Expanding the Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline: 2023 CIO Marathon Each year, the CISE Education Fund hosts its most important fundraising event of the year: the CIO Marathon. The 2023 CIO Marathon is slated for Oct. 5 and 19 – and presentation slots are already filling early. Employers across the Bay Area continue to struggle with shifting cybersecurity workforce readiness, availability, and geographic concerns. As consistently reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roles like information security analyst will have a growth rate of 31 percent over the next decade compared to the 4 percent average growth rate for most other occupations. While the data is daunting, there is a resource dedicated to preparing the next generation of great talent right in the heart of Oakland, California – the Merritt College Cybersecurity Program. The Consortium of Information Systems Executives (CISE), a non-profit and professional community of current and former Chief Information Officers, works closely with Merritt College to raise funds to improve and develop the capabilities of the next generation of technology professionals in the Bay Area – preparing great talent ready for internships and entry-level positions. The CIO Marathon Each year, the CISE Education Fund hosts its most important fundraising event of the year: the CIO Marathon. The 2023 CIO Marathon is slated for Oct. 5 and 19, hosted at Merritt College – and presentation slots are already filling early. This event helps raise funds to support top cybersecurity talent by bringing together top technology leaders from Bay Area companies to provide feedback to presenters who have reserved pitching slots. Perspective presenters can reserve their spot for $9,500. All proceeds go to fund scholarships. To date, CISE has had more than 10 CIO Marathons, has heard 100+ company pitches, sponsored more than 110 students and raised more than $1 million to fund student scholarships. StrataFusion Partner Mark Egan has been involved from the start as a member of CISE and the Merritt College Cybersecurity Program, helping students prepare for the workforce. “With the collective cost of data breaches expected to reach $5 trillion by next year, Cybersecurity is more crucial to business resiliency, and we must ensure we have the talent ready to meet the challenges ahead,” Egan says. “The Merritt College Cybersecurity program provides the talent pipeline and CISE ensures students have a viable path to success.” As your cybersecurity needs grow, be sure to connect with Merritt College to hire some of the best (and most prepared) young professionals entering the cybersecurity workforce. Take action! Reserve now! CISE is now accepting corporate presenters for the 2023 CIO Marathon ! Prospective presenters can email Mark.Egan@stratafusion.com . The CIO Marathon also includes “Selling to CIO training” and two presentation dry runs. Networking dinner Oct. 19 for all participants. Each company can have up to two guests at the CIO Marathon dinner. Learn how you can strengthen your cybersecurity bench by hiring Merritt College graduates and interns https://community.stratafusion.com/merritt-job-seekers