Chris Lemmon is an Advanced Security Engineer for Secure Yeti where she conducts security assessments and penetration tests as a consultant for high-profile clients. Chris is highly motivated to give back to the community and spends her free time as a mentor, instructor, and course developer for City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), where she leverages her industry experience to help non-traditional students launch their cybersecurity careers. Chris can be reached on Twitter @deviled_3gg.

Chris is excited to gain additional knowledge and insight into cloud security and management.

Danielle Yamane is currently a Senior Information Security Engineer at The Trade Desk responsible for implementing and architecting security controls across the organization. Additionally, Danielle sits on the Board of Directors as an Alumna Representative for the non-profit organization, STEM Advantage, where she mentors and participates on panels to inspire the next generation of underrepresented STEM students. She was previously a Cyber Security Engineer at Deluxe Media Inc. where she was responsible for security operations and managing risk within the company. Danielle began her career at Deluxe Media Inc. as a security intern, and additionally interned at The Walt Disney Company under their IT Audit Management division. She graduated from California State University, Northridge with a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in Art. While attending school, Danielle was President of Layer 8 (CSUN's Computer Security Club) and captain of CSUN's Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) where they won Regionals twice.

The Secure Diversity Leadership Academy allows me to gain the skill set and certifications to help me elevate in my professional career and achieve my aspirations of becoming a leader in the cybersecurity field.

Elaine Harrison-Neukirch has over 10 years of experience in cyber security working in the healthcare and financial services industries. She currently runs the customer support program at SCYTHE. Elaine advocates for women in cybersecurity; she is a member of both Women in Cybersecurity and Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu. She has been a volunteer for Cyber Security Non Profit for nearly 4 years, her current role is as Education Director. This past year, Elaine has spoken at many conferences including Grimm Con, Day of Shecurity, The Diana Initiative, WWHF San Diego and WiCyS 2022. @rubysgeekymom

I am excited to have been chosen for this cohort. I know that this program will enable me to become a fantastic cloud security leader.

I learned electronics and telephony early in my career, then moved to firewall and network engineering. I jumped into IT and InfoSec management in healthcare, did some security consulting, and my last role was as a Chief Information Security Officer in the manufacturing industry. I am an open advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Participation in the SDLA is a great way for me to build out my skills and understanding, with the goal of being a visible, outspoken ceiling-buster for others.

Merisa is a Security Professional with over 12 years in Security and over 25 in IT. She has been an engineer, a manager, and a technical program manager during those times with the majority of her career dedicated to Incident Response or process improvement. She has commanded security events at Amazon, Facebook, Uber, and DoorDash.

I'm excited to be accepted for the Transformational Cybersecurity Leader program. My goal for attending this program is to be able to utilize the skills that I learn to mentor and grow future leaders in Cybersecurity with a focus on women and minorities.

I was born and raised in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I served 12 years in the Army (National Guard, reserves, and active duty) in transportation and intelligence, leading some of the brightest analysts in safely providing critical information across networks using a variety of tools. I have spent 10 years working civilian side in the defense industry in business management, project management and cybersecurity for the space, air, and intelligence sectors. I enjoy learning new things and finding improvements to processes. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and experiencing new cultures and foods. I also volunteer organizations that help veterans, minorities and students pursuing the field of cybersecurity.

I am participating in this program because I value continuous education, and would like to grow as a leader and within the cyber field.

Bio coming soon

Stacey Champagne is a multi-disciplined expert in insider risk with experience conducting analysis, investigations, and program management at globally recognized Fortune 100 & 500 companies. She believes that inspiring vigilance and loyalty in employees—through a holistic approach of technology and operational psychology strategy and solutions—is vital to effectively mitigate insider risk. In 2019, Stacey founded the Trade Secrets Network, a media, events, and consulting company that has connected over 70 insider risk practitioners with the goal of elevating conversations on the subject matter. Stacey is also the Founder & CEO of Hacker in Heels, a company that helps women launch and grow careers in cybersecurity.

Stacey holds multiple certifications including Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) and Insider Threat Program Manager (ITPM). She was a 2019 Executive Women's Forum "One to Watch" Finalist, and selected to participate in Secure Diversity and SANS Technology Institute's "Operational Cyber Executive" program in 2022. Stacey earned her Master of Science in Security and Resilience Studies with a focus on Cybersecurity Policy from Northeastern University, and a graduate certificate in Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity from Boston University. She will complete her second Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Boston University in 2023.

It's incredibly important that we get the right leaders in positions of power to shift the current paradigm to one that is more diverse and inclusive in cybersecurity. I'm confident this program will bolster my career so that I can become one of those leaders.

Enjoys volunteering, learning to play the electric guitar, and serves as one of the leads for OWASP Bay Area. She is working towards her master’s at Georgia Tech in Cybersecurity, and excited to be part of the program. Currently, works as a Security Engineer at Sage.