Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Michael Ferris has been a founder and CEO of several companies over the past 25 years. His success led him to become Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011, and a judge for the EY National Awards from 2021 – 2023.  In addition, Michael is former Chairman for New Mountain Capital Private Equity Group portfolio company – Valet Living and Committee Member, Department of Homeland Security – ISAC.  Mr. Ferris is currently CEO of Abacode Cybersecurity & Compliance based in Tampa, Florida.

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President

Mallory serves as President of Abacode, a leading provider of award-winning cybersecurity and continuous compliance across the entire threat landscape. In her previous role, she oversaw the development and ongoing business operations of Abacode’s proprietary digital platform, SCOUT, ensuring the digitization of application solutions to support the Abacode team’s needs.

Formerly serving as Bravado Health’s President & CEO, Mallory led the management of Ayva, a patient engagement software platform, and Treat, an e-prescribing platform. Under her leadership, Mallory restructured the business’s legal and financial structures, positioning both products for acquisition within 15 months.

Prior to Bravado Health, Mallory founded and led MTT Innovations, consulting government entities, non-profits, healthcare, and technology companies on strategic initiatives for growth. She also co-founded and served as CEO of assessURhealth, a mental and behavioral health software company delivering instant, mission-critical data reporting on assessments in multiple languages.

With over 15 years of experience in healthcare technology and mergers & acquisitions, Mallory has held various leadership positions, including Vice President of a healthcare technology company overseeing multiple departments and divisions. Her strategic direction led to the successful execution of multiple acquisitions, including five within an eight-month period with internal financing.

Mallory’s expertise extends to her tenure at a multi-billion-dollar global conglomerate, where she ran the company’s most profitable M&A strike team, generating over $1.5 billion in new revenue. She engages with political and industry experts, including HHS, and was formerly a member of the White House Business Council.

Recognized for her achievements, Mallory has been honored in numerous publications and awards, including being a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, TBBW Businesswoman of the Year Honoree – Healthcare in 2023, and Apogee Award – COO finalist in 2022. She has been named a TBBJ Up & Comer under 30 & under 40 honoree and received the Businesswoman of the Year Honoree award in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Mallory has also been listed on Business Observer’s 40 Under 40 list

In 2024, Mallory garnered significant recognition for her leadership and contributions. Women We Admire named her one of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Tampa, highlighting her pivotal role in driving organizational growth and innovation in the city of Tampa. She was also a finalist in the Women Who Win awards, in the technology category, hosted by TBBW, showcasing her expertise and achievements in the tech industry. Additionally, she joined the Forbes Technology Council, solidifying her position as a thought leader and influencer in the tech world.

Mallory graduated summa cum laude from LSU with a B.A. in Political Science and is currently pursuing her master’s in international business & policy from Georgetown University. Her dedication to innovation and excellence continues to drive her success in the healthcare and technology sectors.

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Chief Security Operations Officer

Rolando is a seasoned Technology Executive with over 25 years of experience in Cybersecurity, IT Consulting, Program Management, and Business Operations. He began his career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) after earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. During his 15-year tenure at Accenture, he led international engagements across multiple continents in the Telecommunications and Utilities sectors, overseeing data protection, security programs, and policy development. In 2014, he co-founded Abacode. As the Chief Security Officer, he oversees Abacode’s Security Operations Center practice and internal compliance initiatives.

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Chief Financial Officer

Jared Shimberg is the leader of Abacode’s Finance and Admin division, overseeing Finance, Legal, People Operations, and Revenue Operations. Jared has an extensive finance and analytics background, previously heading both the Revenue Operations and FP&A teams at Abacode. Prior to his tenure at Abacode, Jared worked for two years as a Business Analyst on the Profit Management team at Wayfair. Jared holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brown University and started at Abacode in early 2020.

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Vice President of Operations

Tomas Idinge is a Technology leader with over 25 years of technology-related experience with organizations like Accenture, Raymond James, and USAA, with over 20 of those years delivering professional services.  He has led global application and service delivery teams, managed large-scale technology programs, and led IT vendor management and risk functions across industries like Utilities, Manufacturing, and Financial Services.  Tomas earned his Master of Business Administration from Florida International University where he also played four years of Division 1 soccer.

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Vice President of Security Operations Center

Robert Lubin has more than 20 years of cybersecurity experience in the military, private, and national intelligence sectors. Robert holds a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of South Florida. He is also a graduate of the Arabic and French programs at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.

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Vice President of Customer Success

Katie is the VP of Customer Success at Abacode. With a lifelong dedication to customer service, she has spent over 7 years actively involved in Customer Success Teams. Graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Rehabilitation Psychology, Katie brings a unique blend of empathy and problem-solving skills to her role. She excels at building strong relationships and leveraging her deep understanding of customer needs to drive exceptional outcomes. As the leader of the Customer Success department, Katie is committed to delivering tailored strategies, providing ongoing support, and ensuring client satisfaction. With her expertise and passion for customer success, Katie plays a crucial role in helping Abacode’s clients achieve their cybersecurity and compliance objectives.

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VP of Executive Operations

Keshia serves as the VP of Executive Operations, specializing in operational efficiency and people operations optimization. With a solid academic foundation, she holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing and a Master’s in Health Informatics from the University of South Florida, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine with a specialization in Mindful Leadership. Her career spans over a decade as a Registered Nurse, focused primarily on quality reporting and business outcomes, followed by a pivotal role as Chief People Officer at a leading patient engagement software company.

Keshia is deeply committed to enhancing business outcomes, leveraging her expertise to drive strategic improvements and operational excellence. Her passion for integrating people and technology fuels her approach to optimizing processes and performance.

Outside of her professional life, Keshia enjoys spending quality time with her young son, exploring the vibrant city of Tampa, and engaging in strategic games of chess.

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Director of Marketing & Demand Generation

Isaiah Jackson is a distinguished Marketing Leader, known as a Revenue Growth Strategist and B2B Marketing Transformation Expert. With a well-established track record of achieving multi-million-dollar revenue growth, he commits to guiding B2B organizations towards industry leadership and sustained growth. 

His skillset includes redefining the Lead-Won process, establishing and optimizing a demand generation and inbound program, implementing and developing automation technologies, brand development and positioning, and development of content and sales enablement materials. His focus is on training, developing, and scaling teams to perform at a higher level and work more efficiently and aligning departments to work together to achieve the same goals.

Isaiah has over 12 years of Marketing and Demand Generation experience with a Bachelor of Management, from the CUNY Brooklyn College and a Master of Business Administration through the University of South Florida Executive MBA Program. 

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Director of Finance & Accounting

Yanni Kastrenakes, a native of Tampa, Florida, is a seasoned professional in the field of accounting and finance. He pursued his academic journey at George Washington University, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Accounting. Following his academic achievements, Yanni diligently pursued his CPA license, cementing his expertise in the financial realm.

With a robust background in accounting and finance, Yanni has honed his skills through diverse professional experiences. His previous roles in financial auditing and financial reporting have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of financial processes and regulations.

In 2022, Yanni embarked on a new chapter in his career journey by joining Abacode as an Accounting Manager. He now serves as Director, Finance and Accounting, leveraging his skills to drive financial success for the organization.

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Vice President of Sales

Jim Wright is an optimistic and enthusiastic sales professional with over 15 years of experience as a sales manager. He is skilled at developing the right action plan for each of his client’s unique needs and committed to helping them choose the best products and services. Throughout his career, Jim has earned the trust of several national and international companies and maintained strong client relationships that generate repeat business. He attributes his success to his ability to listen to customers and put their needs first.

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Director of Americas Channel

As the driving force behind Abacode’s channel initiatives, CJ takes the lead in shaping and expanding the company’s dynamic partner network. With an extensive background spanning over a decade in the IT channel, CJ has skillfully catered to partners of various profiles and sizes. His strong commitment to maintaining the integrity of the channel forms the foundation of his approach, helping to cultivate long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships.

CJ’s standout quality lies in his exceptional ability to craft innovative joint go-to-market strategies that leverage the strengths of both parties, yielding solutions that achieve desired business outcomes. At the core of Abacode’s guiding principles, CJ plays a pivotal role in instilling a channel-first perspective across sales, delivery, and operations.

CJ’s influence extends beyond his role, fostering a culture that champions collaboration and partnership. His academic journey includes a BS in Financial Economics from Anderson University, where he also stood as the captain of the men’s golf team, showcasing his leadership both on and off the field.

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Board of Advisors

Michael Brooks is a security and compliance executive with over 20 years of experience in developing, implementing, and operating cybersecurity programs for the Department of Defense and private sector clients in numerous industries. He is a retired Air Force officer with experience as both a Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. Mike holds an MBA from American Military University and is also a credentialed Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

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Board of Advisors

Bob Anastasi is a recently retired investment professional with broad experience in capital markets and technology. He is the former Chair of Global Equity Research at Raymond James Financial, where he led the development of one of the largest investment research platforms in the brokerage industry. Prior to joining Raymond James in 1999, Mr. Anastasi covered the technology industry at The Robinson Humphrey Company beginning in 1982. He was ranked among the top five PC analysts in The Wall Street Journal Best on the Street survey five times, twice taking top honors. He was also named one of 20 executives to watch in the computer industry by Computer Reseller News. Mr. Anastasi also held a variety of management positions with Hewlett Packard and Ford Motor Company. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

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Board of Advisors

Brian Costello has been an executive and entrepreneur in the technology industry for thirty years and is considered a thought leader on how to protect our country’s most critical technology and economic assets from today’s threats.

He has held executive positions in some of the largest cybersecurity and technology organizations, including Guardent (now Secureworks) and VeriSign. Following his leadership role at VeriSign, Brian worked closely with the RSA leadership team as an advisor to help build out its security consulting organization. Mr. Costello also worked with a number of congressional offices and committees and served as an expert in the media on today’s geopolitical landscape.

Brian was a key member of the Guardent –backed by Sequoia Capital, NEA, and Charles River– leadership team that sold Guardent to VeriSign redefining the Managed Security Service Space. Following the completion of the merger, Brian ran VeriSign’s Global Consulting division (now part of AT&T) and helped to create one of the country’s top cyber-security consulting organizations, with many Fortune 500 companies counted as customers across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Brian has contributed to the development of significant security compliance solutions in a variety of industries, including retail, financial services, healthcare, technology, and government.

Mr. Costello graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, with a Bachelor of Science in International Management. He is the father of three children.

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Board of Advisors

Ms. Schwarzkopf is the eldest daughter of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who is most well-known for his coalition command of 765,000 soldiers, from 28 different countries, during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield in the Persian Gulf War.

Cindy continues her father’s work as a motivational speaker and support for the U.S. armed forces. In addition to speaking, Cindy is accomplished in her own right with a professional background in marketing, the Las Vegas gaming and hospitality industry, human resources, government relations work and real estate. She currently serves on the Board of Directors and for MIAX Options, MIAX Pearl and MIAX Emerald which through their various options trading models now has access to approximately 80% of the overall U.S. options market volume.

Ms. Schwarzkopf joins a growing group of accomplished Abacode Advisory Board Members. Her contribution in the Government, Federal Supply Chain, DoD Contractors and Financial Services sectors brings incredible value to Abacode.

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Board of Advisors

Nick is a highly experienced cybersecurity expert with a track record of success in helping clients effectively address cyber risks. He excels in refining and measuring controls and capabilities for cyber risk readiness, using a combination of systems thinking and logistical expertise to assist clients in considering the strategic business outcomes, technology supporting those goals, and the inherent cyber risks in the technology and processes used. He is well-versed in regulatory impact on cyber risks and incorporates considerations of value at risk when making decisions.

Nick helps companies assess their data value, volume, variety, variability, velocity, and veracity to understand their data risk and revenue generation opportunities. He uses this approach to help companies identify their most valuable data assets, understands their risk exposures, and develop strategies to protect and leverage their data.

Having helped companies of all sizes integrate risk disciplines into their business strategy through the use of probabilistic thinking, root cause analysis techniques, and decision-making criteria including success criteria and stop criteria. He has held various senior security and technology roles, including Chief Security Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and Chief Information Officer, where he modernized technology and implemented Agile software delivery and public cloud options.

Currently, Nick offers fractional vCISO/CIO advisory consulting services and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Bay Area CSO Council. He is the author of “Cyber War…and Peace: Building Digital Trust with History as our Guide” and is a sought-after speaker at conferences. He is well-versed in the regulatory landscape and able to effectively integrate regulatory compliance into his clients’ cyber risk management strategies.

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Board of Advisors

Andy Swenson is a seasoned executive and consultant with national and international experience in cybersecurity and information technology focused on improving business results. He demonstrated success as the CIO/CISO/CTO of multiple high growth public companies as well as through Professional Services and Consulting leadership. His focus is on the application of technology to businesses to improve operations, build new revenue opportunities, and enhance customer service.

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Board of Advisors

Ben Trowbridge is an Award-Winning CEO & Board Member who has led five organizations from inception to $50M to $300M in revenue, three of which resulted in successful exit events.

Ben currently serves on the board of advisors for Abacode Inc., an innovative Cybersecurity compliance and services company, the board of directors for Working Solutions, a leading work-from-home contact center BPO firm, the board of advisors for Spacee, a computer vision and artificial intelligence company transforming the way inventory is managed, and as a board member with Beyond Capital Fund – a leading Social Impact Investment Fund. He previously served as Chairman of Alsbridge India and ProBenchmark PLC.

He founded EY’s Global Cybersecurity as a Service practice, where he approached, recruited, and hired a leadership team and developed the strategy that moved it from concept to becoming the highest growth managed services business unit.

While at EY, he was named to the Outsourcing Leadership Hall of Fame and the  2019 “Innovator of the Year” by CEO magazine.

Mr. Trowbridge was educated at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts. He is a former United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer, is married, and has two children.

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