News

Arnie Bellini – The Visionary Behind CyberBay

Arnie Bellini, best known as the former CEO and co-founder of ConnectWise, helped shape Tampa Bay’s technology landscape. Today, he’s leading a new movement – turning Tampa Bay into CyberBay, the next cybersecurity hub of the United States.

In this premiere episode of The CyberBay Podcast, co-host and Tampa Bay Business Journal reporter Anjelica Rubin sits down with Arnie to trace his journey from early tech entrepreneur to thought leader, philanthropist, and investor.

Arnie reflects on the Bellini family’s deep roots in Tampa Bay, the trials and triumphs of building ConnectWise at the dawn of the tech revolution, and the philosophies that have guided his career and life. Together, he and Anjelica unpack the vision behind the CyberBay movement and his mission to defend the digital borders of the U.S.

Arnie Bellini – The Visionary Behind CyberBay2025-11-03T14:48:21-05:00

Applications for Spring 2026 CyberWorks Cohort Open

12-week virtual cybersecurity training program accepts Florida’s veterans, first responders, military spouses, government employees

November 1, 2025—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida at USF is accepting applications for the Spring 2026 cohort of CyberWorks, its workforce development program designed to prepare Florida’s public-minded professionals for careers in cybersecurity. The new cohort begins in January 2026 and is available at no cost to eligible participants.

CyberWorks is a 12-week, fully virtual training program that guides participants toward earning the CompTIA Security+ certification, one of the most widely recognized credentials for entry-level cybersecurity roles. In addition to technical training, participants gain access to a network of peers and mentors, career-advancement support, and a collaborative learning community.

Cyber Florida welcomes applications from Florida residents who are:

  • Veterans
  • Transitioning military personnel
  • First responders
  • Military spouses
  • Government employees

“Our goal with CyberWorks is to create opportunities for those who serve and support our nation to build new skills, advance their careers, and step confidently into Florida’s growing cybersecurity workforce,” said Cyber Florida’s CyberWorks Assistant Cyber Program Manager Mai Ensmann. “This program is designed to meet learners where they are and help them succeed.”

CyberWorks is funded by the DoW CIO Cyber Academic Engagement Office and the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Program.

Those interested are encouraged to apply early, as space in the cohort is limited.

For more information or to apply, visit the CyberWorks page of the Cyber Florida website.

Media Contact: Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC
mailto:jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

ABOUT CYBER FLORIDA AT USF
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly referred to as Cyber Florida at USF, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014. Its mission is to position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. Cyber Florida leads various initiatives to inspire and educate current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.

Applications for Spring 2026 CyberWorks Cohort Open2025-12-03T11:53:28-05:00

Inaugural CyberBay Summit a Success!

cyberbay_fav

Thank You for Making CyberBay Summit 2025 a Success!

What an incredible week in Tampa Bay! CyberBay Summit 2025 brought together hundreds of cybersecurity professionals, innovators, educators, and students to explore the future of digital resilience and collaboration.

From thought-provoking keynotes and hands-on technical workshops to the buzzing energy of the exhibit floor, the conversations and connections made this year proved that Florida’s cybersecurity ecosystem is stronger and more united than ever.

A heartfelt thank you to all our attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for making this year’s summit possible. Your expertise, enthusiasm, and partnership drive our shared mission to build a safer, more secure digital future for all.

We’re already looking ahead to what’s next, so stay tuned for details on CyberBay Summit 2026. Follow the CyberBay movement on LinkedIn.

Thank you to our friends at Bay News 9 Spectrum News for covering CyberBay Summit 2025.

Cybersecurity experts gather for inaugural ‘Cyber Bay’ event

This news segment was picked up and ran in the Rochester, San Antonio, Buffalo, Austin, and Central Florida Spectrum News markets!

USF University Communications and Marketing covered the event as well: Simulated cyberattack, national security highlight inaugural CyberBay conference.

Inaugural CyberBay Summit a Success!2025-10-29T19:31:00-04:00

McCrary Institute: Code Red

The coordinated “typhoon” campaigns, led by actors like Volt Typhoon, reflect a new phase of state-sponsored cyber warfare that demands a comprehensive U.S. and allied response integrating cybersecurity, intelligence, diplomacy, and legal reform. Dive into the McCrary Institute’s comprehensive brief on this persistent threat.

McCrary Institute: Code Red2025-10-29T17:43:15-04:00

CyberLaunch Virtual Qualifiers- Important Info

CyberLaunch Logo 2025

Learn more about the virtual qualifiers platform and hear from the team

Recap: Cyber Launch Familiarization Session on ARCS Range – Teachers Wednesday, October 29 | Meeting | Microsoft Teams

Requirement for the Virtual Qualifiers:

Make sure your school/district whitelists the following domains in order to get access to the Virtual Qualifiers and receive communication about the events.

*simspace.com

*cyberflorida.org

Include the wildcard asterisk to allow subdomains.

CyberLaunch Virtual Qualifiers- Important Info2025-10-30T09:25:56-04:00

Student Spotlight: Jayden Greer

Jayden Greer

Student: Jayden Greer

School: George Jenkins High School

District: Polk County

Meet Jayden Greer! Jayden’s passion for cybersecurity began with an early interest in technology and was further inspired by his teacher’s creation of the Cybersecurity Academy.

Jayden currently holds one cybersecurity certification and is determined to achieve several more by the end of the year. Over several months, Jayden has gained valuable hands-on experience working with the school’s network administrator. After high school, Jayden plans to attend the University of South Florida to pursue a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and continue developing skills through real-world experience and additional certifications.

Do you teach a great student who should be featured in our Student Spotlight?
Please complete the form below!

Student Spotlight: Jayden Greer2025-10-02T09:29:35-04:00

Teacher Spotlight: Jacob Hill

Jacob Hill

Teacher: Jacob Hill

District: Escambia County

Jacob Hill is an innovative educator at Pensacola High School, where he has spent the past four years shaping young minds. He draws on nearly two decades of experience in international business education across secondary and higher education. He currently leads classes in IB Business Management, AP Computer Science, and AP CK Cybersecurity while also directing the school’s Work-Based Learning initiatives.

Seeing immense opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, Hill launched the program to help students enter a high-demand industry. It equips them with technical expertise and the essential soft skills—critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork—that distinguish future leaders.

Beyond the classroom, Hill’s leadership extends to his roles as FBLA District 1 Director, service on the Florida FBLA State Board, and coaching cross country, empowering students to grow as leaders and individuals. In his downtime, he enjoys cooking and exploring new global cuisines, cheering for Chelsea FC, and designing graphics for school and community events.

Would you like to be featured in our Teacher Spotlight? To nominate yourself or another deserving teacher, complete the interest form below!

Teacher Spotlight: Jacob Hill2025-10-01T10:24:12-04:00

The ReX-Files: CyberHerd Documentary

CyberHerd
CyberHerd Documentary Premiere

Photos from the CyberHerd documentary premiere at USF on September 24, 2025

Rex Wilson, brand manager for Cyber Florida

Watch the CyberHerd documentary on the Cyber Florida YouTube channel!

The ReX-Files: The Episode where Rex talks about producing the CyberHerd documentary

More than a competition story, The Making of a Defender shows how solving the nation’s cybersecurity challenges is becoming a pillar of the Tampa Bay community and beyond. As CyberBay grows, this story becomes one of its cornerstones.

In anyone’s professional career, there are only a handful of opportunities to truly elevate people in a lasting way. I’m not talking about the small but powerful kindnesses we practice daily—thank you, Mister Rogers, for teaching us that. I mean something bigger, something rare, where the timing, circumstances, and people all align. Last year, I was given that kind of opportunity.

Just over a year ago, I noticed that the USF CyberHerd (Ya Herd!—they know what I mean) was quietly making big waves in cybersecurity competitions. Despite sharing a home with them at USF, I hadn’t followed them closely. If anything, I was more familiar with their long-dominant Orlando rivals, Hack UCF. But as I dug in, I discovered that the CyberHerd wasn’t just competing with them—they were winning.

That’s when I thought, “Maybe there’s a story here.”

I pitched the idea to my supervisor, Kate Whitaker, and our director, Ernie Ferraresso. They believed in it, brought it to leadership, and just like that, we were greenlit.

With the talented team at Two Stories Media, I began documenting the CyberHerd’s journey for a full year—competitions, practices (so much practice), and everything in between. Anyone who has ever made a documentary knows: you don’t get to script the ending. Sometimes you land the perfect Cinderella moment, other times the pumpkin explodes and lands on your head. This story had a little of both.

What I didn’t expect, though, was how much I would learn along the way. I began to see these students not just as competitors but as something closer to elite athletes—driven, resilient, and focused. Sitting front-row, I realized my job wasn’t just to record their journey; it was to elevate it. To make sure their hard work, sacrifice, and brilliance weren’t lost in the shuffle but instead woven into USF history and the broader CyberBay movement.

The story of the 2024–25 CyberHerd now lives beyond me. It’s captured, told, and preserved as part of something much larger than any one of us. To Waseem, Jacob, Jack, Michelle, Coach Marbin, Sriram, and the rest of the CyberHerd family—thank you for letting me in.

Am I proud of this project? Strangely, no. Pride isn’t the word. What I feel instead is something deeper: gratitude. Gratitude for the chance to help tell your story. Gratitude for the friendships formed. And gratitude for the knowledge that this story will outlast us all.

Your friend in cyber competitions,

Rex Wilson

P.S. – Thank you to our friends at USF Communications and Marketing for publishing this excellent article about the CyberHerd documentary.

The ReX-Files: CyberHerd Documentary2025-09-30T14:20:06-04:00

DeMarcus Williams — Starbucks’ Security Pro Went from Cyber Competitions to Corporate Red Teaming

Episode 64 — DeMarcus Williams

No Password Required Podcast Episode 64 — DeMarcus Williams

DeMarcus Williams, a senior security engineer at Starbucks, has built a career defined by creativity, intuition, and persistence. With roles at the U.S. Department of Defense, AWS/Amazon, and now Starbucks, he specializes in offensive security, red teaming, and adversary emulation. In this episode, DeMarcus joins Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A. and Cyber Florida’s Sarina Gandy (guesting hosting) to share how his love of video games first sparked his cybersecurity journey—and how competitions like the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (SECCDC) cemented his path.

DeMarcus opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, the unique work-life balance he’s found at Starbucks, and why half of his red teaming comes down to gut instinct. He shares the difference between penetration testing and red teaming, what it’s like preparing for full-scale global operations, and the hacker mindset that still kicks in whenever he walks into a Starbucks café.

In the Lifestyle Polygraph segment, Sarina poses the ultimate face-off: what’s the bigger moment—the walk-up to a boxing ring or to the DEF CON keynote stage? And, between Stone Cold, The Rock, and The Undertaker, who would dominate in a Capture the Flag competition?

Follow DeMarcus on Twitter: https://x.com/medarkus_

DeMarcus Williams — Starbucks’ Security Pro Went from Cyber Competitions to Corporate Red Teaming2025-09-29T08:52:48-04:00

CyberBay 2025 Report: Securing the Future Together

CyberBay Summit 2025

Survey reveals cost, complexity, talent shortages are leaving SMBs and public sector organizations dangerously under-protected

Tampa Bay, FL — September 25, 2025 — Cyber threats are escalating in scale and sophistication. Yet our defenses remain siloed, expensive, and out of reach for a wide range of organizations. The newly released 2025 CyberBay Report, based on insights from hundreds of IT and cybersecurity professionals, sounds the alarm and issues an urgent call to action for the private sector, educators, and cyber defenders to step forward and lead.

Download the 2025 CyberBay Report.

As artificial intelligence accelerates digital integration, the risks to and both private- and public-sector organizations are intensifying. Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which serve as the backbone of the economy, are left with tools they can’t afford, talent they can’t find, and systems that can’t keep up.

A System Under Siege

The CyberBay Report found that:

  • 80.1% report a shortage of skilled professionals
  • 81.3% cite organizational gaps in policy, behavior, and security culture
  • 74.5% say undergraduate curricula are missing essential job-ready content
  • 80.2% say cybersecurity tools are too expensive
  • 71.9% find tools fragmented and poorly integrated
  • 62.9% say professional training programs fall short of evolving demands

The results provide a strategic blueprint for filling gaps in the cybersecurity ecosystem. To protect our infrastructure, economy, and future, we must shift from isolated fixes to system-level transformation.

1. Democratize Cybersecurity Solutions

Affordability and usability are no longer optional. We must build scalable, AI-augmented defenses that even the smallest organizations can deploy.

2. Prioritize Cyber Defense as a Business Imperative

The private sector must lead—not with gated solutions, but with open collaboration, public-private partnerships, and investment in real-world resilience.

3. Elevate Education as a Strategic Asset

Cybersecurity education must evolve from theory-heavy programs to hands-on, threat-ready training that begins early and mirrors real-world challenges. Certification bodies, continuing education platforms, and vocational pipelines must align with the pace of escalating risk.

4. Activate a Culture of Readiness

Cybersecurity requires both the right toolset and the right mindset. Every organization needs policies, leadership buy-in, and cultural norms that reinforce vigilance. Readiness must replace awareness as the new standard.

CyberBay: The Movement Begins in Tampa

CyberBay, the Tampa-based cybersecurity collaborative, is proactively addressing the issue. By unifying private, public, and government sectors, CyberBay is democratizing cyber defense, prioritizing readiness over awareness, and training the next generation to meet the moment.

The inaugural CyberBay 2025 Summit will bring this mission to life. From October 13–15 in Tampa, FL, cybersecurity leaders, educators, technologists, and public sector champions will gather to build the future of cyber defense.

Register now at CyberBay.org and be part of the transformation.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Kleman
Cyber Florida
jennifer437@cyberflorida.org

Christina Pandapas
Longview Strategies
cpandapas@longviewstrategies.com

printable version of press release

CyberBay 2025 Report: Securing the Future Together2025-09-25T10:00:28-04:00

CONTACT US

Cyber Florida at USF
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ISA7020
Tampa, FL 33620

Office meetings by appointment only

PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright 2026 The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida. Information on this website is made available for general educational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of obtaining competent legal advice from a licensed attorney or cybersecurity professional with sufficient expertise necessary to address your specific needs. Use of this website does not create any special or fiduciary relationship between you and the Florida Center for Cybersecurity or the University of South Florida.