Speaker Biographies:

[[{"fid":"60156","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"external_url":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"external_url":""}},"attributes":{"style":"height: 128px; width: 100px; margin: 5px 10px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]Dr. Chris Pierson
Founder & CEO
BlackCloak

A globally recognized expert on cybersecurity & privacy, Chris is responsible for the strategic direction of BlackCloak and the development of its proprietary protection technology and approach. Chris has been on the front lines of cybersecurity and fighting cybercrime for over 20 years and uses his unique background in cybersecurity, privacy, engineering, and the law to protect key targets in the public and private sectors from nation state actors and cybercriminals. It is this blend that fuels BlackCloak’s cybersecurity & privacy solutions for its special client base, their families, and corporate executives.

Very few people have the experience of working in classified environments with our nation’s intelligence agencies, being a Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and General Counsel. Chris’ experience includes fighting fraud and hackers at one of the largest global banks (Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)), working as a Special Government Employee for the Department of Homeland Security on its Cybersecurity Subcommittee and Privacy Committee, as the President of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Infragard, and as the founding executive of Viewpost – a FinTech payments company.

He and his teams have received numerous awards from the U.S. Secret Service, CSO50, top cybersecurity companies, and he is a Distinguished Fellow of the Ponemon Institute. Chris is a globally recognized keynote speaker & cybersecurity thought leader, board advisor, and is frequently quoted by the media on cybersecurity & privacy.

Chris received his B.A. and M.A. from Boston College and his Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Iowa.

FOX Facilitator & Speaker Biographies:

Heather Abramson
Director, Relationship Manager

Heather Abramson is the Director, Relationship Manager for Family Office Exchange (FOX). In her role, Heather works with business-owning family members to understand their objectives and provides guidance to help address their unique needs through the resources available at FOX. Heather also runs FOX’s Rising Gen Community, which is designed to provide next-generation family members an opportunity to learn, share experiences, and develop skills as future leaders. Heather has held multiple roles at FOX including membership development.​ ​

Before joining FOX in 2008, Heather served as Strategic Marketing and Events Manager at Aon Corporation. While at Aon, Heather planned and executed more than 100 large-scale events and created the marketing and project execution for Aon’s South America Division. Earlier in her career, she worked on Capitol Hill for a U.S. senator and in the foreign policy department at a lobbying organization. She also has previous experience working in a Chicago-based family office.​ ​

Heather has a B.A. degree in Journalism, Public Relations, and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She graduated with honors from DePaul University with an M.A. in Organizational and Multi-cultural Communications.

Mindy Kalinowski Earley ​CMP, CFBA
Chief Learning Officer, ​FOX Family Learning Center^TM

Mindy Earley is Chief Learning Officer for Family Office Exchange (FOX). In her role, she works to foster integrated learning programs for enterprise families and is responsible for developing the family learning community. She also provides support to the Family Learning and Experience Council and FOX Family Learning Network (FLN). Mindy is inspired by helping people learn, grow, and discover the way that they will make personal and productive contributions by using their strengths and talents.

Mindy has held various roles in small and large family offices and has been responsible for creating and stewarding professional learning networks in support of human and intellectual capital. She has designed learning experiences that increase the knowledge base and enhance the life path of individuals while providing personalized support and coaching to help them meet their goals. As a Certified Meeting Professional with a certificate in Family Business Advising, she enjoys helping families and rising generation members navigate the unique world of enterprise family and family relationships by understanding that responsibility and intention pave a path to personal achievement and satisfaction.​

[[{"fid":"42691","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"external_url":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"external_url":""}},"attributes":{"style":"margin: 5px 10px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]Nate Hamilton
FOX Advisory Board Member

Nate Hamilton, CFA, is currently Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Heritage Partners Group, a private equity investment and operations platform focused on the acquisition and roll-up of consumer retail and information services businesses. Nate has significant experience in partnering with and investing alongside private family capital and family-owned businesses. Prior to founding Heritage, he worked in investment banking, sales and trading and private equity across several institutions including Goldman Sachs, UBS and as a co-founder of FDX Capital, a direct-investment platform built for FOX family offices. Nate currently sits on the Advisory Board of Family Office Exchange and is a consultant to the Direct Investment Network. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Vanderbilt and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.