A solution is only as valuable as the foundation it stands on. That's why relationships matter, and why we go the extra mile to truly understand our clients' unique business needs.
Challenges are opportunities for success. Together, we'll lay the foundation for success that will last.
Leadership
Ande Smith
President
Ande leverages his wealth of government and private sector experience to support higher education.
Ande has served as CIO for the state of Maine and CTO for the state of Connecticut. He's also acted as CISO for large private sector organizations.
He accepted his BS in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Masters of Public Affairs from the University of Connecticut, and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law.
Mary Natale
Chief Operating Officer
Mary provides support for Delivery Services and Operations.
She has over 30+ years of extensive IT, Cybersecurity, Risk, Compliance & Audit and Regulatory experience. Her previous experience with a multinational global bank allows her to offer Deer Brook's leadership team a unique and effective perspective.
Mary earned her BSBA in Computer Information Systems from Suffolk University.
Zachary Watkins
VP of Technical Services
Zachary drives and supports our Technical Services team.
As a Cyber Systems Operations specialist for the United States Air Force, Zachary is prolific and experienced in a variety of technical services including developing systems, maintaining equipment, and keeping systems compliant.
Zachary is a Certified Ethical Hacker, and has both Server+ and Security+ certifications.
Brendan D. Travis
VP of Business Development
Brendan is a business-minded solutions advisor bringing over 20 years of experience in security, risk, and compliance focused on organizations who are committed to protecting sensitive information and minimizing business disruption.
Collaborating with cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams, Brendan reconciles organizational business drivers to satisfy compliance obligations and mitigate cybersecurity risk.
He is Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and holds an MBA from Clarkson University. He recently achieved certification as a CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP) in support of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).
Tracie Bradbury
Vice President
Tracie leads our Audit, Advisory & Professional Services team to deliver tailored services.
Known for her personalized approach, Tracie helps organizations navigate complex regulatory landscapes, assess risk, and implement robust government frameworks. She also focuses on the human element of security, to ensure that clients understand how to effectively manage risks.
Tracie is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
Hope Jacobson
VP of Higher Education
Hope drives our Higher Education Services.
Hope's wealth of experience includes serving as assistant vice president of a large national bank and spending her earlier years as liaison between clients and departments.
With an interest for business process improvement, Hope is committed to providing success and satisfaction for clients.
Arthur Ream
Director, Consulting Services
Arthur's extensive background includes healthcare services, application development, and auditing.
He serves as a professor at Bently University for Information Process Management, and Cybersecurity and Information Technology. He's also a regular speaker at forums and conferences for healthcare IT security.
He earned his BS in Information Technology, minoring in Business, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He earned his MBA at Bentley University.
Diana Thurston
CISO, Audit and Advisory Services
Diana has experience in a wide range of industries that's earned her a strong reputation for strengthening audit practices and safeguarding financial operations.
From small credit unions and large banks to healthcare, manufacturing, utilities, and technology, Diana specializes in guiding clients through the regulatory process to ensure their operations are compliant.
Diana is a Certified Information Systems Auditor.
Deseret Scharett
Director of Business Applications, Higher Education
Deseret specializes in managing application services implementation for higher education institutions.
Her 18 years of experience include time as Director of Professional Services at Modern Campus, as well as numerous prior Director positions at Trident Technical College.
Deseret earned her BA in Management and Marketing from Park University, as well as a Master's Degree in Adult and Higher Education Administration from the University of South Dakota.
Sue McFarland
Director of Technical Services
Sue brings over 20 years of project management experience to the table, overseeing Deer Brook's Technical Services team.
With a background in IT, Sue is deeply involved in project planning and managing deliverables. She takes great joy in seeing projects through to completion.
An expert in handling multiple priorities, Sue can keep everything on track. She adapts as necessary to address new challenges, shifting timelines, or evolving project variables.
Melissa Hernandez
Delivery Leader, Higher Education Tech Services
Melissa is an Information Technology bar-setter with international leadership experience and the skills to exceed operational goals.
Her 25 years of experience include holding various positions that demonstrated her command of best practices and fostering environments where continuous improvement was encouraged.
Melissa earned her MS in Organizational Leadership and BS in Computer Science at Southern New Hampshire University, formerly New Hampshire College.
