​​Derek Epps

President/Owner of Teknabyte

Derek Epps is the President/Owner of Teknabyte, a consulting and managed IT security services company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. With over 16 years of experience in the technology industry, Derek brings deep expertise in IT operations, cybersecurity, and strategic technology leadership. In early 2018, Derek co-founded Teknabyte alongside his partner, Tony Ciovacco, with a vision to deliver reliable, forward-thinking managed services. Since its founding, Teknabyte has significantly expanded beyond traditional managed IT offerings to include advanced cybersecurity services. The company has also partnered with USX Cyber to help manufacturing organizations achieve CMMC compliance, strengthening security postures and meeting evolving regulatory requirements. Under Derek’s leadership, Teknabyte continues to focus on delivering practical, secure, and scalable technology solutions that help businesses operate more efficiently and securely.

Cole McKinley

Chief Technology Officer at USX Cyber

Cole McKinley is the Chief Technology Officer at USX Cyber, an award-winning cybersecurity leader with over 15 years of experience supporting federal and commercial security operations. Cole specializes in helping small and mid-sized manufacturers achieve and sustain CMMC Level 2 compliance through practical, security-driven implementation — not just documentation. He is the architect behind the GUARDIENT security platform, which aligns real-time threat detection and monitoring directly to NIST 800-171 and CMMC requirements. In addition to leading USX Cyber, Cole serves as a Master Sergeant in the Ohio Air National Guard conducting defensive cyber operations in support of national security missions. He holds multiple industry certifications including CISSP and CEH. Cole works directly with companies across the Defense Industrial Base to reduce audit stress, strengthen security posture, and build compliance programs that are operational — not theoretical.