What started as conversations on the drive home from cybersecurity conferences eventually became something much bigger.
For years, Ryan and Allie attended events like DerbyCon, GrrCON, and THOTCON and left inspired not only by the technical content, but by “the sense of community they created.” Each time, they found themselves saying the same thing: “We could bring something like this to Madison.”
That vision became the Wisconsin Information Security Conference (WISCON): a conference designed to create affordable access to high-quality cybersecurity education, networking, and hands-on experiences while helping grow a stronger information security community in Wisconsin.
But for Ryan and Allie, WISCON was never just about hosting another conference. It was about creating a space where students, career changers, seasoned professionals, hobbyists, and newcomers could all feel welcomed, connected, and supported.
In this interview, Allie shares the inspiration behind WISCON, the importance of community in cybersecurity, their commitment to showcasing Midwest talent, and what they hope this conference will grow into in the years ahead.
1. What originally inspired you and Ryan to create a cybersecurity conference in Madison?
This is actually something Ryan and I had been talking about for the past five years or so. We would attend conferences like DerbyCon, GrrCON, and THOTCON and always leave feeling incredibly inspired by the sense of community they created. Every time we came home, we would say, “We could bring something like this to Madison.” We saw how impactful accessible conferences could be, not just for learning technical skills, but for helping people build connections, find mentorship, and feel like they belonged in the industry. That really became the driving force behind Wisconsin Information Security Conference. We wanted to help create a thriving information security community in Madison, Wisconsin that offered affordable access to high-quality content, networking, and hands-on experiences for people at every stage of their career.
2. Was there a moment where this dream started to feel real?
Honestly, the dream is only just starting to feel real. There has been so much planning, organizing, and behind-the-scenes work that most of the time we’ve just been focused on the next thing that needs to get done. I still don’t think it has fully hit me that we are actually creating an information security conference here in Madison. Seeing the community support, sponsors, speakers, and attendees come together has definitely made it feel more tangible, but I have a feeling it truly won’t sink in until after June 11 when we can finally step back and realize we actually did it.
3. Why was it important for you to make this conference about community: bringing together professionals, students, and people interested in cybersecurity?
Community was honestly the foundation of why we wanted to create Wisconsin Information Secuirty Conference in the first place. Cybersecurity can feel really intimidating to break into, especially for students, career changers, or people who may not already have industry connections. We wanted to create a space where people at every level could learn, network, and feel welcomed. Some of the most valuable opportunities in cybersecurity come from the relationships you build and the people willing to share knowledge and mentorship. Ryan and I have personally benefited so much from the communities around conferences, local meetups, and networking groups, and we wanted to help bring that same energy and accessibility to Madison, Wisconsin. Our goal with WISCON is to create an environment where seasoned professionals, students, hobbyists, and newcomers can all learn from each other and help grow the local cybersecurity community together.
4. What are you most excited for attendees to experience?
We are most excited for attendees to experience the incredible content our speakers are bringing to WISCON. One thing that was really important to us when building the conference was highlighting talent from the Midwest and people who have ties to Madison, Wisconsin. There is so much knowledge, innovation, and experience within the Midwest cybersecurity community, and I think sometimes that talent gets overlooked compared to larger coastal tech hubs. We wanted to create a platform that showcases just how strong and passionate this community really is. We’re excited for attendees to hear directly from these speakers, learn from their experiences, and hopefully leave feeling inspired, connected, and energized about the future of cybersecurity in our region.
5. What do you hope this conference grows into over the next few years?
We would love for WISCON to grow into a highly respected and sought-after regional cybersecurity conference over the next few years. The support and interest we received in year one already exceeded our expectations, and because of that, we’re actually moving to a larger venue for year two, with more details coming soon. Long term, we could see the conference growing to around 1,500 to 2,000 attendees and becoming a two day conference. However, maintaining the sense of community and connection that inspired us to create it remains critically important. We want WISCON to feel intentional, welcoming, and personal, not so large that people get lost in the crowd. Our hope is that it becomes an event people genuinely look forward to attending each year: a place known for strong community, high-quality content, meaningful networking, and showcasing the incredible cybersecurity talent we have here in the Midwest.
