Aug 21, 2019   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Daniel Kroese, Associate Director of DHS' National Risk Management Center, to Address Business Leaders at NC Center for Cybersecurity Ribbon Cutting

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Aug. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Daniel Kroese, Associate Director of the National Risk Management Center (NRMC) for the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will deliver the keynote address for the ribbon cutting of the North Carolina Center or Cybersecurity.

The NC Center for Cybersecurity is a nonprofit organization set to position North Carolina as the leader in cybersecurity workforce development through initiatives designed to help regional communities develop cybersecurity resilience.

"The NC Center for Cybersecurity will strengthen the entire state by helping each region develop community cybersecurity programs that meet their specific workforce development and economic needs and by improving cybersecurity education and collaboration throughout the state," said Rob Arnold, the CEO of Threat Sketch.

The NC Center for Cybersecurity will also serve as the central headquarters for regional hubs throughout the state. Key objectives include: 

    --  Workforce development aimed at training students and retraining the
        local workforce to solve practical cybersecurity problems.
    --  Helping companies seeking a consistent supply of cybersecurity talent
        across multiple disciplines.
    --  Providing forums for public, private, and academic collaboration focused
        on developing practical solutions to commercial cybersecurity problems
        that match each region's economic strengths.

Workforce development is a top priority. This past year, over 300,000 cybersecurity positions in the United States went unfilled, and that figure is expected to reach 3.5 million globally by 2021. Having a wealth of trained cybersecurity professionals in the Piedmont Triad region and throughout North Carolina will serve as an attraction for companies looking to relocate to the state. It will also strengthen the security of companies already doing business in North Carolina.

"The North Carolina Cybersecurity Center is the first of its kind in our state and will strengthen our position as a leader in this growing industry," says Mark Owens, President and CEO of the Winston Salem Chamber. "The tech industry is an important sector as we focus on talent recruitment, and this initiative has the potential to enhance those efforts."

The ribbon cutting, hosted by Threat Sketch and Winston Starts, will take place on August 27 on the 4th floor of 500 West Fifth Street at 10 am. Additional speakers include: 

    --  Allen Joines, Winston-Salem Mayor
    --  Maria S. Thompson, NC Chief Risk Officer
    --  Mike Fenley, on behalf of U.S. Senator Richard Burr
    --  Don Flow, Flow Companies, Inc. CEO
    --  Steve Lineberger, Winston Starts President
    --  Rob Arnold, Threat Sketch CEO

About The NC Center for Cybersecurity-- Founded in 2019 in Winston-Salem, NC, the North Carolina Center for Cybersecurity is a 501(c)(3) organization that builds community-based cybersecurity programs throughout North Carolina, connecting them as partners in national security alongside state and federal agencies. To learn more, please visit http://www.nccyber.org.

About Threat Sketch -- Founded in 2015 in Winston-Salem, NC, Threat Sketch is an industry leader providing proprietary cybersecurity databases and analytical tools built upon a comprehensive cyber risk management platform. To learn more call 844-487-4757 or visit threatsketch.com.

About Winston Starts -- Winston Starts is the brainchild of businessman and visionary Don Flow, chairman and CEO of Flow Companies, Inc., and John Whitaker, founder and former CEO of Inmar. The nonprofit's mission is to support the growth of local startups with unique, nationally-scalable business models and ultimately drive the future economic health of Winston-Salem and the Triad by promoting a culture of entrepreneurship, collaboration and innovation and retaining the area's best and brightest minds. http://www.winstonstarts.com.

SOURCE NC Center for Cybersecurity