Gary Fish, President and Chief Executive Officer
Gary Fish is the founder, president and CEO of FishNet Security Inc., headquartered in the Kansas City metropolitan area. His career in the information security industry started over two decades ago, and his innovative style of leadership has earned him recognition as a pioneer in the industry. Since founding FishNet Security in 1996, he has set the company's strategic direction and led it to become the largest independently owned information security solutions provider in the United States.
Throughout FishNet Security's history, Fish has demonstrated his strengths as both a leader and strategist. Through organic growth and acquisitions, the company has earned the trust of over 5,000 global customers in virtually all industries and has grown through the acquisitions of SiegeWorks LLC, True North Solutions, Acuity Solutions and Logic Trends. Today, FishNet Security has revenues of more than $400 million and nearly 30 office locations. In total, Fish has raised more than $112 million in private equity investments for the company.
Fish is a serial entrepreneur, involved in many business endeavors, holds advisory board positions with a number of global technology companies, and is an active angel investor. In addition to founding FishNet Security, he also is co-founder and CEO of Overland Park, Kansas-based FireMon, a successful software company.
Fish has earned honors and accolades from industry peers. Among his honors, he was named one of the Top 25 Executives for the New Millennium in computer-related fields. Ernst & Young has honored him as the Technology Entrepreneur of the Year for Kansas and Western Missouri, and CRN has honored him as a Security Superstar.
Along with being heavily involved in business endeavors, Fish also is very active in many charities and community associations.
Fish earned a degree in electronics technology from DeVry University and holds numerous technology and business certifications. He served in the US Army National Guard.
Mark Williams, Chief Financial Officer
As chief financial officer for FishNet Security, Mark Williams provides strategic direction to the company and is responsible for all financial, accounting, tax and audit operations. As a member of the board of directors, his wide range of business experience and expertise contributes to the company's continued success in the information security industry.
Williams brings to FishNet Security over 17 years of experience in working with both publicly traded and privately held software and technology companies. Prior to joining FishNet Security, he spent six years with Mediware Information Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDW), where he served as chief financial officer. He also brings more than 10 years experience with public accounting firms, where he gained significant experience with mergers, acquisitions and capital markets.
Williams earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Wichita State University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Brandy Peterson, Chief Technology Officer
Brandy Peterson has established an impressive career building and managing customer support offerings and providing security and IT leadership for FishNet Security. With more than 12 years at the largest security reseller and solutions provider in the United States, Peterson serves as the chief technology officer (CTO), ensuring the company is well-positioned to offer industry-leading service and support to its customers through cutting-edge systems and technology.
In his role as CTO, Peterson has a staff of more than 10, and supports the company's many employees and 5,000 customers across the United States. Previously, Peterson served as the director of technology for FishNet Security. He began his career at FishNet Security as a systems engineer.
Peterson earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University.
Philip Lentz, Chief Identity Strategist
Phillip Lentz is the newly appointed Chief Identity Strategist at Fish Net Security. Prior to the FishNet Security acquisition of Logic Trends, Mr. Lentz was the Co-President, CTO, and founding partner of Logic Trends, Inc., a strategy and Integration firm focused wholly on Identity and Access Management (IAM). Mr. Lentz has more than 25 years in the IT industry, with the past 15 years focused on designing IAM strategies for over 60 of the largest corporations in the Continental United States. Mr. Lentz has been responsible for defining Logic Trends technical direction including research and product development, client strategy, assessments, infrastructure architecture, and IAM market analysis.
Mike Bossert, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Mike Bossert is executive vice president of Sales & Marketing at FishNet Security. He previously served as vice president of Central Sales, where his team was the No. 1 business and revenue-generating region in the company.
Spending more than a decade developing revenue growth opportunities and defining sales direction for FishNet Security, Bossert has forged strong long-term relationships with clients, vendors and partners. He has played a key role in the company's growth and expansion, helping to transform FishNet Security into a leading information security solutions provider.
Bossert's customer-centric attitude and focus on the information security industry has allowed him to successfully develop new sales and marketing programs, manage strategic vendor partnerships and consistently exceed annual revenue targets. Bossert has been instrumental in FishNet Security's past mergers and acquisitions, helping to successfully integrate sales and marketing strategies with four security-focused companies since 2006.
Prior to joining FishNet Security, Bossert worked for United Parcel Service, where he developed strategic logistic solutions for large enterprises. Throughout his career, he has been a successful leader in corporate sales, business development and new customer acquisition. He often participates in partner advisory and industry panels in which he discusses industry trends, information security issues and customer requirements.
Bossert earned a bachelor's degree in financial management from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Aaron Shilts, Executive Vice President of Services
As executive vice president of services, Aaron Shilts brings over 15 years of industry experience to his chief responsibility: preservation of FishNet Security's reputation as a leader in information security services. Shilts leads FishNet Security's nationwide team of trainers, security engineers, consultants and professional services leaders. His strategic direction and innovative approach ensures that FishNet Security services are well-aligned with customers' needs and industry trends. Under his leadership, FishNet Security has consistently grown its services business and is widely recognized as an industry leader.
Before joining FishNet Security, Shilts served as a senior consultant for VeriSign, delivering security solutions to its customers worldwide. Before VeriSign, he founded eSecurity Consulting Inc., a security consulting firm servicing customers throughout the United States. Earlier in his career, Shilts served as a senior security engineer in telecommunications, leading teams of technical engineers who performed network security and systems administration functions.
Shilts earned a bachelor's degree in business computer information systems from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota; served proudly in the U.S. Army National Guard; and holds a variety of technical certifications.
Ken Stone, Executive Vice President, Advanced Solutions
Ken Stone is the newly appointed executive vice president of Advanced Solutions at FishNet Security. Prior to the FishNet acquisition of Logic Trends, Inc. in December 2011, Stone was the co-founder and CEO of Logic Trends, a strategy and integration firm focused wholly on identity and access management (IAM) solutions. Stone has more than 17 years in the IT industry, with the past 10 years focused on managing and building successful security consulting practices. He helped guide the firm to regional and national prominence, leading the company to multiple service awards and recognition, including being named five times on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing privately held U.S. companies.
Julio Sanchez, Executive Vice President of National Infrastructure
Julio Sanchez has over 20 years of business and technology experience and a history of providing leadership, direction and technical support. As executive vice president of FishNet Security's National Infrastructure team, Sanchez leads account executives and systems engineers who are responsible for providing network infrastructure consulting services and solutions for large service providers and small enterprise customers throughout the country.
Prior to coming to FishNet Security, Sanchez was founder and CEO of Acuity Solutions. Prior to being acquired by FishNet Security, he led Acuity to become one of the preeminent information security and network optimization solutions providers in the Southeast. Prior to founding Acuity, he held multiple senior management positions at IKON Office Solutions, where he provided leadership, management direction and technical guidance to the Service Response team. During his tenure at IKON, he initiated the company's first hardware service department and grew it from three technicians to 20, while increasing profitability from $225,000 to $1.5 million. Responsible for customer satisfaction, his team successfully maintained a customer rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 against industry icons such as Hewlett Packard and IBM.
Sanchez holds an associate degree in computer engineering technology from Tampa Technical Institute and numerous industry certifications in leading hardware and software products and solutions.
Dave Gilden, Vice President of Federal Sales
Dave Gilden's career is distinguished by nearly 20 years of successful operational and sales management in the security and networking industry. As the executive vice president of Sales for the FishNet Security Public Sector Division, Gilden's organization includes several direct sales executives, systems engineers and business development professionals. Under Gilden's direction, FishNet Security has successfully entered into agreements with U.S. federal, state and local government agencies.
Prior to joining FishNet Security, Gilden was co-founder and COO of Acuity Solutions in Tampa, Fla. While there, he managed sales and marketing operations and was instrumental in growing the company to $41 million in revenues. Before founding Acuity Solutions, Gilden was corporate director for IKON Office Solutions Inc., a Ricoh company. In his role at IKON, he was responsible for all operational aspects of the Technology Services Division, which accounted for $500 million of annual revenue. Gilden is an advisory board member for industry leaders Juniper, F5, Riverbed and RSA.
Gilden earned a bachelor's degree in international business from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn.
Michelle Torrey, Vice President of Sales - Western Region
Michelle Torrey has over 22 years of sales experience in a number of technical disciplines, including semiconductors, networking and information security. As the executive vice president of Sales for the western region, Torrey's organization includes direct sales executives, systems engineers and business development professionals.
Prior to joining FishNet Security in 2006, Torrey was a founding employee at Check Point Software, where she established the inside sales organization that generated $20 million in annual sales over seven years. Torrey also managed the OEM relationship with Nokia for four of those seven years. The Nokia/Check Point partnership has been touted as the second most successful hardware/software partnership since that of Microsoft and Intel.
Torrey is a member of many community organizations, including ISSA, and has been a guest speaker at many conferences where she educates attendees about IT security and its role within an organization.
Max Dodge, Vice President of Sales - Central Region
Maxwell "Max" Dodge has over 12 years of experience in information technology and service sales development. As the vice president of Sales covering the Central Region for FishNet Security, Dodge leads a team of direct sales executives and is responsible for sales, marketing and business development for the region. In his 10 years with FishNet Security, he has proven success in sales management roles where he has provided strategic direction in developing and growing FishNet Security sales penetration across the nation.
Prior to FishNet Security, Dodge was the co-founder of an application service provider company, serving universities nationwide with advanced Web services.
Dodge is a Cum Laude graduate of Baker University, with a bachelor's degree in marketing and a minor in economics.
Steven Sellers, Vice President of Sales - Eastern Region
Steven Sellers has over 17 years of experience in information technology and has a proven track record of strong leadership and relationship skills. In his role of vice president of Sales for the East, Sellers leads a team of sales executives and is responsible for growing sales, and developing and executing marketing and strategic efforts.
Sellers joined FishNet Security in 2005, when FishNet expanded to the east and added a Boston-area office. Through his sales efforts, he helped FishNet Security succeed in the Northeast and was quickly promoted to management. His leadership was instrumental in developing the company's Northeast Territory.
Sellers took over management of the New York City District in October 2006, followed by the Mid-Atlantic Region in January 2008. The Northeast quickly became one of the top profit generators for the company.
Prior to joining Fishnet Security, Sellers worked for two private security companies, selling in and around the Northeast for five years. Before that, Steven worked in Manhattan, New York, for seven years as a sales executive and later became a regional manager for what was then a world leader in computer networking equipment.
Bernard Batang, Vice President of Professional Services
Bernard Batang has over 14 years of experience in information technology and security. As vice president of Professional Services, he is responsible for managing FishNet Security's consulting, project management and proposal development practice. Batang leads a national team of more than 100 people and provides strategic and tactical direction to each practice and functional area.
Prior to joining FishNet Security, Batang spent eight years working within the Big 4 (Deloitte and PwC). His background spans diverse areas such as staff development, service delivery, financial management, consulting, program/project management and business development. Through his tenure in the Big 4, Batang led a wide range of projects in the areas of strategic risk management, data security, regulatory & compliance, program management (PMO), technology and business alignment, large-scale infrastructure deployment, enterprise network integrations and IT strategy development. Batang also held prior IT/networking/operations management positions outside the Big 4.
Batang has been a guest and keynote speaker at various conferences, educating audiences about information security and risk management principles. He is a local member of the ISSA and holds numerous technical certifications.
Tom Schmatz, Vice President of Support Services
Tom Schmatz has over 25 years of experience working in the information security environment and is considered as an expert across multiple technology disciplines. In his position as vice president of Support and Managed Services, Schmatz established the company's managed services program and is responsible for providing leadership to a team of security professionals delivering worldclass 24x7 support and managed services.
Prior to FishNet Security, Schmatz managed technology teams for two prominent law firms, Shook, Hardy & Bacon and Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, and provided support for information technology systems and productivity tools to assist in the litigation process. Earlier in his career, Schmatz worked for Knight-Ridder Financial Services, where he was responsible for product management, technical and support services and the development of progressive customer service models. Schmatz is considered an expert in security operations management, risk management strategies, security program management and solutions development. He is a member of many FishNet Security partner advisory boards, including Juniper, Blue Coat and F5 Networks.
Schmatz is a graduate of DeVry University and holds both ISC2-CISSP and ISACA-CISM industry certifications.
Barry Cooper, Vice President of Education Services
Barry Cooper has over 20 years of experience in information technology and has designed and provided training for technical courses for over 15 years. Cooper has significant expertise in systems analysis, programming and network engineering. Cooper is responsible for security education services, operations, management and leadership of the FishNet Security Training organization. In addition, he manages vendor, security and distance learning product development.
Under Cooper's guidance, FishNet Security's training program includes 10 national training centers and offers well over 100 courses. He also developed FishNet Security's Computer-Based Training (CBT) and virtual remote training delivery systems from the ground up.
Cooper has over 70 multiple high-level security and technical certifications, including CISSP, JNCI (Juniper instructor), CCSI (Check Point instructor) and CTT+ (Certified Technical Trainer). He is a member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and the United States Distance Learning Association.
Cooper earned a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Calvary Bible College and is currently pursuing a master's degree in education.
Mark Carney , Vice President of Strategic Services
Mark Carney has over 12 years of experience in the information security industry, with significant expertise in the fields of information security risk management, regulatory and privacy compliance, vulnerability management, application and database security, and incident management. At FishNet Security, Carney has worked with industry practitioners and CISOs to solve business and security challenges. He built the Information Assurance division into a multi-million dollar line of business, started the Payment Card Industry security and compliance practice, and led efforts enabling the company to become a PCI Forensic Investigator (PFI). Carney currently leads a national team of experienced security professionals that advise security executives in the areas of information assurance, managed services, and training.
Before joining FishNet Security in 2002, Carney spent two years at Anderson in the Technology Risk Consulting division, concentrating on information security, enterprise resource planning (ERP), application integrity, data mining analysis and quality assurance testing. As an industry speaker, he has presented at various regional events and conferences, including ISSA, ISACA, HTCIA and Secure360, has served on the board of directors for the local Kansas City-ISSA chapter and is a member of the local ISACA and InfraGard. As an industry thought leader, he has published papers and articles in various journals and periodicals, including Secure Computing (SC) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) Magazine. Carney holds numerous certifications, including CISSP, CRISC, PCI-QSA, and NSA-IAM.
Carney holds both a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and an MBA, with an emphasis in management information systems, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Dan Thormodsgaard, Vice President of Solutions Architecture
Dan Thormodsgaard has over two decades of experience in the information technology industry and engineering field. As the vice president of Solutions Architecture for FishNet Security, Thormodsgaard is a strategic advisor of Fortune 50, enterprise accounts and government institutions. He supports customers' long-term security infrastructure initiatives, evaluates security tools and provides technology recommendations for customers and FishNet Security's partner program.
Thormodsgaard joined FishNet Security in 2002. Prior to his current role, he was the regional manager for FishNet Security's Minnesota region and spent several years as a sales engineer. Before joining FishNet Security, he served as a principle consultant at Midwest Systems. In addition, he has presented as a keynote speaker for wireless security events at ISWT and has spoken on other security topics at various national ISSA and ISACA chapter events.
Thormodsgaard earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota and holds a number of specialized technical certifications, including CCSE, CCNP, CCSA, CCNA, MCSE and other security and infrastructure certifications.
Luis Palacio, Senior Director of Vendor Relations
Luis "Lou" Palacio joined the FishNet Security team in March 2005 to develop the Project Management Office. He was quickly appointed to director of Vendor Relations in 2006, and currently serves as the senior director of Vendor Relations. His primary roles include driving the strategic direction of FishNet Security's vendor partnerships, with a particular focus on the top 15 partners and emerging vendors. The Vendor Relations team supports and ensures this strategy is communicated throughout the FishNet Security organization to drive best-of-breed solutions to customers.
Prior to joining FishNet Security, Palacio spent 10 years in military logistics systems as a civilian contractor. He began as a functional analyst designing modules for Marine Corps planning and execution systems and Army War Reserve systems. He helped advance the use of data collection and asset reconciliation through two dimensional barcodes, smart cards and radio frequency tag technology for equipment and personnel movement. He participated in several military exercises and spent six weeks in Bosnia conducting operational tests. While a consultant for Booz Allen & Hamilton, he spent two years living in Cairo, Egypt, implementing an automated issue, receipt and inventory audit system and the installation of radio frequency networks for remote data collection at 18 sites.
Born in Newport, Vt., and raised in Belgium and Spain, Palacio holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Hartford and a master's in international affairs from Georgetown University. He has traveled the world and been across the United States, covering stops in 29 countries and 40 states.