Cyber Strategy Retreat
2026 Cyber Strategy Retreat
Essential Rules of Risk Governance
The Cyber Strategy Retreat is an executive education program produced by CLASS-LLC for board directors, corporate officers, and senior leaders who are accountable for enterprise risk outcomes. The program does not exist to showcase tools, promote vendors, or teach tactical cybersecurity practices. It exists to strengthen the capacity of leadership to govern risk deliberately and defensibly at the enterprise level.
Program Focus
2026 Program Focus
The program opens with a dedicated focus on Legal Incident Response and Executive Communication. These sessions examine how leaders govern through incidents that trigger legal exposure, regulatory scrutiny, disclosure obligations, and reputational consequence. Emphasis is placed on decision rights, escalation, coordination with counsel, and executive communication under pressure, recognizing that incidents test governance long before they test controls.
Days 2 and 3 shift to the Essential Rules of Risk Governance, examining how boards and senior executives define acceptable risk, establish and reinforce risk boundaries, and authorize or withhold risk acceptance in pursuit of enterprise objectives.
Faculty
Speakers
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Keyaan J. Williams
Managing Director, CLASS-LLC
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Roy Hadley
Technology Lawyer, Buckhalter
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Dan Pietragallo
Special Counsel, Buckhalter
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Doug DePeppe
Special Counsel, Buckhalter
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Ian Hall
Assistant General Counsel, Beazer Homes
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Klint Walker
Cyber Security Advisor, CISA
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Diana Kelley
CISO, Noma Security
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Daniel 'Rags' Ragsdale
Founder, Full Spectrum Cyber Solutions
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Blake Holman
Managing Partner, JJH Enterprises, LLC
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Al Mead
Gold-Medal Olympian and Campus Pastor
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Ron Ross
CEO, RONROSSECURE, LLC
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Chris Yadon
Managing Director, Saprea
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Erania Brackett
Speaker, Essential Rules of Risk Governance
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Cathryn Marshall
CEO, Virtual Wealth Inc.
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Tukker Penrod
Global Outreach Strategist, Saprea
Agenda
Agenda Overview
The Cyber Strategy Retreat is structured to examine risk governance as a leadership responsibility, progressing from incident-driven accountability to durable governance decisions that shape enterprise outcomes over time.
The program opens with Legal Incident Response and Executive Communication, then turns to the Essential Rules of Risk Governance, grounded in real governance failures and successes where unclear ownership, deferred decisions, or implicit acceptance of exposure drove unfavorable outcomes.
Schedule
Program Schedule
| Time | Segment | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:30-08:30 | Event Admin | Networking breakfast | |
| 08:30-09:00 | Event Admin | Welcome Message | Keyaan J. Williams |
| 09:00-09:30 | Legal | Limiting Exposure through Effective Preparation | Roy Hadley |
| 09:30-10:00 | Legal | Response Practices to Limit Litigation Exposure | Klint Walker |
| 10:00-10:30 | Event Admin | Networking break | |
| 10:30-11:00 | Legal | Strategies for Effective Deposition | Ian Hall |
| 11:00-11:30 | Legal | Navigating Prosecution after the Incident | Dan Pietragallo, Doug DePeppe |
| 11:30-12:00 | Governance | Rule #1: RG must be anchored in a clear organizational purpose | Al Mead |
| 12:00-13:00 | Event Admin | Networking Lunch - Saprea Presentation (12:45) | Tukker Penrod |
| 13:00-13:30 | Governance | Rule #2: Risk decisions must align with the organization's values | Diana Kelley |
| 14:00-14:30 | Governance | Rule #3: Effective RG must integrate and address the interests of all relevant stakeholders | Chris Yadon |
| 14:30-15:00 | Event Admin | Networking Break | |
| 15:00-15:30 | Governance | Rule #4: Risk decisions must prioritize long-term resilience instead of short-term performance | Ron Ross |
| 15:30-16:00 | Governance | Rule #5: A robust internal control system is essential for RG | Erania Brackett |
| 16:00-16:30 | Governance | Rule #6: The board and the CEO are ultimately accountable for risk decisions and outcomes within the RG framework | Daniel Ragsdale, Ph.D. |
| 16:30-17:00 | Governance | Rule #7: RG must use data responsibly to ensure decisions are informed and evidence based | Blake Holman |
| 17:00-Until | Event Admin | Closing Remarks and Networking Reception | Cathryn Marshall |
Venue
Buckhead Club Atlanta
Buckhead Club Atlanta
3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 2600
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
The 2026 Cyber Strategy Retreat will be hosted at Buckhead Club Atlanta, a private business and social club selected for its discretion, professionalism, and suitability for senior-level dialogue. The setting reflects the intent of the program: clear thinking, quiet authority, and serious engagement with decisions that carry consequence.
Transportation and Access
Participants traveling by public transportation may use the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail system and disembark at Buckhead Station. The venue is within walking distance.
For those driving, the Sovereign Building is accessible from Peachtree Road, Piedmont Road, and Lenox Loop. Valet parking is available at the building entrance. A self-park garage is also available, with parking validation provided at the Buckhead Club reception desk.
Accommodations
There is no official host hotel for the conference. Participants may select accommodations based on proximity and personal preference, including major business-class hotels in the Buckhead area.
Surrounding Area
Buckhead is Atlanta's primary business district and offers convenient access to dining, services, and green space suitable for informal meetings or reflection between sessions.