Colorado’s cybersecurity leadership bench reflects the state’s mix of consumer brands, enterprise technology, public institutions, defense, and advisory expertise. The women in this feature represent leaders working across security operations, governance, resilience, product and enterprise protection, and broader technology strategy in organizations with very different risk profiles. Some are leading formal CISO functions, while others are shaping cyber outcomes through advisory, public-sector, or enterprise leadership roles that sit close to core business and mission priorities. That range matters because it shows how cybersecurity leadership in Colorado is not confined to one industry or one title path. It is a broader ecosystem where strategy, operational execution, and community influence all play a role.
Lena Taylor — Chief Information Security Officer, Crocs
Lena Taylor is Chief Information Security Officer at Crocs, where she leads cybersecurity for a major consumer brand with a global footprint. Before joining Crocs, she served as VP, Cybersecurity at Vertafore and earlier held senior security leadership roles at Lumen Technologies and CenturyLink, where her responsibilities covered security architecture and engineering, governance, risk, compliance, product security, enterprise security controls, cybersecurity roadmaps, and budget oversight. Her background also includes leading managed security services, internal enterprise security, physical security, identity and access management, and large-scale technology operations. She stands out for the depth of her operational leadership and her ability to connect security strategy, team development, and business enablement across large organizations.
Gina Yacone — Advisory CISO / vCISO, Trace3
Gina Yacone serves at Trace3 as CISO (Regional, Advisory, vCISO) for the Mountain States region, where she advises senior security leaders on cybersecurity trends, security gaps, defense strategies, and targeted measures to protect critical digital information. Her work also includes providing virtual CISO services to organizations, reflecting a role built around strategic guidance, program development, and executive-level risk communication. Before Trace3, she held cybersecurity consulting and vCISO roles at Agio and worked in positions spanning managed security, legal investigations, and technology advisory. She stands out for combining practitioner experience with strong public leadership, including recognition as Cybersecurity Woman of the Year, frequent speaking engagements, and active involvement in the Colorado security community through organizations such as ISSA Denver and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs advisory board.
Emily Cellar — Chief Information Security Officer, Flexential
Emily Cellar is Chief Information Security Officer at Flexential, bringing a background that spans IT, infrastructure, cloud modernization, security operations, and enterprise transformation. Before stepping into her current CISO role, she served as Vice President of IT Security and Infrastructure at iFIT, where she led global initiatives across cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity operations, resilience, and cost optimization, including work involving AWS, Azure, Alibaba Cloud, vulnerability management, identity and access management, endpoint detection and response, and compliance. Earlier leadership roles at Hoonigan Industries, Guild Education, and Angi added experience across IT operations, incident management, business technology, M&A-related projects, and cloud and application modernization. She stands out for the breadth of her leadership across IT and security, and for her focus on positioning both as business enablers that support scale, resilience, and measurable operational value.
Gaelle Koanda — Cybersecurity Professional, BAE Systems, Inc.
Gaelle Koanda is a Cybersecurity Professional at BAE Systems, Inc., with a background that spans cybersecurity, governance, compliance, consulting, and community leadership. Before joining BAE Systems, she held cybersecurity roles at Ball Aerospace and Western Union, and earlier worked in compliance and information security positions at Arrow Electronics and Coalfire. Her profile also reflects a significant commitment to ecosystem building, including leadership roles with ISACA Denver, SheLeadsTech Colorado, and WiCyS initiatives connected to Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. She stands out not only for her cross-sector cybersecurity experience, but also for the way she connects professional development, community building, and global talent advancement within the field.
Yvette Florez — Enterprise Applications Manager, Colorado PERA
Yvette Florez is Enterprise Applications Manager at Colorado PERA, where she oversees the strategic direction, optimization, governance, and support of core enterprise-wide software systems. Her current role emphasizes operational efficiency, team development, application lifecycle management, and the integration of security best practices and resilience planning into enterprise applications strategy. Before joining Colorado PERA, she served as Head of Information Security for the City of Lakewood, where she led the development and implementation of an organization-wide cybersecurity program covering risk management, threat mitigation, vulnerability management, third-party risk, incident response, compliance, and security awareness. Her earlier work in identity and access management at the Governor’s Office of Information Technology adds further depth, making her a notable example of a leader whose cybersecurity experience continues to shape broader enterprise technology strategy.
Where Colorado’s Cyber Talent Shows Its Range
The leaders in this Colorado feature reflect a cybersecurity landscape shaped by operational breadth and multiple paths to influence. Their work touches retail, software, infrastructure, public systems, aerospace, defense, and advisory services, showing how security leadership in the state is tied to both institutional resilience and long-term business value. Just as important, their profiles show that Colorado’s cyber ecosystem is strengthened not only by formal CISO roles, but also by leaders building programs, advising organizations, advancing governance, and investing in the broader professional community. That mix is part of what makes Colorado a state worth watching in cybersecurity.
Explore more profiles of the amazing women shaping cybersecurity across numerous industries in our Women’s Month collection.