Ricky Robertson
Dalton,Georgia
Summary
Cybersecurity and Information Security Executive with 15+ years of leadership in financial services and healthcare, specializing in building enterprise security programs and advising Boards on cyber resilience. Proven expert in aligning NIST CSF, GLBA, and HIPAA frameworks with business strategy to deliver measurable risk reduction. Nationally recognized for human risk management, including a published KnowBe4 case study for reducing phishing risk by 89%. Dedicated to modernizing security operations through Zero Trust architecture, automation, and strategic governance.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Information Security & Project Management
PUBLIX EMPLOYEES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Lakeland, FL
01.2024 - Current
- Serve as the executive lead for Information Security, Project Management, and Facilities, reporting to the C-Suite and Board.
- Spearheaded the development and rollout of a 3-year Information Security Strategic Plan aligned to NIST CSF, directly addressing organizational risk scenarios.
- Implemented comprehensive AI governance standards and Generative AI policies to balance innovation with security and ethics.
- Deployed Rapid7 Exposure Command (IDR, VM, CloudSec, SOAR) and matured SIEM/IPS capabilities, improving threat visibility and response times.
- Enhanced identity security with RBAC automation and access certification, streamlining compliance and reducing insider risk.
- Implemented Quantivate Business Continuity platform, facilitating tabletop exercises and recovery validations to ensure operational uptime.
Director of Information Technology & Security Officer
HEALTH ONE ALLIANCE
Dalton, GA
01.2021 - 01.2024
- Directed enterprise cybersecurity, IT operations, and compliance for healthcare/insurance systems.
- Deployed IAM platforms, MFA, and Zero Trust VPN protocols, significantly hardening remote access security.
- Led a complex data center relocation and infrastructure modernization initiative while maintaining availability.
- Rolled out Microsoft E5 security suite, including Defender EDR and Purview, consolidating tools and reducing costs.
- Established data governance policies and privacy oversight to meet stringent HIPAA and regulatory requirements.
Operational Risk Manager
ATLANTIC CAPITAL BANK
Atlanta, GA
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Managed operational risk and cybersecurity oversight during a major financial institution merger.
- Strengthened risk evaluation metrics and remediation workflows to support the bank's merger integration.
- Improved FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) processes, ensuring accurate risk scoring and reporting.
- Led comprehensive incident response and disaster recovery testing to validate business continuity plans.
Director of Information Security & Risk Management
HEALTH ONE ALLIANCE
Dalton, GA
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Upgraded security policies, IR plans, and risk assessments to align with industry best practices.
- Engaged H-ISAC and InfraGard to establish a threat intelligence feed for proactive defense.
- Conducted enterprise vulnerability scanning and penetration testing readiness reviews.
Information & Corporate Security Officer
ATLANTIC CAPITAL BANK
Atlanta, GA
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Led the investigation and successful recovery of $1.8M in a wire fraud incident.
- Implemented FFIEC-aligned security program improvements and led organization-wide phishing reduction training.
Director of Security & Safety / Operational Risk Manager
COMMUNITY & SOUTHERN BANK
Dalton, GA
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Managed cybersecurity, physical security, and risk operations.
- Successfully led recovery from a ransomware attack and built the bank's incident tracking and case management system.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - MIS
Dalton State College
Dalton, GASkills
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
- Information security
- Project management
- Data governance
- AI governance
- Cybersecurity compliance
- Identity access management
- Risk assessment
- Operational continuity
- Vulnerability management
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
- Budget administration
- Policy and procedure development
- Risk management
- Business continuity
Education Certifications
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), ISACA
- Certified Protection Professional (CPP), ASIS International
- Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI), EC-Council
- Bachelor of Business Administration (MIS), Dalton State College
Board Leadership Service
- Whitfield County Board of Education, Elected Member, 01/01/24, Present, Oversee educational governance, supporting local schools and ensuring strong foundations for the community.
- Rotary Club, Club President, 01/01/20, 12/31/21, Club President & Area Governor (Selected for 2026–2028)
- New Life Baptist Church, Deacon & Technology Ministry Lead
Executive Highlights
- Strategic Transformation, Built and executed a 3-year NIST CSF–aligned Information Security Strategic Plan, significantly maturing enterprise security posture.
- Risk Reduction, Reduced phishing susceptibility by 89% (achieving near-zero click rates), featured in a national KnowBe4 case study for excellence in human risk management.
- Incident Response, Recovered $1.8M in a complex wire fraud incident, demonstrating high-impact financial loss mitigation and forensic capability.
- Audit Success, Achieved audit readiness with no repeat findings across NCUA, AaSys, Wipfli, and CSI assessments over multiple years.
- Board Governance, Strengthened Board-level visibility with quarterly risk dashboards covering vulnerabilities, resilience, cloud posture, and strategic ROI.
Timeline
Vice President, Information Security & Project Management
PUBLIX EMPLOYEES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
01.2024 - Current
Director of Information Technology & Security Officer
HEALTH ONE ALLIANCE
01.2021 - 01.2024
Operational Risk Manager
ATLANTIC CAPITAL BANK
01.2021 - 01.2022
Director of Information Security & Risk Management
HEALTH ONE ALLIANCE
01.2020 - 01.2021
Information & Corporate Security Officer
ATLANTIC CAPITAL BANK
01.2016 - 01.2020
Director of Security & Safety / Operational Risk Manager
COMMUNITY & SOUTHERN BANK
01.2011 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Business Administration - MIS
Dalton State College