When: November 5, 2025
Where: Online via Teams and in person at Frontier RTP [800 Pa]rk Offices Drive
Durham, NC 27713
Cost: Free
CPEs: Upto 3 (CPEs will be upoaded to ISACA profile)
Session 1 - Why Companies Fail Pen Tests
Speaker: James Knight, Senior Principal, Digital Warfare
James Knight is a senior principal at Digital Warfare and a globally recognized cybersecurity expert with nearly 30 years of experience. Based in the United States, James has been an ethical hacker for the UK Government, where he honed advanced offensive and defensive cyber skills.
Today, James specializes in penetration testing and strategic security consulting, working directly with Digital Warfare’s diverse portfolio of clients across industries and continents. His extensive international background, combined with deep technical expertise and a solution-driven mindset, enables him to design and execute tailored cybersecurity strategies that protect against the most sophisticated threats.
A trusted advisor to C-suite leaders and IT teams alike, James brings a rare combination of hands-on technical skill and global strategic insight to every engagement.
Session 2 - Leveraging Beauty & Brains for Effective Data Storytelling
**We will be giving out 15-18 books by Dr. Joe Perez to the in-person attendees**
Are you tired of creating beautiful graphs that only serve as decoration? Do you want to take your data visualizations to the next level and turn them into a powerful decision-making tool? Don't settle for flashy concepts that have no practical use; learn how to combine beauty with brains and make your data actionable with effective data storytelling.
Join us to identify ways of turning your data into a cohesive strategy for the short and long term. Explore the five "Stages of the Spectrum" and learn how to exploit both internal and external ideas to drive decisions with data. You'll see firsthand the difference between impact and influence, and how to make sure your data has a real effect on your business.
American mathematician John Tukey once said, "The greatest value of a picture is when it forces us to notice what we never expected to see." Let us show you how to capitalize on those unexpected insights and turn them into a competitive advantage. You'll discover how to catch the right blend of art and science, as you go from concept to reality, making sure your ideas become a reality, not just fluff.
In this session, you'll gain the skills and knowledge to create visualizations that drive decision-making and business outcomes. Don't settle for pretty pictures without impact; join us to uncover how to blend creativity with analytical thinking, thus leveraging art and science to make your data work for you.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The participant/attendee will…
★ Identify and recognize the five stages of the visualization spectrum in data storytelling
★ Determine how to leverage these stages into a cohesive data visualization strategy
★ Differentiate between impact/influence and how that plays into making data actionable
★ Recognize the four-step iterative implementation cycle: Deploy, Discover, Discern, Develop
Speaker - Dr. Joe Perez, NC DHHS
Dr. Joe Perez is a powerhouse in the IT and education worlds, with 40-plus years’ experience and a wealth of credentials to his name. From Business Intelligence Specialist at NC State University to Senior Systems Specialist/Team Leader at the NC Department of Health & Human Services (and Chief Technology Officer at CogniMind), Perez is at the forefront of innovation and process improvement. With more than 20,000 LinkedIn followers and a worldwide reputation as keynote speaker, data management/analytics expert, and award-winning author with multiple #1 new release books, Perez is a highly sought-after resource in his field. He speaks at many conferences each year, reaching audiences in over 20 countries across the globe and has been highly-ranked by prestigious Thought Leader communities. He was recently inducted into the United Nations Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians and was selected to be a Distinguished Fellow in the Public Sector Network's Future Government Institute. When Dr. Joe is not working, he shares his musical talents and gives back to his community through his involvement in his church's Spanish and military ministries.