Issue 8

Message from the Chapter President

There are several events scheduled for April and May including our Annual Chapter Members Meeting. We are proud to announce TEKsystems as our first official Chapter sponsor. They are kindly hosting the Chapter Member Meeting and will providing catering. TEK has also supported the NOLAsec group and is helping re-launch the AFCEA Silicon Bayou Chapter. They certainly are great partners who help support the cybersecurity and technical professional community through networking as well as career growth opportunities. We look forward to having more in-person events with them this year!

For the Annual Chapters Members meeting, we received a few responses to the call for volunteers and volunteer Leaders. This past year Chapter Leadership formed a bylaws Committee that has proposed updates to the Chapter bylaws. Special thanks to Andy Thibodeaux, Maddy Ohlsen, and Matthew Dovie as well as those who volunteered their time reviewing and revising the bylaws.

The summary of the bylaws updates includes adopting the ISC2 example while incorporating language from the original bylaws where appropriate, revisions were made to be compliant with Louisiana statues for 501(c)(3) organizations, changes from (ISC)2 to ISC2 per the new branding, and adhering to the specific provisions outlined in the original ISC2 Chapter Agreement. In accordance with LA statute RS 12:224, the new bylaws clarify the roles and responsibility of Officers, Chairs, and Directors. The Chapter will form a committee for the purpose of nominating and vetting at least at least three to serve in the Board of Directors, which is distinct from Officers and Chair roles. The Directors are to be elected by the Members in an upcoming meeting. The need to update the bylaws was also partly because the founding Chapter Leader names were written in the bylaws. These Members are no longer serving in these roles thus the bylaws Committee has proposed amendments that allow the structure of Leadership to better support the Purpose and Objectives of the Chapter. The Chapter Leadership endorses the proposed changes from the Committee.

An email was sent to all Members with links to the current bylaws and the proposed draft of the bylaws to which we will vote at the Chapter Members Meeting. This is an opportunity for Members to review and provide feedback on the bylaws. The committee will collect the input and either incorporate revisions or add them to the agenda for discussion at the meeting. After the Members vote, if adopted, the bylaws will be submitted to ISC2.

We did not need to conduct an election for Leaders this year as there was only one volunteer per Chapter Officer and Chair position. This term we welcome Joseph Jaubert and Emanual ‘Manny’ Ohlsen as Membership Chair and Events Chair, respectfully. We also welcome Kevin Forest who will serve in an Associate to assist Membership, Outreach, and Events where needed. Benjamin Bourcy has volunteered to fill the Vice-President position.

We would like to thank Andy Thibodeaux and Matthew Dovie (founding Member) for their support of the Chapter. They will both transition into a Chapter Advisor’s Committee that will become a way for current Leaders to seek perspective and guidance from past Leaders.

2024-2026 Chapter Leadership (Officers & Chairs)

• President – Darrell Eilts, PhD., CISSP
• Vice President – Benjamin Bourcy, CISSP
• Treasurer – Reginald “Sonny” Smith, CISSP
• Secretary – Troy Albarado, CISSP
• Membership Chair – Emanual “Manny” Ohlsen, CISSP
• Outreach Chair – Allen Ardoin, CC
• Events Chair – Joseph Joubert, CISSP

Chapter Leaders Advisory Committee

• Matthew Dovie, CISSP
• Andy Thibodaux, CISSP

We look forward to seeing you at the Chapter Members Meeting. Again, thanks in advance to TEKsystems for hosting. We also hope for a great showing at our upcoming virtual events. As always please visit the Chapter website and connect with us on social media. Help spread the word about Chapter events and remind anyone interested in the profession of information security that they do NOT need to be ISC2 certified to join the Chapter.

ISC2 CGC Chapter