TERI GREEN

TERI GREEN

CIO / CISO at Lite Technology Solutions, LLC / Normandy Schools Collaborative

Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself

What has your journey to your position been like? What path have you taken?

The path to my journey has not been challenging, which was surprising! Being a minority lesbian in technology, somehow, my thirst for knowledge and need to be one of the best in my craft helped guide me. My passion for technology drove me in ways no classroom could have taught me. I started as an intern at WGN channel 9 in Chicago as an Information technology intern in 2004-2005. I did my first contracting assignment my sophomore year of college with EasePay, which created a Kiosk to pay your light bills and tickets for the City of Chicago. I was the only woman on the project. By the time I was a Junior in College at the age of twenty-five, I was the Assistant Chief Engineer / Information Systems Manager as Spanish Broadcasting Systems WLEY 107.9 FM known as “LaLey” in Chicago. I noticed I was moving in any field I touched quickly because I was intelligent, but the technology was the only place I felt at home. I was eventually flown out to Bristol, CT, and interviewed with ESPN, and I was in heaven just being there. I was sitting in HR waiting on the interviewing manager, and everything seemed so perfect. Somehow someone says, “This is it, this is what you worked for!” Instantly I asked the hiring manager what did I need for his job? He said, a Masters. Looking at the schedule, they were providing and the amount of travel, that seemed impossible. I failed the written test and flew back home. To me, that was the best way to show a company you admired you were not better than them based on who you believed you were. So instead, I left broadcast and decided to focus solely on what I loved, technology. I went to SunGard Availability Services, where I spent five years and finally left as a senior systems recovery engineer. I fell in love with disaster recovery and business continuity, and I was good at it. So I started my company called Lite Technology Solutions, LLC in 2012 as the CIO/ Co-Founder. I have worked on excellent contracts like Transunion, IBM, ATOS/Siemens, BMO Harris, and more. In 2014, I remembered watching the tragic situation of Mike Brown unfold on national television at the time I was in Carmel, IN. I believe in the spirit of manifestation. I remember asking God to use my talent not only to be the difference but make one. Somehow I ended on an assignment in Columbia, Mo for IBM in 2014-2015 and then due to family circumstances ended up in St. Louis, Mo is 2016. Where I took a position as the Director IT Infrastructure and IT Security for a company called “The Fantastechs”. The organization helped schools better their infrastructures and IT security, I assisted in cybersecurity implementations at Special School District and oversaw the upgrade implementations for UCity Schools and Normandy’s at the same time. I was assigned to Normandy Schools in the later part of 2017-2018, the district Mike Brown graduated High School. It came full circle, so I knew it was not by luck nor chance but divine intervention.

In the 2020-2021 school year, Normandy hired me personally, and I became their first-ever CIO for the school district, and I was a minority woman.

Has it always been your vision to reach the position you’re at? Was your current role part of your vision to become a tech leader?

My vision never was surrounded by the title of a position. It was always my vision to evolve a tech team to the point they were no longer tech people but people that serviced technology to make a better overall user experience possible. I’m a firm believer in leading effectively and efficiently, and one must know how to follow in the same manner.

Ultimately, my vision is evident when I reflect on who I have become; the title was blurry. As I grew, it became clear to make the impact I desired. I had to reach the highest level within the organization to pull this off indeed. From the community I came from, it was rare to see a CIO or CTO that resembled me, so I’m not sure it even crossed my mind. I just knew I was different and followed my passion, and it led me through the doors without hesitation.

Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey?

How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?

What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?

Budgeting • System design • Program oversight • Negotiation • Business planning • Data security • Developing security plans • Microsoft Hyper-V Server • Implementing security programs • Interpersonal Communication • Team building • Good listening skills • Customer service • Supervision • Designing security controls • PCI Compliance • CIS Compliance • IDS Integration • Intrusion Test Oversight • Incident Response Management

How do you keep current with new skills, technologies and personal development?

I am a forever student, always reading, going to webinars, listening to podcasts, mentoring, going back to school, pursuing certifications, and more because one can be taught in every lesson. I’m currently on the Advisory Board Member, Secure World STL, 2019 to Current Board Member, Missouri State University– Executive Customer

Service Program, 2019 to Current, Mentor, TechLx – Executive Mentor Program, 2020 to Current, Mentor, ICMCP – International Consortium of Minority, Cybersecurity Professionals, 2020 to Current, and Board President – ETA – Education Technology Association St. Louis. I realize technology is more significant than me; it will take us, so I make myself available!

What do you see as the next leap in technology that will impact your business or industry in particular?

If you were mentoring a leader of the future, what advice or guidance would you give to help them on their way?

Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?