ReliabilityFirst Corporation
Erik J. has a diverse work experience spanning various sectors. Erik began their career as a Senior Information Security Consultant at the Federal Reserve System in 2004, where they provided consultation on security practices and procedures and led a national auditing team. From 2010 to 2013, Erik founded and served as the Principal Consultant at Small Office Law Office (SOLO) Security, providing information security advocacy services to law firms. Erik conducted risk management analysis and provided recommendations for improving information security systems. Since 2013, Erik has been working at ReliabilityFirst Corporation, where they held the role of Manager of Critical Infrastructure Entity Development before transitioning to the role of Director of Reliability Analytics. In these roles, they focused on assuring grid reliability, identifying risks, and developing improvement plans. Erik's expertise lies in risk mitigation, data-driven decision making, and improving system reliability.
Erik J. has a Master of Science (MS) degree in Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance from DePaul University. Prior to that, they completed their Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration and Management, with a focus on Finance, at John Carroll University. Erik also has completed the Cisco Networking Academy Program at Lakeland Community College.
In addition to their formal education, Erik has obtained several certifications. Erik became a Certified Authorization Professional (CAP) from (ISC)² in January 2013. Erik also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute, received in May 2012. Erik is certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) by ISACA, obtaining the certification in September 2011 and April 2011. Erik is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), receiving the certification in October 2004 and September 2004. Furthermore, Erik is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from (ISC)², obtained in January 2004. Finally, they have achieved the CMMI Associate certification from the CMMI Institute in August 2017.
Erik also participated in the Executive Leadership Program at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, though the years of enrollment are not specified.
ReliabilityFirst Corporation
ReliabilityFirst works to maintain the reliability, security and resilience of the electric grid across 13 states and the District of Columbia, which stretches from the Atlantic Seaboard to Lake Michigan. The electric grid is the backbone of our economy, is critical for our national security and necessary to support our public welfare. In fact, a reliable and secure electric grid is fundamental to our most basic daily routines and needs. Our mission is to ensure that this cornerstone to our national well-being is reliable and secure – not only for today but also for tomorrow. To achieve this mission, we bring together a diverse and broad spectrum of experts from across the nation with various professional, technical, and industry backgrounds. We identify and prioritize risks facing our electric grid; determine sustainable mitigation strategies to address these identified risks; and develop and deploy communication and outreach strategies to drive awareness and further ensure risk resolution. Our team includes electrical engineers, computer engineers and cyber security experts, statisticians and risk experts, attorneys and regulatory experts, professional auditors, systems engineers, organizational design experts, and professional trainers. ReliabilityFirst is one of only six companies across North America that are responsible for this vital work under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-approved delegation agreements with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Specifically, our company is responsible for the reliability and security of the electric grid in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes areas of the United States, which includes all or portions of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia. We are proud to call Cleveland, Ohio our home.