Leadership

EVA VELASQUEZ is the CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Eva previously served at the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for 21 years and as the Vice President of Operations for the San Diego Better Business Bureau. She is a recognized leader in the field of identity compromise and crime, cybercrime, and fraud, who has been featured on CBS Mornings, NBC Nightly News, CNBC’s American Greed, Fortune, The New York Times, NPR, The Associated Press and numerous other media outlets. Eva is a recipient of the National Crime Victim Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Consumer League’s Florence Kelley Consumer Leadership Award. She is a published author, actively contributes to various advisory boards and working groups, and is regularly invited to speak at industry and policy events, including the Identity, Authentication, and the Road Ahead Policy Forum, the MRC Authentication Summit, and the IACP Annual Conference and Exposition. Eva has also participated in briefing events for the FTC, CFPB, IRS, DHS, PRAC, DoL and the U.S. House of Representatives. She is committed to driving the ITRC’s mission to assist victims, educate the public and advocate for change for those who do not have a voice.

JAMES E. LEE is the President of the ITRC. A data protection and technology veteran, James is the former EVP & Company Secretary of Irish application security company Waratek and former SVP & Chief Marketing Officer for Atlanta-based data pioneer ChoicePoint (now LexisNexis). He also chaired two working groups for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on identity management and privacy. Prior to joining ChoicePoint, James served as a global public affairs and communication executive at International Paper Company (NYSE: IP). He holds academic credentials from the University of Texas School of Information – Center for Identity, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Arkansas. A nationally recognized expert on data breaches, cybercrime, and fraud, James is a sought-after speaker who translates complex security topics into actionable advice for consumers and businesses alike. He frequently provides expert commentary to top media outlets and contributes to public policy discussions on privacy and security before state legislatures, regulatory agencies, and the U.S Congress.

MONA TERRY is the Chief Operating & Programs Officer at the ITRC. She utilizes her experience and knowledge to guide and enhance the organization’s victim services. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Mona has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing victims of identity crimes. Through her work at the ITRC, she has been instrumental in developing supportive approaches to help identity crime victims, including recovery plans and education programs designed to help individuals and families affected by these crimes. Mona previously served at the Better Business Bureau in San Diego as the Director of Operations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in human development from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

ALEX ACHTEN is the Vice President of Media Relations at the ITRC. Alex oversees the organization’s Communications Department and all of the company’s earned, owned, and paid media initiatives. At the ITRC, Alex has helped secure earned media coverage across programs such as CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNBC’s American Greed, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many others. Through his work, Alex has also helped develop a new website, the organization’s monthly newsletter, In the Loop, and various paid media campaigns. Previously, Alex was a TV Reporter at KAUZ-TV News Channel 6 in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he covered a variety of beats. Alex is a graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science with a Major in Broadcast Journalism and a Minor in Leadership Studies.

JORDAN BURRIS is the Head of Public Sector at Socure. Prior to his role at Socure, Jordan served at the intersection of policy and delivery as the Chief of Staff in the White House Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer. Before joining the government in 2017, Jordan worked for Deloitte helping both commercial and public sector clients improve their cybersecurity risk management practices. Jordan serves on the board of the Kantara Initiative, a nonprofit corporation focused on growing and fulfilling the market for the trustworthy use of identity and personal data. He is a proud graduate of Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, Jordan is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) practitioner.

BETH CHEESEMAN is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Identity Intelligence Group (“IDIQ”), a financial intelligence company for every day action. Beth guides privacy compliance and data protection for the company and its brands, including IdentityIQ, CreditScoreIQ, Resident-Link, Credit & Debt, and Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services. Prior to joining IDIQ, Beth was SVP, Associate General Counsel for loanDepot, where she managed commercial and employment litigation and advised executive leadership on compliance initiatives. Beth received a JD from The University of Texas School of Law and a BA from Southern Methodist University.

MATTHEW DONAHUE is the President of GPS Services. His background is consulting for technology, security, privacy, and business strategy with experience in telecommunications, defense, and state government.  Mr. Donahue headed successful change management initiatives with federal and state government agencies and he takes great pride in being part of the team that started the ongoing Identity Theft program at the Department of Revenue in the State of Indiana.  He served his country as a communicator in the United States Army Special Operations. An Indiana native, Mr. Donahue earned both his MBA and bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.

KIMBERLY SUTHERLAND, Global Head of Fraud & Security at LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, leads the North American commercial market for consumer fraud analytics, identity verification, authentication and fraud investigations. Kim joined LexisNexis Risk Solutions in 2006 and has over 20 years of experience leading business strategy, product management, and professional services. Kim serves as a board member of Women in Identity and participates in the Better Identity Coalition and the Open Identity Exchange (OIX). She is the past Plenary Chair of the Identity Ecosystem Steering Group (IDESG) and advisory board member of the University of Texas – Center for Identity. Kim is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Otterbein University.

PAUL BOND is an equity partner at Holland & Knight LLP, serving in the Data Strategy, Security, and Privacy Group. Paul counsels company founders, senior management and ultra-high net worth individuals and households in hardening their defenses against identity theft and responding to identity theft emergencies. He is an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School and served as an instructor of Information Security Law in the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Executive Education and Certification Program at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.

REBECCA CARANGELO is a Director in Banking Fraud Operations at American Express, where she leads global teams focused on fraud prevention strategies and operational processes that help customers feel safe and protected from fraud and identity theft. With more than 25 years of experience across deposit and lending products, she has built and led emerging fraud prevention teams that deliver best-in-class protection and customer-focused solutions. Rebecca is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with deep expertise in fraud mitigation, operational leadership, and risk management.

BLAIR COHEN is the Founder and President of AuthenticID, a disruptive and transformational AI-driven identity proofing and fraud prevention company. Prior to turning his focus to solving the biggest challenge on earth, identity, Blair launched several other groundbreaking enterprises and pioneering technology products. Named by One World Identity (OWI) as one of the 100 Most Influential Identity Experts globally, his articles can be found in publications like Fast Company. He frequently speaks at industry conferences focused on identity, risk management, and information security.

RICKY DAVIS is Synchrony’s Chief Privacy Officer & Cyber Security Counsel. In his role, Davis maintains all Synchrony privacy policies and ensures company employees are aware of the requirements. Prior to his current role, Davis served as Senior Counsel for GE Capital’s Retail Finance business unit (the predecessor to Synchrony) and supported a variety of business functions. He also served as a corporate associate at the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell before joining GE. Davis graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelors of Science in Government and a Masters of Science in Public Administration. He also received a Masters of Science in Cybersecurity Risk & Strategy, as well as a Doctorate/JD in Law from New York University. 

GARY LAMACH is the EVP of Growth at ELB, where he partners with global enterprises to reimagine their talent and operating models, ensuring that transformation efforts engage the entire organization and deliver measurable business impact. He has led large-scale initiatives that align strategy, people, and execution, helping companies maximize workforce productivity, optimize investments, and achieve sustainable growth. Gary’s ability to architect transformation programs that balance vision with practical execution has made him a trusted advisor to leaders navigating complex change. A recognized thought leader, Gary is passionate about the intersection of human transformation and business strategy. He serves on the Forbes Business Development Council. 

ABIGAIL LOVELL is the Chief Sustainability Officer and leads Sustainability for global Experian. In her role, she develops a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainability and oversees the Environmental, Social and Governance program for the organization. Abigail leads climate change initiatives such as our transition to Net Zero, social impact, and the development of a global social impact framework. Prior to taking on her current role, Abigail has held a number of roles across North America in her 27-year tenure, including Senior Vice President of Shared Marketing, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Director of Marketing for Consumer Information Services and Business Information Services. 

LINDA MILLER is President and Co-Founder at Program Integrity Alliance, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on strengthening government program integrity through data, evidence and public-sector innovation. She also co-founded a software company, TrackLight, which uses advanced artificial intelligence to surface fraud risk in government programs. Miller has served in executive roles in government, including the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), where she led the development of GAO’s “Framework for Managing Fraud Risks in Federal Programs,” and on the task force that developed the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Fraud Risk Management Guide.

DIANA ROTHFUSS is Global Product Marketing Director for Financial Services at SAS, where she leads strategy and messaging for AI-driven risk, fraud, and decisioning solutions. With 15+ years of experience, she helps financial institutions turn data and analytics into real-time, trusted decisions. A frequent speaker at global industry events like Sibos and Money20/20, Diana is passionate about advancing trustworthy AI and bringing authentic, curiosity-driven conversations to the future of banking. 

MELISSA VOELLER is the Vice President of Marketing & Acquisition – Freemium Portfolio at Gen Digital, bringing over 20 years of experience in leading high-performing marketing teams and driving business results through strategic marketing programs. Over the past eight years at Gen Digital, Melissa has been a driving force behind go-to-market strategies for Gen’s portfolio of consumer brands, such as Norton and LifeLock. Prior to Gen Digital, Melissa held numerous marketing roles at PetSmart, leading disciplines like Integrated Marketing, Product Marketing, Promotions & Community Activation. Melissa is a dedicated mother, a passionate advocate for STEM education, and a mentor shaping the next generation of female leaders.

MICHAEL WONG is Senior Vice President, Government Affairs at the Bank Policy Institute, where he engages Congress and policymakers on issues of importance to the industry. Prior to joining BPI, Mr. Wong served as a top economic advisor to U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema for more than a decade in both the House and Senate, advising her when she was a member of the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. In 2019, he spearheaded Sinema’s successful effort to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States. In the 117^th Congress, Mr. Wong helped negotiate key provisions of landmark laws, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, and the Respect for Marriage Act. Mr. Wong holds a B.A. from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.