Building a Cyber-Resilient Community Through Professional Engagement

Description

This session will highlight how involvement in professional organizations like Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)-Rainier Chapter empowers individuals and teams to stay ahead of emerging cybersecurity threats. It will explore how community engagement, continuous learning, and peer collaboration directly support the development of smart habits, technical skills, and strategic awareness across all cybersecurity domains.

Speakers

Dan Leiter
Outreach Director
ISSA Rainier

Dan Leiter is a cybersecurity advocate and Outreach Director for ISSA Rainier, where he leads initiatives to connect professionals, promote education, and strengthen community resilience against evolving cyber threats. He previously served as Vice President of the ISSA Puget Sound Chapter and has a diverse background that includes work as a cybersecurity recruiter and IT services professional at TEKsystems. In addition to his civilian career, Daniel serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve, bringing a unique blend of leadership, ethics, and mission-focused insight to the cybersecurity field. His passion lies in empowering individuals and organizations to build smarter, safer, and more collaborative cybersecurity practices across Washington State.

Mark Petersen
Board President
ISSA Puget Sound Chapter

Mark Petersen is the Board President of ISSA Puget Sound, where he leads and mentors the next generation of cybersecurity practitioners—from high school and college students to emerging professionals—toward joyful and fulfilling careers in security. As a seasoned security professional and a passionate advocate for cloud and SaaS security, Mark currently serves as a Senior Security Champion and Evangelist at Obsidian Security. In this role, he partners with security leaders to build resilient SaaS security strategies, leveraging Obsidian’s platform to reduce excessive privileges by 80% and minimize attack surfaces by 85%.

With deep expertise in Agentic AI, SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM), and compliance across multiple SaaS, Mark is a trusted voice in identity-centric visibility and third-party SaaS risk. His commitment to compliance and threat detection underscores his mission to secure digital environments while empowering others to thrive in the cybersecurity field.