About Mel

A Personal Note from Mel

Hi, I’m Mel, a.k .a. Mr. Tech, and welcome to ETC!!!  Here’s some of the nuttiness I’ve orchestrated as a CEO, CIO, CISO, and, yes, CTO “Chaos to Order” Executive!  I’ve built teams that save or make companies money and have successfully navigated the IT and cybersecurity drama for over 30 years. Which include managing product launches, teams, and technical recovery programs, yielding increases of 300% to $12B in PayPal, eBay, and client engagement and retention efforts.

Our training deepens executives’ understanding of the IT, Cybersecurity, and Startup landscapes, empowering them to forge resilient teams.  With nearly two decades of coaching experience, I’ve led individuals and teams to new heights while supporting mastermind sessions for targeted verticals.

As a Keynote Speaker, I unify my Puerto Rican roots, being raised in NY, with my California lifestyle to deliver educational, incredibly entertaining, motivating, and empowering speeches.

Executive Advisor

As an advisor, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients to help them elevate and educate themselves, their families, and their teams to achieve 10x-level goals.  From CEOs, CIOs, CISOs, CFOs, senior leaders, startup founders, and business owners across many verticals, I’m an advisor who delivers on the power of connections and proven frameworks, removing limiting beliefs and shining a light on my clients’ superpowers.

Champion for Elevating Women, BIPOC, & LGBTQ Efforts

I’ve been heavily involved in mentoring, coaching, sponsoring affinity groups, and many leadership programs.  From WiCyS, ALPFA, SIM Women’s, OC Tech Life for Women, Black Cybersecurity Professionals, GRCIE, Youth Business Alliance, Life After Next, local education foundations, and as an Executive sponsor to organizational affinity groups.

MacGyver of IT & Security

I am the MacGyver of IT & Security, proudly building a safe and empowered culture.

My superpower is my learned ability to create an unfettered, shielded, and responsive culture resilient to radical context-switching by building a modern, collaborative, and agile environment.

I’ve partnered with businesses, media agencies, manufacturing groups, CPG organizations, and Fortune 5-1000 companies to create scalable, affordable technology value streams, delivering even when resources are constrained and timelines seem unattainable.

I’m also a mentor and coach who attracts, retains, and develops high-performing talent.

Startup Advisor and Board Member

On the flip side, I’m also an advisor and board member of several prestigious organizations, including the CISO Executive Network, CyberRisk Alliance, The CyberNest, Society for Information Management (SIM), Gartner Peer Insights, Vation Ventures, HMG Strategy Financial Services, and Pace University’s Cybersecurity Board.  I am a 10x+ startup advisor for Uno.ai, Apolyta, Scrut Automation, Zluri, Otomo, Lend for Good, VeraScore, Live Fr8, PieEye, and Reshuffle.

Keynote Speaker

I’m a highly sought-after advisor, mentor, moderator, and speaker for industry-leading organizations such as ISSA, NYU, SIM Women’s Leadership Summit, AFCOM, Black Cybersecurity Professionals, CISO Executive Network, Blue Lava, HMG, IIBA, OracleWorld, Hot Topics, and others.  I’ve also been a member of four Toastmasters organizations for over 25 years.

He’s a Giver Folks – Educate and Elevate

I’m an advisor and mentor to nonprofits such as Secure the Village, Tech Impact, Tech Elevator, GRCIE, B.R.I.D.G.E., Youth Business Alliance, Life After Next, Upkey, and many others. I’m passionate about giving back to the community and founded the Federation of Digital Guardians.  I still volunteer my experience to help non-profits educate and elevate.

Mel’s a Total Geek

To all my fellow tech geeks, please know I’ve managed all the major cloud providers and many mainstream and legacy development languages. I am a massive supporter of real Agile management.  I’ve also led security, risk, and audit assessments for PCI-DSS, NIST, ISO 27001, NYS DFS 500, SOX, HITRUST, HIPAA, as well as support CFPB, OCC, M&A, divestitures, AML, and compliance reviews.

Core services: Keynote Speaker, Personalized Executive Coaching, Group Masterminds Sessions, and Executive Leadership Training