About Us

A Team with a Mission

Mission & Vision

Our mission is to transform the lives of veterans through top-quality cybersecurity training and career support.

Vision: To be the leading provider of cybersecurity training for veterans, ensuring they thrive in their post-military careers.

Meet the Board

Meet our dedicated board members, each committed to supporting veterans in their journey to cybersecurity careers.

Wilson Bautista

Executive Director

Wilson Bautista, Jr., the author of the bestselling book “Practical Cyber Intelligence” and a recognized cybersecurity expert, experienced a challenging transition to civilian life after leaving the military. Acknowledging the strong demand for cybersecurity talent and the alignment with military values such as service to the greater good, Wilson became passionate about helping others, particularly military veterans, their spouses, transitioning workers, and those unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on black and brown communities.

Wilson served 13 years in the Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Captain, and retired from the Army National Guard in 2018. He holds a master’s degree in information security from Boston University and an MBA from the University of South Florida, along with multiple IT certifications. In 2019, leveraging his military transition experience and cybersecurity expertise, Wilson founded Jün Cyber, a cybersecurity management consulting firm specializing in InfoSec leadership policy architectural compliance for small and mid-size businesses.

Motivated by veteran suicide statistics and his own personal PTSD diagnosis, Wilson realized that comprehensive transition training and career advisement could significantly impact the lives of nearly twenty million veterans worldwide. Jün Cyber Ohana, his developing non-profit, offers full-service transition support, technical training, certification, mentorship, career preparation, and placement services for like-minded professionals.

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Amanda Adams

Board Member, Veteran Relations

Amanda Adams is a Marine Corps intelligence veteran with nearly 20 years of experience supporting the Department of Defense and Intelligence Agencies. She has provided expert-level personnel and physical cybersecurity guidance to organizations such as Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Agile IT Synergy.

Amanda graduated Summa Cum Laude from Strayer University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems & Cybersecurity Management. In early 2019, she founded GSec LLC to help micro and small businesses develop their cyber programs and protect their assets. Her team applies military-grade experience and knowledge to the needs of non-profit agencies, individuals, business owners, and DoD support contractors.

Additionally, Amanda serves as a Program Manager for a reputable Managed Security Services Provider and a Cybersecurity SME for the USSOCOM Command Surgeon’s Office.

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Louise Bruno

Board Member, Corporate Partnerships

Louise (Lou) Bruno met Wilson during the COVID-19 pandemic, working together to bring his vision for the Cyber Ohana Project to life. Lou brings over 40 years of IT and leadership experience, including technology and management consulting, professional services, pre-sales, reseller, channel, and alliances experience. She has supported numerous North American and Global partners, creating business value by challenging the status quo, discovering joint alignments, and driving business outcomes.

Lou and her husband Bob live in Parrish, Florida, having moved from New Jersey. Bob’s father was a WWII veteran. Their son Robbie and his support dog Rosie live with them, while their daughter Nikki and her husband Josh travel the country in a trailer, living their dream of visiting National and State Parks. Lou enjoys cooking, baking, swimming, spending time at the beach, and enjoying sushi.

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Caroline Scogna

Board Member, Communications

Caroline Scogna brings over 20 years of experience in marketing, branding, internal communications, strategic planning, project management, and change management to the Cyber Ohana team. In addition, she is working with Wilson on the marketing strategy for BSides St. Pete.

Her background includes technology public relations, government consulting, and business process outsourcing. Caroline has a strong focus on cybersecurity marketing, having led initiatives that enhance the visibility and understanding of cybersecurity solutions in both private and public sectors.

Currently providing strategic marketing guidance to several technology companies as a fractional CMO, Caroline previously served as the Head of Marketing at System Soft Technologies and the Director of Global Brand Strategy at SYKES Enterprises. Connected to the military through her father and former husband, Caroline is a strong supporter of helping veterans transition to civilian careers.

Born in Texas, Caroline has lived in the Tampa Bay Area for over 17 years but misses the mountains and wine country of Virginia and Germany. She loves to travel and experience new cultures and is always looking for her next adventure. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from George Mason University and is pursuing an MBA from the University of North Alabama.

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Tom Rigg

Board Member, Finance

Tom Rigg is an independent database consultant with decades of experience working with both small and large databases. He excels at bridging the gap between technical and business people, having worked with clients ranging from large corporations to small businesses. Now semi-retired, Tom limits the contracts he accepts.

Tom moved to Florida in 2015 and enjoys living in Gulfport with his partner Anthony and their two cats. He is actively involved in various activities and travels frequently. Tom has served on three non-profit boards, believing strongly in giving back when possible. His father was a WWII veteran, and although this is his first veterans charity, Tom finds it both challenging and rewarding. He has been helping since 2019, focusing on ensuring financial prudence based on donations, and is proud to see the organization grow and improve.

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Melissa Mabe

Board Member, Veteran Outreach

Melissa Mabe currently serves as the Events Committee Chairperson for the Cyber Ohana Project, leading the planning and production of the annual fundraising dinner. She became involved with the Cyber Ohana Project shortly after its inception in 2020, assisting with early marketing and branding efforts. Melissa’s extensive background in non-profit fundraising and communications was instrumental as the organization formalized its mission and audience.

With a career in the events industry dating back to 1990, Melissa has worked across corporate, government, and non-profit sectors. In 2013, she founded Melrose Enterprises, specializing in corporate events and non-profit fundraisers. In addition to her event management expertise, Melissa brings valuable public relations skills, utilizing her media contacts to promote the Cyber Ohana Project’s Valentine’s Day fundraiser and its leader, Wilson Bautista, Jr.

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and has accrued countless hours of on-the-job training with some of the event industry’s top professionals. Coming from a family with a long history of military service, she is deeply committed to encouraging the next generation of veterans to transition successfully back into civilian life.

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Tina Winner

Board Member, Community Outreach

Tina Winner is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Winner Partners, a certified woman-owned executive search firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida. With 19 years of experience in executive search, Tina specializes in executive-level recruiting and board guidance, bringing a wealth of knowledge across multiple industries. Her early career in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, combined with best practices honed during her tenure at two global executive search firms, has equipped her with a unique perspective on talent acquisition.

Under Tina’s leadership, Winner Partners developed career readiness training for the Cyber Ohana Project, offering services that include professional effectiveness assessment, coaching, resume writing, personal marketing plans, job search strategies, and interview preparation. Her involvement with the Cyber Ohana Project is deeply personal, inspired by her father, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars who served in the USAF, Navy, and Army.

Tina attended Chatham University and earned a Certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University in 2022. She is committed to staying current with trends across various industries and actively participates in organizations such as the One West Tourism Alliance, Women in Tourism – Tampa Bay, Destinations International, the International Economic Development Council, and the International Downtown Association.

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