fuel their data organization.
Senior Architect Josh Higginbotham will moderate a panel discussion titled “The Future of Data Analytics: Balancing Modernization, Governance, and Responsible Innovation” on Tuesday, October 1, at 10 a.m. This session will address the critical role AI plays in both bolstering cybersecurity defenses and reshaping the nature of threats. Panelists will also share insights about how they are navigating these complex issues within their industries, offering a forward-looking perspective on the future of data analytics.
Panelists will include Priya Rajaram, senior director and global head of merchant data solutions at FIS/WorldPay; Ferial Sheybani, vice president and head of technology and data at Colliers Canada; and Brett Starr, vice president of data and analytics engineering at the Cincinnati Insurance Companies.
“I’m honored to moderate at CDO Magazine’s Summit,” Higginbotham said. “Data analytics is at the core of how organizations make informed decisions, but the pace of change has made it challenging to keep up with modern demands. We’ll discuss AI’s role in modernizing analytics while maintaining governance and responsible innovation. It’s not just about adopting new tools — it’s about ensuring that as we evolve, we do so responsibly, with a focus on security, compliance, and the ethical use of data.”