RALEIGH: Security and vulnerability remains a top concern for senior management and other C-level executives as the explosion of wireless devices, e-enabled applications, and advanced global systems puts data in the hands of more people in more places than ever. The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA), the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina, has assembled a panel of world-class experts and distinguished government officials to discuss how to prepare and persevere while maintaining corporate stability on Thursday, June 7, at the NCTA Five Pillars of Executive Leadership in a Non-Secure World conference, presented by Williams Mullen Maupin Taylor, P.A., at Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary, N.C.
"NCTA continues to focus on security as an outstanding business ethic that really needs to be woven throughout every aspect of corporate culture," says Joan Myers, President and CEO of NCTA, and a 2004-2005 Eisenhower Fellow, studying cyber security and cyber terrorism. "Things can happen that we don't anticipate, and our business leaders must be prepared everyday for the unexpected. We feel this conference makes a tremendous difference in the sharing of information that affects the corporate bottom line and our national security."

This model conference is designed with interactive panel discussions that focus on five critical areas of business including business continuity planning, cyber security, intellectual property protection, physical security, and protecting people. Expert presenters include John Tuohey, Senior Director, Sierra Nevada Corporation; Tim Rigg, Director of Corporate Security at Progress Energy; Dr. Barbara Bisset, Executive Director of Emergency Services Institute at WakeMed; Brig. General Iwan Clontz of the N.C. National Guard; Russell Nelson, Special Agent in Charge - Charlotte Division, U.S. Secret Service; Timothy Stranahan, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI - Charlotte; Roland Cloutier, Chief Security Officer, EMC Corporation; Dean Barclay, Associate, Williams Mullen Maupin Taylor, P.A.; Alan Mason, Vice President and General Manager, News 14 Carolina; Dean Carver, National Counterintelligence Executive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Tom McWeeney and Larry E. Torrence from the Center for Strategic Management; Dr. Michael Gelles, of Deloitte and Touche, LLP; Nate Gray, Special Agent in Charge, FBI - NC; Tom Mahlik, Section Chief - CI Strategy and Domain, Counterintelligence, FBI-HQ; John Slattery, Deputy Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, FBI-HQ; Greg Garcia, Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security; Mark Moorman, Advisor, Office of the CTO at SAS Institute; Mike Ferris, Product Manager for Red Hat Security Solutions; and Stuart McIrvine, Director, Corporate Security Strategy at IBM - plus many more.

NCTA has been collaborating with the FBI for the last seven years to address security and intellectual property protection at all levels of business with the goal to provide you the tools and knowledge to help strengthen your existing business position. Experts in the intelligence community have praised the previous Five Pillars conference held earlier this year in Charlotte, adding that the subject matter, quality of speakers, and format has the potential to be a model program for the entire country.

"America is being besieged as never before," said Melton, author of The Ultimate Spy and one of several keynote presenters at February's conference in Charlotte. "NCTA is at the forefront of recognizing these important issues, and the entire country needs to catch up with NCTA." Additional past speakers also have included Associate Executive Director of the National Security Branch of the FBI Philip Mudd, and David Szady, senior vice president, Perot Systems Government Services and former assistant director of counterintelligence for the FBI.