Executive Advisory Board Highlights

The College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) Dean’s Executive Advisory Board is an elite panel of business and industry leaders who support and guide to accomplish the College vision. These distinguished members provide strategic counsel, act as ambassadors, enhance our visibility, support events, promote hiring of our graduates, strengthen community engagement, and assist in fundraising activities.


  • Chris Arrendale

    CEO
    CyberData Pros

    cyber data pros logo

    • Chris has more than 22 years of experience in the technology, privacy, security, and software industry. Chris graduated with his BA from Emory University and his MS from Southern Polytechnic State University. Healso maintains several professional certifications including Certified Information Privacy Professional, Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer, Certified HIPAA Privacy Security Expert, as well as many other security, privacy, and cloud certifications.

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  • Wayne Ayer

    Director of Engineering and Technical Management
    Robins Air Force Base

    • Edward W. Ayer, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Air Force Sustainment Center Director of Engineering and Technical Management located at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. His responsibilities include providing executive leadership and technical direction to a workforce of more than 2,000 scientist, engineers, and engineering technicians, executing a $2B annual workload, providing oversight of $27M in technology insertion programs, and serving as the approving official for the Air Force Sustainment Center Software Enterprise Software Information Systems, Platform IT, IT Services, and IT Products.


  • Jason Barden

    Director of Sales Operations
    Genuine Parts Company (NAPA)gpc logo

    • As a KSU Alumni and leader within the Automotive Industry, Jason is excited to cultivate new connections between Higher Education and Industry.

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  • Robert Cole

    Managing Director, Technology Delivery Executive
    Accentureaccenture logo

    • Bob leads Cloud and Technology Delivery programs, ranging from Cloud Migrations, Systems Integration, Product Engineering, Delivery and Support for the Accenture's clients. Bob has over 31 years of experience providing IT Consulting/Management Services to global enterprises. This includes deep and broad experience across the entire life cycle of IT including Enterprise Architecture, IT Leadership, Cloud-based (AWS, Google, Oracle) solutions, Oracle ERP System Integration, Application Management and Outsourcing.


  • Leonard Greski

    Architecture Practice Lead
    LeadingAgile, LLC

    leading eagle logo

    • Leonard leads the Architecture practice at LeadingAgile. He is the leader in helping companies achieve business agility. He has 30 years of experience leading teams to deliver better software, faster.


  • Andre4w Hamilton

    Co-founder of cybersecurity service
    Cybriantcybriant logo

    • Andrew is the co-founder of cybersecurity services provider Cybriant.


  • Trish Mccall

    The ADAM Program,
    Co-Founder/ Director,
    Program Management
    HPCC Systems

    hpcc logo

    • Trish McCall leads initiatives working with corporate and academia to help grow the HPCC Systems open-source community, with emphasis on creating an ecosystem of advocates for expanding the value of the HPCC Systems platform while supporting STEM initiatives for students. Trish is also the co-founder of the ADAM Program, a tool donated to The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by LexisNexis Risk Solutions to assist with the distribution of missing child posters and recovery efforts. She works to build essential relationships with law enforcement, public safety, and private sector professionals in the advancement and awareness of the ADAM Program. Trish holds a BS in Computer Science Information Systems from Kennesaw State University.

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  • Phillip Parks

    CEO
    Shaw Industries, Inc

    shaw logo

    • Phillip has worked at Shaw Industries for 32 years, building and managing dynamic and productive Application Development teams. He lives in Dalton with his wife, Lynda. They have six adorable, smart grandchildren. He’s an active cyclist, riding both road and mountain biking.


  • Michael Parlotto

    Vice President Emerging Technologies
    InComm Payments

    incomm payment solutions

    • Michael Parlotto brought his unique mix of technical, creative and leadership skills to successfully deliver on numerous large-scale initiatives since joining InComm Payments in 2003. In his role as Vice President, Emerging Technologies he has immersed himself in the development of numerous innovative offerings in a wide range of disciplines. Focused on a mission to drive disruptive tech in bold new directions through spirited collaboration, he engages retailers, brands, and the community in seeking to develop mutually beneficial arrangements that help build exposure to emerging technology in practice.


  • Joe Sumpter

    IT Sales and Compensation Solutions Manager
    NCRncr logo

    • Joe is a member of the Financial Services Hardware Innovation team at NCR. He fosters cross industry innovation combining hardware and software


  • Steve Taylors

    Technology Manager- Product Manager, IT Risk & Compliance
    State Farm

    state farm logo

    • Steve Taylor, MBA, CPCU is a Technology Professional with 3 decades of progressive leadership experience across multiple Fortune 100 companies with the past 23 years in leadership at State Farm. Steve’s leadership has covered a variety of domains including Agency, Project, Software, Service, Retail, Logistics, Manufacturing, and Technology. He is an entrepreneurial lifelong learner and servant leader whose goal is to stay relevant in the ever-changing world of business and technology. Steve enjoys helping others through their career journeys enabling them to perform at the highest levels as they contribute to the success of the team and enterprise. Outside of work, Steve enjoys the outdoors, sports, riding ATV’s, woodworking, reading, and spending time with family.


  • James Tollerson

    Infrastructure Security Director & FSO
    Norfolk Southern

    norfolk southern logo

    • James conducts regulation inspections to ensure our security management programs are in compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration and other government agencies, regarding the security concerning with Norfolk Southern critical infrastructure.  He manages enterprise Information Technology projects that impact our critical infrastructure and operational systems. He is the Senior Insider Threat and lead a team from several other departments to reduce the Insider Threat risk by strengthen the Insider Treat Program.

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  • Flavio Villanustre

    SVP, Technology & CISO
    LexisNexis Risk Solutions

    Lexis Nexis logo

    • Dr. Flavio Villanustre is a RELX Distinguished Technologist. In his current role, he is the senior vice president of technology and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, leading information security and cybersecurity for the organization, and the HPCC Systems big data platform open-source initiative.
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