Steve Bono, Founder, CEO
Since he formed ISE in 2005, Steve has grown the Baltimore-based company into a cyber-threat mitigation and solutions entity widely recognized for its thought leadership, excellence, integrity, and dedication to its clients.
Steve's unique approach has defined a proprietary methodology that attracts and utilizes a team of leading scientists, academics, and experts who specialize in the mindset of hackers. "You need to think like an attacker to defend against him. And furthermore, we endeavor to understand the business process surrounding our clients' assets; to develop mitigation strategies that promote business continuity, save costs, and still get them secure as fast as possible. Know your enemy; know yourself."
Steve has also incubated a powerful research division within ISE, making it one of the few companies to execute technology security evaluation while simultaneously forwarding the state of the art in new attacks and attack defenses. ISE’s involvement in the research community helps our team anticipate threats to our clients' assets, and allows us to provide cutting-edge modern mitigation strategies.
Ted Harrington, Executive Partner
Ted Harrington is the #1 best selling author of HACKABLE: How to Do Application Security Right, and the Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators (ISE), the company of ethical hackers famous for hacking cars, medical devices, web applications, and password managers. He’s helped hundreds of companies fix tens of thousands of security vulnerabilities, including Google, Amazon, and Netflix. Ted has been featured in more than 100 media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Forbes. His team founded and organizes IoT Village, an event whose hacking contest is a four-time DEF CON Black Badge winner. He hosts the Tech Done Different podcast.
Ted is a Boston Marathon finisher, and holds a Bachelor's degree from Georgetown University where he started his first company while a student. Follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter
Sara Pickering, Sr. Director of People and Organizational Development
Sara Pickering is the Director of Talent Development at Independent Security Evaluators (ISE). Self-proclaimed HR Nerd, she works with business leaders at ISE to ensure that people strategy aligns with the company values and culture. Sara strives to build trust and high levels of employee engagement while supporting teams and leaders to achieve their goals. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the cyber security industry.
Sara also contributes to ISE’s conference content, the IoT Village, at conferences across the US, like DEFCON and RSAC, and around the world by advocating for IoT security and giving talks targeted at individuals just entering the workforce or making a career change into cyber security.
Before ISE, Sara worked at Experis IT Solutions for 10 years supporting clients including Microsoft, HP, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. She has a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, and holds the PHR and SHRM-CP certifications. Sara volunteers with a dog rescue and at the VA and has an addiction to upcycling.
Tom Cullison, Director of Software Development
As Director of the Software Development at ISE, Tom Cullison oversees a team of highly skilled developers, project managers, and support specialists. His team is responsible for the construction, monitoring, and maintenance of ISE's software solutions. Tom has 25 years of software development experience in healthcare, finance, and consulting.
Tom has an affinity for the rule of three.
Kyle Perkins, Director of Professional Services
Kyle Perkins is the Director of Professional Services at Independent Security Evaluators (ISE). Kyle specializes in program management and is responsible for the high-level view of the entire program, and strategically guides project managers, analysts, and auditors to ensure they are all working effectively toward ISE’s objectives. His incredibly talented team works directly with ISE's partners to build secure products, tools, and services. Kyle has over 10 years of project management experience in service delivery and a master’s degree from Penn State University.
Luke Phillips, Director of Professional Services
"Cool Hand" Luke Phillips is a Director of Professional Services at ISE, focusing on the team's resource and data management. Luke oversees an impressive team of project managers and expert security analysts with the goal of delivering outstanding value and service to ISE's partners. Luke has over 20 years of combined experience in banking, investment management, data analytics, project management and military service; serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United State Air Force from 1999-2004.
Luke is passionate about family and work-life balance; he enjoys getting outdoors with his family and coaching his daughter's soccer team.