Chris O'Ferrell: Verizon Business Chief Science Officer - Chris will speak to combining the security consulting, hardware, software, and network-based solutions to thwart growing threats to e-commerce and web-enabled applications  

Kevin Brown, CISSP

Network Security Architect for Verizon Business

Kevin Brown is a Network Security Architect for Verizon Business, a global communications provider.  He has 25 years of experience in the field of electronic communications and Wide Area Network technology.  He currently specializes in enterprise security sales and architecture. 

Prior to joining the Verizon Business team 14 years ago, he began his career by serving in the United States Air Force for 12 years as a Manager, Electronic Technician, and Technical Trainer.   

As the Assistant Director of Events for the Atlanta Telecom Professionals (ATP), it is Kevin’s responsibility to bring his experience to bear in coordinating monthly events for ATP members and guest.  These events are integral to fulfilling the mission of ATP, which is to provide an environment for networking, exchange important industry information, and recognize the excellence within the Atlanta telecom community.

FBI Unit Chief for the Criminal Computer Intrusion Unit

Erkan Chaseis a graduate of Binghamton University, State University of New York. He majored in Industrial Engineering and Sociology and minored in Business. Erkan has worked as an investment banker for Manufacturers Hanover Trust Bank and as a New York City Probation Officer. He was later employed by the New York City Police Department as a Detective in the Major Case Narcotics Section and the Organized Crime Section. Erkan subsequently was employed as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was assigned to investigate bank fraud and white collar crime in the New York Field Office. He worked in the Computer Crime Program and Computer Intrusion Program in the Detroit Field Office. He was then transferred to FBI Headquarters as Supervisory Special Agent in the Computer Intrusion Unit. Currently, Erkan is the Unit Chief for the Criminal Computer Intrusion Unit.

Ms. Kemp is certified as an Internal Systems Auditor (CISA) and a HIPAA Certified Security Professional.  She will be completing her Master level Disaster Recovery certification and Six Sigma black belt during 2006.

With more than 15 years of experience in the security industry, Chris has held senior management positions with several notable companies, including Predictive Systems, SAIC and TRW. Earlier in his career, Chris designed and implemented the security infrastructure and policy for the U.S. Treasury's Backbone system and also worked with the FBI designing and implementing security solutions for several high profile projects. He went on to provide security assessments and recommendations for the FBI and each of the Treasury's bureaus including the Secret Service, ATF, Mint, Customs and IRS.

Chris also has extensive experience in the ethical hacking arena, where he is also skilled in the design, analysis and evaluation of hacker tools and technologies. His depth of knowledge of these offensive tools has positioned him as an industry expert and led to many television appearances, public speaking engagements, press and analyst interviews and the publication of several articles and white papers.  

Ed Sarama, VP and Chief Security Officer - Checkfree  

Ed Sarama is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining CheckFree's information security, physical security and safety, and business continuity programs. This includes regulatory compliance, product and vendor assessments, security architecture planning, security awareness and training and business continuity strategy and compliance. Due to CheckFree’s role as a leader in electronic commerce, financial software and investment services technologies, Sarama’s responsibilities include support of the security and business continuity requirements of the largest banks, brokerages, credit unions, merchants and financial institutions in the United States.

Sarama has more than 29 years of experience in information technology information security, physical security and business continuity. Sarama joined CheckFree in 1998 and prior to his role as chief security officer, served as Director of CheckFree’s Command Center, ensuring Six Sigma- based operational quality for its clients. He has assisted in developing CheckFree's current security and business continuity policies and standards, built a cross-divisional security alliance team across its lines of business, and implemented a continuous expansion of a security excellence program to protect the integrity of the enterprise. He also facilitated the consolidation of multiple CheckFree data centers into a single location, including a series of secure migrations onto a single operating platform.

Sarama has been recognized for technical excellence in security and business continuity in the past with feature stories in Computer World magazine (August 1995), PC Week magazine (October 1995), and Information Security magazine (February 1997). He has also been the featured speaker for the opening of two SunGard Work Group Recovery Facilities (Orlando and Charlotte). 

Sarama has an associate’s degree in Architecture from Mercer County College, a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of North Florida, and has completed the Executive Management Program at the College of Business at Florida State University.