Celester Dukes
Hartland,TX
Summary
Accomplished and results-driven IT and cybersecurity leader with over 10 years of experience in aligning business objectives with technology solutions, driving strategic transformations, and leading high-performance teams. Expertise in overseeing enterprise-wide security initiatives, managing third-party risk, and leading M&A due diligence and integration efforts to ensure seamless technology and security alignment. Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and executive leadership to identify business needs, implement scalable solutions, and mitigate risks in complex environments. Adept at fostering a culture of continuous improvement through training, mentorship, and the development of strategic roadmaps that enhance operational efficiency, resilience, and compliance. Recognized for delivering measurable results through a blend of technical acumen, strategic thinking, and effective communication.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Business Information Security Officer, Vice President
Wells Fargo
07.2024 - Current
- Spearhead enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategies, aligning with business goals and driving risk management improvements across Wells Fargo.
- Acted as a strategic liaison between Information Security, IT, and multiple business units to align cybersecurity initiatives with enterprise business goals.
- Regularly collaborated with senior business leaders to influence and shape technology strategy, earning a “seat at the table” as a trusted advisor for digital risk and innovation planning.
- Drove cross-functional integration efforts for security programs within M&A activity, ensuring efficient and compliant onboarding of acquired entities into the enterprise ecosystem.
- Built and led cross-disciplinary teams to assess risk, reduce complexities, and ensure business continuity during integration and transformation projects.
- Fostered cross-functional partnerships, aligning security initiatives with business objectives.
- Translated technical risk data into actionable business intelligence using tools like PowerBI to inform C-suite stakeholders and influence strategic decision-making.
- Delivered strategic insights and executive briefings grounded in metrics-driven evaluation, enabling informed decisions on investment in technology solutions.
- Mentored team members, building a high-performing security organization that supports Wells Fargo's growth.
- Championed a culture of continuous learning and organizational improvement, introducing performance evaluation frameworks that enhanced IT-business alignment.
- Demonstrated success in navigating ambiguous environments, especially during rapid digital transformation, by applying adaptive leadership and clear communication.
- Established foundational processes and frameworks for the BISO team, defining governance, engagement models, and reporting structures that continue to guide enterprise-wide security-business alignment initiatives.
- Championed collaboration with senior leadership to design and deploy tailored phishing simulations, targeting team-specific vulnerabilities to enhance security awareness and foster a culture of proactive cyber defense.
Sr. Information Security Analyst, Third Party Risk, Assistant Vice President
Wells Fargo
01.2024 - 07.2024
- Develop forward-thinking security strategies, aligning cybersecurity initiatives with Wells Fargo's long-term business objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Managed the security lifecycle of Critical and High-Risk rated third-party applications and vendors, ensuring alignment with enterprise risk appetite, regulatory expectations, and cybersecurity standards.
- Led due diligence and continuous monitoring activities for high-impact vendors, proactively identifying emerging risks and driving mitigation strategies in partnership with internal stakeholders.
- Developed and delivered targeted training programs for primary business liaisons and relationship managers, equipping them with the knowledge to identify, assess, and manage third-party security risks.
- Facilitated quarterly business reviews with stakeholders and vendors, synthesizing risk data and performance insights to inform strategic direction and accountability.
- Created standardized documentation and playbooks for onboarding, monitoring, and reviewing high-risk vendors, which were adopted as best practices across the program.
- Built strong cross-functional partnerships with Procurement, Legal, and IT, enabling efficient, risk-aware third-party decision-making and governance.
- Acted as a security SME for critical vendor engagements, guiding business leaders and IT stakeholders through complex risk decisions involving key third-party applications and services.
- Partnered cross-functionally to resolve complex security issues, ensuring timely project completion and contributing to company-wide initiatives.
Information Security Analyst, Third Party Risk Assistant Vice President
Wells Fargo
09.2023 - 01.2024
- Managed the Third-Party Governance and Risk Program, overseeing 80+ vendor relationships and ensuring compliance with information security policies and regulatory frameworks, achieving a 98% on-time assessment completion rate.
- Led comprehensive risk assessment activities, including ownership of the Inherent Risk Questionnaire (IRQ) process, supporting strategic vendor oversight and continuous monitoring.
- Developed and delivered enterprise training programs for employees, business liaisons, and relationship managers on third-party risk management practices, enhancing organizational risk maturity.
- Hosted and facilitated over 60 business reviews, training sessions, and executive briefings, translating security risks into business-aligned recommendations that influenced operational decisions.
- Created and enforced policies and procedures that improved operational efficiency, reduced third-party risk exposure, and strengthened compliance posture across the enterprise.
- Monitored and responded to regulatory changes affecting information security; advised senior stakeholders on policy adjustments and ensured proactive alignment with compliance expectations.
- Collaborated with internal lines of business (LOBs) to integrate security requirements into existing business infrastructure, ensuring smooth implementation and minimal disruption.
- Acted as a liaison between business, security, and IT stakeholders, ensuring timely resolution of escalated issues and supporting alignment of vendor activities with enterprise strategy.
- Participated in internal audits and enterprise risk forums, identifying security risks across business units and driving remediation plans with actionable, measurable outcomes.
- Reviewed and advised on the development, testing, and implementation of security controls and technologies, enhancing the bank's resilience and third-party defense-in-depth strategy.
- Recognized as a top performer in the company, featured in multiple company campaigns, and consistently receiving “Exceeds” ratings in performance evaluations and multiple spotlight awards
Technical Business Service Associate, Associate Vice President
Wells Fargo
01.2023 - 09.2023
- Supported enterprise third-party security risk program, conducting risk assessments and coordinating with vendors to ensure adherence to Wells Fargo’s information security policies and regulatory expectations.
- Served as a liaison between the Third-Party Risk Office, Information Security, and Business Relationship Managers, helping align vendor risks with business tolerance and strategy.
Network Engineer
Verizon/Frontier
06.2017 - 01.2023
- Designed, implemented, and maintained secure enterprise network infrastructure, enabling scalable growth, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience across business units.
- Led special projects directly supporting business partners, addressing network performance issues, improving connectivity, and accelerating service delivery for frontline operations.
- Acted as a liaison between IT and business stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into actionable solutions and educating teams on network capabilities and evolving technologies.
- Provided white-glove support on high-impact issues, stepping in where frontline support could not resolve challenges, reinforcing trust in IT and enhancing business continuity.
- Championed network optimization strategies, improving system speed, stability, and availability across multiple sites by aligning technical improvements with user needs and business objectives.
- Stayed current on evolving cybersecurity threats and network vulnerabilities, integrating modern defense strategies and resilience planning into network architecture.
Lead Fiber Analyst
Verizon/Frontier
06.2017 - 11.2019
- Oversaw a team of 30 analysts, leading day-to-day operations, performance management, and development initiatives to drive team effectiveness and service excellence.
- Served as the primary escalation contact for high-impact network issues, providing expert guidance and ensuring swift resolution to support business continuity and customer satisfaction.
- Optimized fiber network performance through proactive maintenance and root cause analysis, significantly reducing downtime and increasing service reliability.
- Conducted deep-dive network analyses, identifying systemic inefficiencies and implementing data-driven improvements that enhanced operational scalability and efficiency.
- Designed and delivered structured training programs, equipping analysts with the tools, knowledge, and best practices to boost productivity, reduce error rates, and drive consistent performance.
Fiber Optic Analyst
Verizon
01.2015 - 06.2017
- Led as Subject Matter Expert for Presidential Escalations, working directly with senior leadership and technical teams to resolve high-profile customer and partner incidents.
- Trained over 100 employees, empowering staff to better support both consumer and enterprise customer segments.
- Balanced priorities across residential support, enterprise-grade troubleshooting, and business partner engagement, contributing to a holistic, high-performing support model.
- Diagnosed and resolved complex hardware/software issues across residential and business customer environments, improving network availability and service satisfaction.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction rates through detailed analysis of customer feedback data and subsequent improvements in service offerings.
Education
Associate in Science -
Dallas College
Mechanical Engineering -
The University of Texas At Arlington
Cyber Security -
Western Governors University
Skills
- IT Business Alignment
- Executive Stakeholder Engagement
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management
- Strategic Planning & Technology Roadmapping
- Business Continuity and Incident Response
- Training
- Agile Decision Making
- Continuous Learner
Certification
- Azure Fundamentals
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations 2021 Associate
- Six Sigma Yellow and White Belt
- AWS Machine Learning Foundations
- Scrum Fundamentals SFC
- A+, Network+, and Security+ Diploma
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
- Infosec Java Cohort
- Google IT Fundamentals Certification & GCP Cohort
- ISC2 Cybersecurity
Accomplishments
- Leadership and Training: Developed and implemented comprehensive training programs for employees, enhancing understanding of roles and responsibilities in third-party assessments. Served as a mentor and go-to resource for colleagues, providing guidance and ensuring accuracy in assessments and compliance procedures.
- Public Speaking and Recognition: Presented at numerous panels within the company and featured in multiple advertisements and commercials, showcasing expertise and leadership in information security.
- Policy and Procedure Enhancement: Spearheading a policy and procedure improvement that if implemented will result in increased operational efficiency and compliance, reducing risk exposure and enhancing overall performance.
- Certifications and Professional Development: Achieved over 10 certifications and honors from prestigious organizations such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, Oracle, and ISC2, demonstrating commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
- Performance and Reviews: Consistently received "exceeds expectations" ratings in mid-year and end-year performance reviews, reflecting strong leadership, initiative, and results-driven performance.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management: Maintained over 100 critical relationships and records while conducting various assessments, ensuring a 98% on-time completion rate and fostering trust with stakeholders.
- Industry Engagement and Thought Leadership: Hosted business reviews with industry leaders, contributing to strategic insights and staying abreast of industry trends through active participation in seminars and trainings.
Timeline
Lead Business Information Security Officer, Vice President
Wells Fargo
07.2024 - Current
Sr. Information Security Analyst, Third Party Risk, Assistant Vice President
Wells Fargo
01.2024 - 07.2024
Information Security Analyst, Third Party Risk Assistant Vice President
Wells Fargo
09.2023 - 01.2024
Technical Business Service Associate, Associate Vice President
Wells Fargo
01.2023 - 09.2023
Network Engineer
Verizon/Frontier
06.2017 - 01.2023
Lead Fiber Analyst
Verizon/Frontier
06.2017 - 11.2019
Fiber Optic Analyst
Verizon
01.2015 - 06.2017
Associate in Science -
Dallas College
Mechanical Engineering -
The University of Texas At Arlington
Cyber Security -
Western Governors University
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