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The 91ֱ����Ƶ College of Business will continue its new Spark Business Series this fall with a timely panel discussion, “The Business of Cyber Defense: How Leaders Prepare for and Recover from Cyber Threats,” on Thursday, Oct. 16, on the University’s Biddeford Campus.

Held during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the event will highlight the escalating risks of cyber threats and offer an inside look at a real ransomware attack — showing what unfolds before, during, and after an incident and how response teams mitigate the damage, restore systems, and negotiate directly with hackers operating around the globe. 

The program begins with a networking reception at 5 p.m., followed by the panel discussion at 6 p.m. in Room 283 of the Harold Alfond Forum at 630 Pool St., Biddeford. The event is free and open to the public; advanced registration is encouraged

Moderated by Malinda Gagnon, CEO of Uprise Partners, the panel will feature Brian Gagnon, CTO of Uprise Partners; Paul White, CEO of the Paul White Company, which experienced its own multimillion-dollar ransomware attack; Luke Goodine, insurance advisor at Chalmers Insurance Group; and Cody Braunscheidel, cyber incident manager at CFC Response and former U.S. Department of Defense IS security officer responsible for mitigating both internal threats and advanced, nation-state-level attacks. 

Together, panelists will explore the real-world business impact of cyber threats and share strategies for building organizational resilience.

“We’re seeing a steady rise in cybersecurity threats each year — with increasing sophistication fueled by AI,” Gagnon said. “Our goal for this panel is to walk through a real-world example and provide tangible insights to help business owners protect themselves and their organizations.” 

The Spark Business Series is designed to position 91ֱ����Ƶstudents for lifelong career success by linking their academic work to real-world expertise, granting students access to industry leaders, practical counsel, and professional networks — building pathways to internships, job placements, and mentorship opportunities that will help them launch their careers.

Norm O’Reilly, Ph.D., dean of the 91ֱ����ƵCollege of Business, said the series exemplifies UNE’s focus on workforce development while equipping students with the skills to develop solutions to pressing global challenges.

“Cybersecurity is among the fastest-growing fields in the global economy and, simultaneously, one of the greatest economic threats of our time,” O’Reilly said. ‘By bringing executives and experts to campus, we give our students direct exposure to the most pressing issues in business today while also cultivating professional connections that translate into internships, job opportunities, and career growth.”

The Oct. 16 event follows the inaugural Spark Business Series discussion held in March, “The Business of Being #1 – Portland’s Lead in the Minor Leagues,” which featured executives from Portland’s professional sports franchises and Sports Business Journal, regarded as the premier publication of the sports industry. 

The March program highlighted Portland’s rise as the nation’s top minor league market while affording students the opportunity to hear career advice directly from industry insiders, reinforcing UNE’s model of experiential, career-ready learning. This second installment continues that momentum, O’Reilly said, underscoring UNE’s mission to provide professional experiences for students before they graduate. 

The panel further, and intentionally, coincides with UNE’s first Industry Exploration Day, an immersive career fair and networking event designed to connect students with employer partners and alumni to explore emerging trends, discover internship opportunities, and have their résumés and LinkedIn profiles reviewed by recruiters. 

Launched in 2023, the 91ֱ����ƵCollege of Business offers a growing portfolio of innovative, market-aligned undergraduate programs — including finance, marketing, accounting, sport leadership and management, outdoor business and innovation, and marine entrepreneurship — alongside a flexible online Master of Business Administration program with concentrations in health care administration, sport leadership and management, and supply chain management. 

UNE’s entrepreneurial approach to innovation has been nationally recognized, underscoring its role in leveraging business as a tool for workforce development, economic growth, and student success.

The Spark Business Series embodies this ethic, O’Reilly said, by drawing industry leaders to campus, fostering dialogue on key business trends, and creating professional pathways for students. 

“Through these events, 91ֱ����Ƶbuilds bridges between academic and professional worlds, ensuring graduates emerge as leaders ready to drive innovation and success across Maine, New England, and beyond,” he said. 

Register for “The Business of Cyber Defense: How Leaders Prepare for and Recover from Cyber Threats”