Jake Reed has worked for a global financial services company for nearly five years, working his way to a lead software role where he builds software using cryptographic tools and technologies to secure digital finance data.

Nick Rahimi earned three separate degrees from SIU and taught in various capacities until accepting a teaching and research position in Mississippi. Nick joins and talks about his work with and supporting graduate students on blockchain technology to help anonymize communications where internet censorship may prevent the free exchange of ideas.

Dav Glass has spent years working for silicon valley giants but never forgets where his roots are. An old school "hacker" from the days when that term didn't carry today's negative connotation, Dav dabbles in most all things tech and works doing development activities for a national non-profit organization.

Drew Kenton, an online SIU IST graduate, solves problems and ensures customer systems and servers are running reliably and securely as a remote system administrator for a Los Angeles based MSSP.

Nan Li has accomplished a lot since graduating with an IST degree from SIU over a decade ago. Today Nan oversees cybersecurity projects and supports a large financial organizations cyber needs while keeping his skills sharp and learning new ones.

Alden Hutchison graduated with a degree in electrical and computer engineering from SIU and immediately began his career in telecommunications and cybersecurity. Alden discusses the opportunities he has had and sometimes made for himself that brought him to the upper levels of enterprise security, most recently as a partner helping clients improve their cybersecurity practices and operations with IBM.

JC Weiser has worked in the IT field for over twenty years. From humble beginnings at Carbondale repair shops, JC has consistently developed new skills and sought opportunities that challenged him to grow and to become an expert in enterprise storage architecture. After 10+ years helping design and build enterprise storage solutions for clients JC has taken some time off to focus on driving his new tractor.

Nolan Warner graduated from the IST program in May of 2021 and in the year since relocated to Las Vegas and started a career in threat intelligence. Nolan is actively continuing his learning in various cybersecurity realms and is active in the infosec community.

Nicole Epplin graduated as a pharmacist and started her career slinging medications in hospitals for sick patients. After helping her employer with a large migration to the Epic electronic health record system, Nicole began working in an information technology role ensuring proper medication protocols within Epic applications and working with smart health technology such as infusion pumps to help make medication administration safer and more accurate. 

James has worked in the computer services game in southern Illinois for over two decades and founded one of the most successful IT services firm, Mayer Networks. As owner and founder, James oversees all aspects of the tech and support teams for his company and provides top tier tech support to clients.