Latest news with #CoryWilson
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
A-LIGN Issues CMMC Level 2 Certification to Quiet Professionals
TAMPA, Fla., May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A-LIGN, a leading Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO), proudly announces the issuance of one of its first CMMC Level 2 certifications to Quiet Professionals LLC. This milestone underscores A-LIGN's dedication to helping U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contractors meet stringent cybersecurity requirements while safeguarding sensitive Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The CMMC program requires all DoD defense contractors under Level 2 to meet cybersecurity controls and be certified by a C3PAO assessment. Prime contractors and their subcontractors are required to demonstrate that cybersecurity controls have been sufficiently implemented through the completion of independent validation activities performed by an authorized C3PAO like A-LIGN. 'At A-LIGN, we are at the forefront of CMMC, providing businesses with expert guidance to navigate the new DoD standards with confidence,' said Jennifer Hawks, Federal Practice Lead at A-LIGN. 'As a trusted C3PAO, A-LIGN leverages its team of expert CCAs and CCPs to guide organizations through the complex process of CMMC Level 2 certification. We are honored to work with industry leaders like Quiet Professionals, one of the first organizations to secure certification, as they set the standard for cybersecurity excellence.' Quiet Professionals is a veteran-founded company providing secure, scalable solutions for national security and defense organizations, headquartered in Tampa. As the company advances solutions in OSINT, Geospatial Analytics, and Cloud Computing, earning CMMC Level 2 certification reinforces the company's ability to securely support customers' critical missions. 'Our team committed to fully understanding NIST 800-171 and each control family. We developed tailored solutions to meet every requirement, drawing from industry research and leveraging our Microsoft partnership. A-LIGN was a strong partner throughout the process to achieve CMMC Level 2 certification. Their structured approach and expertise helped validate the work our cybersecurity team has done. This achievement is a testament to our collective effort,' said Cory Wilson, Director of Information Technology at Quiet Professionals. As a top C3PAO with over 20 years of experience, A-LIGN has completed over 1,000 NIST-based assessments, including FedRAMP, GovRAMP, NIST 800-171. Contact A-LIGN today to secure your spot in the CMMC certification queue and streamline compliance with an expert-driven approach. About A-LIGN A-LIGN is the leading provider of high-quality, efficient cybersecurity compliance programs. Combining experienced auditors and audit management technology, A-LIGN provides the widest breadth and depth of services including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HITRUST, FedRAMP, and PCI. A-LIGN is the number one issuer of SOC 2 and HITRUST and a top three FedRAMP assessor. For more information, visit About Quiet Professionals LLC Quiet Professionals LLC is a veteran-founded defense and technology company specializing in intelligence, advanced analytics, cybersecurity, and mission support for U.S. government agencies. With roots in the Special Operations Forces (SOF), Quiet Professionals provides highly specialized expertise in counter-threat intelligence, geospatial analysis, cloud integration, and secure technology and operational support to address today's most complex national security challenges with precision and speed. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, near MacDill Air Force Base—home to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)—Quiet Professionals partners with industry leaders like Esri, Microsoft Azure, and Databricks to deliver mission-critical solutions. Built on a foundation of service and excellence, Quiet Professionals empowers defense and intelligence agencies with the expertise, technology, and operational agility to outpace emerging threats and safeguard national security. For more information, visit Media Contact: Elizabeth Strickert [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE A-LIGN
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Keller school board officially quashes plan to split district
At its May 15 meeting, the Keller school board adopted a resolution officially rejecting a proposal to divide the district, bringing to a close months of speculation and furor. The board also addressed budget challenges, and interim Superintendent Cory Wilson gave a dire warning about proposed school funding legislation in the Texas Senate. During the personnel portion of the meeting, the district extended a contract to popular Southlake principal Christina Benhoff. Two months ago, on March 14, school board President Charles Randklev informed the public that the plan to split the Keller district in half, using U.S. 377 as the dividing line, was off the table. At the time, Randklev cited financial hurdles for the decision not to proceed with the controversial move. The May 13 resolution reads, 'Now, let it be hereby resolved that the Keller Independent School District Board of Trustees hereby resolves that it shall not initiate the creation of a new district by detachment as set out in Section 13.103 of the Texas Education Code or through any further means.' Section 13.103 of the Texas Education Code allows for the creation of a new school district by detachment through one of two avenues: A school board resolution, or a petition to the county commissioners court signed by at least 10% of the registered voters in the area under consideration for detachment. The new-look board, with recently elected members Jennifer Erickson and Randy Campbell, voted unanimously to adopt the resolution on Thursday evening. The vote was met by applause from the audience. 'Some might think that this is a performative resolution,' said new board President John Birt. 'I assure you this is not performative. We recognize and know that this has been a stressful, contentious last few months, no question about it. But with this final action, this resolution, we put this matter to rest so we can all move forward as one district.' In his financial update, John Allison, Keller's chief operations officer, said the district was 'on track' to achieve a balanced budget this year, although Allison cautioned 'there are still a few months to go.' In January, an audit revealed a potential $9.4 million budget deficit for the 2025-26 school year. It also showed that Keller had lost $35 million from its general fund between 2021 and 2023. Keller has begun implementing staff cuts to alleviate financial constraints. Nearly 90% of Keller's expenditures are tied up in human capital, so it was critical to make reductions there, Allison said, pointing out that the district needs to cut 'tens of millions' from its budget. 'It's impacted our staff at every level,' Allison said of the staffing reductions. 'It's impacted our ability to provide services for our students.' The district previously said it would raise the student-teacher ratio by 0.5 at its middle and high schools. With district enrollment declining, Allison has said, that ratio will improve over time. Allison also said there were no plans to close or consolidate campuses, though he said it's 'a conversation we're going to have to begin to have, but not for the next academic year.' Allison speculated that the district would likely have to consider school closures in the fall because of declining enrollment. Interim Superintendent Cory Wilson talked about the status of Texas House Bill 2, an $8 billion school finance bill that passed in the House in April. It's now being considered in the Texas Senate, which has proposed its own version of the bill. The House version increases the basic allotment Texas school districts receive by $395 per pupil, from $6,160 to $6,555. The Senate version would only increase the allotment by $55 per student. Wilson said the $395 per-pupil increase would bring $11 million in much-needed additional funding to Keller. It would also bring $5.8 million for teacher and staff raises. 'It's not a perfect bill,' Wilson said, 'but it was a good bill.' Beyond the $55 per-student increase, the senate bill is largely ambiguous, Wilson said. Like its House companion, the Senate bill is valued at $8 billion, but unlike the House bill, the money would have stipulations. In light of all that, Wilson encouraged Keller residents to contact their legislators to urge them to pass House Bill 2 in its original form. Though the Senate version of the bill would guarantee $2,500 raises for teachers with three to four years of experience and $5,500 for teachers with five or more years, Wilson warned that Keller as a whole 'would be better off with nothing' than it would should that bill pass, citing the uncertainties around how the bulk of the funding could be used. Benhoff, principal at Southlake's Carroll High School, was confirmed as principal of Keller's Timber Creek High School beginning next year. Benhoff was one of two Southlake administrators, along with Carroll Senior High School Principal Ryan Wilson, who did not receive a contract renewal from Southlake Carroll. Southlake residents and students protested those moves at a May 6 school board meeting. Benhoff has been the principal at Carroll High School since 2022. Prior to that, she served as assistant principal at Carroll Senior High School. To begin the meeting, President John Birt welcomed Erickson and Campbell to the dais, and he welcomed back trustee Chelsea Kelly, who won re-election to her Place 3 seat on May 3. Birt went on to express his desire as president to 'minimize division,' and he dedicated himself to rebuilding Keller's reputation as a premier district in this area.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Parents upset over closed meeting by interim Keller ISD superintendent as controversy swirls
NORTH TEXAS – Some parents are upset after interim Keller ISD Superintendent Cory Wilson held a closed meeting with select community members on Wednesday. The meeting came just days after Wilson's appointment as the district's interim leader. Tracy Johnson exited her role leading Keller ISD after she expressed displeasure with the potential plan to split in half along Highway 377. Wednesday night, district officials confirmed a meeting was held between Wilson, the district's former assistant superintendent of education services, and certain community members. The fact the meeting wasn't open to the public upset several parents, including Matt Strong, who said he was denied entry. "We've never had anything like this where it's been closed and they're preventing the public from watching," he said. "The irony is they're having it in the boardroom, the very room where 200 people can get in there to observe." District officials stated that Wednesday's meeting aimed to collect feedback and gather input on the district's upcoming budget challenges. Wilson intends to present this feedback to the school board for review. Keller ISD clarified that the meeting did not fall under the Open Meetings Act since it was not a board meeting, and therefore, it was not open to the public or available via live stream. "I just feel like the transparency is not there," parent Michelle Testerman said. "They're not being open and honest. It's frustrating. Overwhelmingly, people just want to vote. We're not saying we're against the split. We want the data so that we can make a decision for what's best for this district." Some students are planning a walkout at 9:40 a.m. Friday. The district said an email has been sent to high school principals asking them to remind students that leaving class and not returning is considered skipping and could have negative consequences.
