Dear Fellow Members,
Spring is right around the corner and hopefully most of the winter weather is behind us. March 1 marks the start of Women’s History Month. ISACA and ISACA GWDC continues support of Women in Technology initiatives through the SheLeadsTech program. SheLeadsTech seeks to increase the representation of women in technology leadership roles and the tech workforce.

Source: ISACA 2019 State of Cybersecurity
GWDC is hosting our annual Women In Technology Conference on March 14. This full day event offers 7 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits and valuable education and awareness on topics such as Cyber Warfare, Career Pathways to Leadership roles, Building a Security Culture, and understanding the cyber workforce of the future. This conference is a great opportunity for both women and men to come together to understand the latest industry challenges and trends while keeping a focus on promoting initiatives that support women in technology.
According to ISACA’s 2019 State of Cybersecurity report released this month, there is still a considerable skills and workforce shortage in cybersecurity. This should come as no surprise to anyone, but it also serves as a stark reminder that there is a severe gender gap. Closing the gender gap in technology fields is crucial to resolving the overall workforce gap.
ISACA GWDC is committed to providing timely and relevant education opportunities to members and those in the community. We have a number of education events scheduled between now and the end of June. This includes a hands on full day hands on seminar for Blockchain Security.
Do not forget – the nomination period for the V. Lee Conyers Award is now open and continues through March 29. This industry-recognized award recognizes dedication to our industry, ISACA, and the GWDC, and holds historical significance to the Chapter. Be sure to nominate candidates you feel are deserving of the recognition.
We encourage everyone to follow GWDC on social media. We increasingly share updates and news on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn on a regular basis.
Respectfully,
Jason Yakencheck
GWDC President
CISSP-ISSAP, CISM, CISA, PMP

Jason joined ISACA in 2006 and presently serves as GWDC Past President. He’s served on the Chapter Board of Directors since 2014. Jason is very involved with ISACA Global and some of his volunteering consists of serving on the Chapter Services Working Group, Leadership Development Advisory Council, and contributing significantly to CISA and CISM exam preparation content. Jason has received 40 under 40 Awards from AFCEA International for his contributions to the STEM field and from Leadership Center of Excellence for his leadership in the Washington, D.C. region. Jason is an Associate Partner within IBM’s Cybersecurity and Biometrics Practice. He holds the CISSP-ISSAP, CISA, CISM, and PMP certifications.