(ISC)2 Members – Please support me for the 2017 Board of Directors election

First I want to start by saying thank you for taking the time to read this. Back in January, I announced my intention to run for the (ISC)2 Board of Directors this year.  To do this I need to get 500 signatures on a petition in order to be included on the slate for voting. In the past, the board elections typically took place in November, however for some reason this year they’ve moved it up to the end of July and beginning of August.  This change has impacted my timeline as I must have the 500 signatures submitted by May 31. The compressed timeline was a surprise to many, so I need your help more than ever.

 

Why do I want to do this?

For about two years I worked for(ISC)2 as the Director of Member relations and services. I took this role very seriously and worked very hard to ensure that the members voice was heard, and to try to accomplish things that would impact the members in a positive way. It is my opinion that(ISC)2, as a not-for-profit organization, needs to do a better job serving the membership  in protecting the value of the CISSP and other certifications by making it easier to maintain the certifications, being prudent with the release of new certifications, and providing greater value to the members.

While working for (ISC)2 I began a number of projects to benefit the members, but still have not seen many of them come to fruition. Some have been implemented, such as moving endorsements from the paper process to an online process which is much more streamlined and creating one of the most asked about features from members, the downloadable versions of the.pdf certificates.  Things that still have yet to be done include the implementation of greatly simplified CPE rules process and improvements to the member portal that allow for easier submission and tracking of CPEs. If elected, I will be working to ensure these initiatives do not lose steam.

In addition, many changes have recently been made to the processes related to the certifications, some of which concern me. If elected, I will keep an eye on these changes and any impact they may have while ensuring that the value of (ISC)2 certifications remains second to none.

I travel a lot in my job and speak at a lot of security conferences.  This allows me to meet with security professionals from all around the country and the world, and get their feedback on the certifications, State of the industry, and what is needed to help.  With over 110,000 CISSPs, I honestly believe if we work together, we can make positive changes in the world and the industry.

Finally, I live in the Tampa area where (ISC)2 is based, which will allow me to work very closely with the leadership.

What are my top goals if elected?

  • Ensure the value of the CISSP and other (ISC)2 certs are maintained or improved
  • Make the certification maintenance process easier through simplified CPE guidelines and a better CPE reporting mechanism
  • Meet with other (ISC)2 members, listen to their concerns, and advocate on their behalf within the organization
  • Continue the push for increased transparency and communication between (ISC)2 and its membership
  • Provide tools and resources for security professionals that will make their lives easier and add to the value of holding an (ISC)2 certification

I need your help!

Per the (ISC)2 Bylaws, any member in good standing can be elected if willing to serve per section IV.7:

The name of any qualified person who agrees to serve if elected may be submitted by signed, written petition, of at least 500 members in good standing as of the date of the election announcement, to the Board at least sixty (60) days in advance of the start of the election. Any such petition shall identify the Board seat for which the nominee is to be considered. Nominees received under this process shall be included on the ballot.

This means that I need a petition from 500 (ISC)2 members nominating me for the Board of Directors in order to get on the board election slate. This petition must be emailed to me at [email protected] from the email address you have associated with your (ISC)2 account and must contain your name and member number. I have made a sample email below that you can quickly copy and paste, replacing the key areas with your information.

 

What will I do with your email address?

I will only use the email address for the purpose of verifying your eligibility, communicating directly with you about the election/petition in a brief manner, and will provide it to (ISC)2 with the petition (they already have the email address after all). This is what I expect as far as emails I will send go:

  • I plan to send a short communication once upon submission of the petition
  • A short email as a reminder about a week before voting opens
  • A short email when voting opens
  • A short email with the results of the election (namely if I made it or not)

It is possible that additional emails regarding the status of the submitted petition and/or election will be sent if needed, but I will only do this if really necessary.

The template

If you would like to support me in my bid for the (ISC)2 Board of Directors, please copy and paste the below template in to an email that will come from your email of record with (ISC)2 , replace the bold sections with your information, and send it to [email protected].


(ISC)2 Election Committee,

I, <INSERT NAME>, holding the <INSERT (ISC)2 CERTIFICATION(S)> certification, petition that Mr. Erich Kron, CISSP #392400 be included on the 2017 Board of Directors election slate. I have sent this email from my email address of record associated with my certification and will continue to be a member in good standing for the election in 2017.

Sincerely,

<Name><Member Number>

 


Thank you very much for your support!

-Erich