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Free Parking for this event has been designated in the following parking lots:
Day 1: NORTH of the Occhiato Student Center (OSC) White Lines only See the map page above
Southern Colorado Regional Cybersecurity and IT Conference 2025
Conference Agenda
Day 1: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Location: Colorado State University Pueblo
Building: Occhiato Student Center (OSC), North end of campus
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Room: OSC 1st Floor General Area
Conference Sign-in
8:30 - 11:00 AM Workshop: AI Basics/Essentials
Room: OSC (Basement) 006 Great Plains (capacity: 56)
Presenter: Kailee Alvarado, Cybersecurity Operations & Strategy Consultant for Cyber Ready Inc.
Summary: This hands-on workshop covers the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a focus on safe, ethical, and effective use in professional settings. Attendees will explore practical AI applications, learn to use AI as a personal assistant, integrate AI into existing software, and evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy. The session also addresses cybersecurity and privacy risks, enabling participants to confidently apply AI while avoiding misinformation, data leaks, and accidental disclosure of sensitive information.
8:30 - 11:00 AM Workshop: AI Prompting
Room: OSC (Basement) Room 003 Aspen (capacity: 42 people)
Presenter: Connor Carson, Cybersecurity Operations & Strategy Consultant for Cyber Ready Inc.
Summary: This interactive workshop focuses on the art and science of crafting effective prompts to get accurate, useful, and high-quality results from AI systems. Participants will explore prompt structure, context-setting, and techniques for refining outputs. Through guided exercises, attendees will learn how to design prompts for various purposes, including writing, summarization, data analysis, and creative brainstorming. The session will also address common mistakes and provide guidance on troubleshooting poor results.
8:30 - 11:00 AM Workshop: AI Security
Room: OSC (Basement) Room: 008 Tundra (capacity: 46 people)
Presenter: Louis Vargas, Cybersecurity Operations & Strategy Consultant for Cyber Ready Inc.
Summary: This workshop addresses the cybersecurity and privacy considerations of using AI in both personal and professional contexts. Attendees will learn how to assess the security posture of AI tools, protect sensitive data, identify risks such as prompt injection or data leaks, and comply with relevant regulations. The session combines real-world examples, group discussion, and practical exercises to help participants confidently and securely integrate AI into their workflows.
11:00 – 11:30 AM CSU Pueblo CIS Program – Cybersecurity Focus
Room: OSC Room: 008 Tundra
Presenter: Dr. Roberto Mejias, CSU Pueblo Professor of Computer Information Systems (CIS).
Summary: Discover how CSU Pueblo’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) Bachelor Program prepares students for cybersecurity careers through hands-on training in threat analysis, secure systems design, and real-world tools. Attendees will gain insight into how the program aligns with national standards and equips future professionals to defend digital assets in today’s AI-driven threat landscape.
11:30 - 1:00 PM Lunch and networking opportunity
Room: CSU Pueblo Pack Cafeteria in the OSC building.
Lunch provided by the Ensco's Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection https://ccip-ensco.com/
1:00 - 2:30 PM Let's Talk Security
Room: OSC (Basement) Room: Wolf Den (capacity: 24)
Presenter: FBI Private Sector Coordinator
Summary: This session will review cyber-enabled crime trends, the public-private sector collaboration on critical infrastructure--InfraGard, and a case briefing of a historic counterintelligence investigation.
1:00 - 3:30 PM Workshop: AI Basics/Essentials
Room: OSC (Basement) 006 Great Plains (capacity: 56)
Presenter: Kailee Alvarado, Cybersecurity Operations & Strategy Consultant for Cyber Ready Inc.
Summary: This hands-on workshop covers the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a focus on safe, ethical, and effective use in professional settings. Attendees will explore practical AI applications, learn to use AI as a personal assistant, integrate AI into existing software, and evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy. The session also addresses cybersecurity and privacy risks, enabling participants to confidently apply AI while avoiding misinformation, data leaks, and accidental disclosure of sensitive information.
1:00 - 3:30 PM Workshop: AI Prompting
Room: OSC (Basement) Room 003 Aspen (capacity: 42 people)
Presenter: Connor Carson, Cybersecurity Operations & Strategy Consultant for Cyber Ready Inc.
Summary: This interactive workshop focuses on the art and science of crafting effective prompts to get accurate, useful, and high-quality results from AI systems. Participants will explore prompt structure, context-setting, and techniques for refining outputs. Through guided exercises, attendees will learn how to design prompts for various purposes, including writing, summarization, data analysis, and creative brainstorming. The session will also address common mistakes and provide guidance on troubleshooting poor results.
1:00 - 3:30 PM Workshop: AI Security
Room: OSC (Basement) Room: 008 Tundra (capacity: 46 people)
Presenter: Louis Vargas, Cybersecurity Operations & Strategy Consultant for Cyber Ready Inc.
Summary: This workshop addresses the cybersecurity and privacy considerations of using AI in both personal and professional contexts. Attendees will learn how to assess the security posture of AI tools, protect sensitive data, identify risks such as prompt injection or data leaks, and comply with relevant regulations. The session combines real-world examples, group discussion, and practical exercises to help participants confidently and securely integrate AI into their workflows.
3:30 - 5:00 PM Cybersecurity Roundtable: Meet the Experts
Room: OSC (Basement) Lobby area
Presenter: Conference presenters and surrounding area IT and Cybersecurity Professionals
Summary: This session brings together IT and cybersecurity professionals for an open, peer-to-peer exchange on the toughest challenges facing our organizations today. From AI-driven threats to evolving compliance demands, attendees will have the opportunity to share insights, ask questions, and explore practical solutions with subject matter experts and presenters. Whether you're looking to strengthen your incident response, refine access controls, or understand emerging risks, this is your chance to pick the brains of experienced professionals and build meaningful connections across institutions.
5:00 PM Day 1 Ends
Free Parking for this event has been designated in the following parking lots:
Day 2: WEST of the General Classroom Building (GCB) White Lines only. See the map page above
Southern Colorado Regional Cybersecurity and IT Conference 2025
Conference Agenda
Day 2: Friday, October 10, 2025
Location: Colorado State University Pueblo
Building: General Classroom Building (GCB) South end of campus
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Room: General Classroom Building (GCB) Outside Auditorium.
Sign-in at the CSU Pueblo OSC Ballroom
8:30 - 8:40 AM
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Conference Welcome Introduction
Presenter: Mark D. Gonzales, Information Security Manager for CSU
8:40 - 9:30
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Empowering Colorado Governments: SIPA’s No-Cost Tech & Cybersecurity Resources
Presenter: Duane Tucker, Customer Success Director for the Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA)
Summary: SIPA is a government entity serving all other governments in the State of Colorado. This session will discuss SIPA's no-cost resources and grant programs, as well as provide details about SIPA's extensive portfolio of technology contracts, including cybersecurity, that are available to all governments through a streamlined procurement process.
9:30 - 10:20
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Digital Forensics First Aid!
Presenter: Presenter: Stewart Deken, Digital Investigations Manager
Summary: When faced with an email compromise, internal investigation, or other cyber incident, a proper forensic response can be the difference between success and failure. However, not every organization has an internal forensic capability, and hiring an external expert can sometimes be cost-prohibitive given the circumstances.
This presentation will explore the "what you need to know" to determine when outside assistance is imperative, and how to act quickly to preserve data safely and effectively before the arrival of the subject matter experts. We'll examine the response to a cyber event or investigation using a medical analogy, with non-forensic IT staff in the role of first responders who can take limited action and assess the situation to determine if further help is needed.
10:20 - 10:30 Break
10:30 - 11:20
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Be a Control(s) Freak: Leveraging the CIS Controls
Presenter: Megan Incerto, Regional Engagement Manager, MS-ISAC.
Summary: How to implement and track our globally recognized set of prioritized cybersecurity best practices to help defend against the most prevalent cyber threats. Our Controls provide specific, actionable safeguards broken into Implementation Groups (IGs) to help organizations build a defense-in-depth strategy and streamline compliance efforts, with a focus on fundamental security hygiene first, making them a prescriptive and simplified starting point for improving cybersecurity posture
11:20 - 12:00
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Adelante Connect – Bridging Pueblo’s Digital Divide
Presenter: Dr. Dana Lambert, CSU Pueblo Director of Digital Equity Adelante Connect | Adelante Grant | CSU Pueblo
Summary: This session introduces Adelante Connect, a pilot initiative working to ensure every Pueblo resident has reliable internet access and the skills to thrive in today’s technology-driven world. The workshop will explore strategies for promoting digital equity, inclusion, and literacy by addressing barriers that limit connectivity for underserved students, families, and organizations. Participants will learn about broadband awareness efforts, practical connectivity solutions, and the impact of empowering communities to participate fully in the knowledge economy. By highlighting successes and challenges, the session will inspire collaboration and action to close the digital divide in Pueblo.
12:00 - 1:30
Room: CSU Pueblo Pack Cafeteria in the OSC building
Lunch and networking opportunity
CSU Pueblo School of Business – Healy Center's Adelante Connect Program Adelante Connect | Adelante Grant | CSU Pueblo
1:30 - 2:00
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Internship Opportunities with Title V grant funding
Presenter: Shantel Frazier, CSU Pueblo Executive Director of SLICE
Summary: This presentation introduces students and alumni to the wide range of career services available through the CSU Pueblo SLICE Office. Participants will learn how to build strong resumes and cover letters, practice interview skills with Big Interview, and explore internship and job opportunities through Handshake. The session will also highlight Career fairs and additional tools such as Forage for virtual job simulations and career exploration.
Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of how to leverage these or similar resources to enhance their professional development, connect with employers, and confidently pursue their career goals.
2:00 - 2:50
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Prompt Engineering for Incident Response: Enhancing Cyber Resilience with AI
Presenters: Kailee Alvarado & Louis Vargas, Tech Support Specialists at Cyber Ready Inc..
Summary: This 50-minute session introduces cybersecurity and IT professionals to the practical use of AI prompt engineering as a strategic tool in Incident Response (IR) planning and execution. Participants will learn how to design prompts that assist with scenario planning, policy development, communication templates, log analysis, and after-action reviews. Through live demonstrations and guided exercises, the session will showcase how prompt engineering can accelerate the IR lifecycle—before, during, and after a cybersecurity incident.
2:50 - 3:00 Break
3:00 - 3:50
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Cybersecurity in Transportation
Presenter: Erin Plemons, Director for the Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection ENSCO, Inc
Summary: This presentation will cover the technical challenges of implementing cybersecurity controls in the transportation industry. It will include an overview of threat actors, regulations, and technologies with common vulnerabilities.
3:50 - 4:40
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Detecting Cybersecurity Threats using Deep Learning
Presenter: Chris Colvin, Colvin Enterprises
Summary: Learn how to develop a system that can detect Cyber Threats in your entity's network traffic logs using Deep Learning.
4:40 - 5:00
Room: GCB 110 (Auditorium)
Open Forum: Bringing It All Together
Presenter: Mark D. Gonzales and Keynote Speaker
Summary: This closing session brings together the key lessons from today’s conference and provides space for open discussion. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, share insights, and connect ideas to their own work. By the end of this forum, we aim to leave everyone with a stronger sense of community, practical takeaways to support daily work, and a renewed commitment to advancing cybersecurity awareness and resilience across our campus and beyond.
5:00 PM
Conference Ends
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