Cyber Shield: Navigating Crisis Control in a Digital Age

In an era where cyber threats are more sophisticated and prevalent than ever, organizations must be prepared to both prevent and respond to crises swiftly. Join us for Cyber Shield: Navigating Crisis Control in a Digital Age, whether you're a business leader, IT professional, or digital enthusiast, this session will provide valuable knowledge to enhance your cybersecurity posture, fortify your defenses and navigate the complexities of digital crisis communication and management with confidence.

Speakers:

Jen Lotze

Jennifer Lotze serves as the Cyber Security Coordinator (CSC) for the state of Minnesota in Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Jennifer supports CISA’s mission of strengthening critical infrastructure.

Jennifer has been with CISA since 2024. Prior to joining CISA, Jennifer was previously a special education teacher followed by leading the technology department for the Hudson School District in Hudson, WI. In this role, Jennifer orchestrated initiatives to integrate technology seamlessly into educational practices, ensuring equitable access for all students, planned several major infrastructure upgrades including a 100 million dollar referendum project and created a culture of safety/security that is currently deeply embedded within all district processes.

She dedicates her time to volunteer efforts, previously serving as the organization Chair for the Wisconsin Educational Technology Leaders organization. In this capacity, she lent her expertise to shape statewide initiatives, provided professional learning for district technology leaders and advocated for the effective integration of technology in education. Currently, Jennifer serves as the President for the Northwest region for Women in Technology – Wisconsin, championing diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. She also served as the K-12 lead on the Wisconsin Critical Infrastructure Cyber Security Grant Working Group and led the Cyber Security Curriculum working group, collaborating with the National Cyber Watch Center to develop educational pathways for teaching cybersecurity in K-12 schools.

Tracy Habisch Ahlin

Tracy Habisch-Ahlin has led the Hudson School District’s communications and community relations activities for over sixteen years. As the leader of a one-person school communications shop, Tracy has lived all the roles of a school PR professional. With an educational background in childhood trauma and resiliency in kids, Tracy willingly took on the responsibility of developing the Hudson School District’s crisis prevention,  preparedness, response and recovery plan. Her combination of social service and school communications provides a systems approach in response to crises. In addition to her work with the Hudson School District, she serves as a regional Critical Incident Response Team member with the WI Office of School Safety. She is a past-president of the WI School Public Relations Association and has written articles and presented on crisis communication as an active member of the organization.