Darin Carter is a senior manager of US Policy and Grassroots Advocacy at Coinbase, where he focuses on connecting with crypto advocates all over the United States, meeting with members of Congress, and driving real-world crypto use cases. He started his career in cybersecurity at EY and had more than eight years of experience in tech before pivoting to tech policy. At Coinbase, Darin plays a pivotal role, bridging the gap between a technical field like blockchain and the industry's advocacy efforts.  

Darin is a proud Penn State alum and graduated with a bachelor's degree in security and risk analysis in 2014. He also holds a master's degree in blockchain and digital currencies from the University of Nicosia. A native of Rochester, New York, Darin loves to travel. After living all over—Philadelphia, San Francisco, Cape Town, and Ann Arbor—he now lives in Brooklyn.

Manasa Pisipati is a cyber intelligence analyst with advanced cybersecurity and computer science engineering degrees from Penn State and the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. Currently working at Check Point Software Technologies, she specializes in security monitoring and reporting, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and automation and has key industry certifications to her name, including CompTIA Security+ and ISC2 CC. 

As a student, Manasa served as the founding president of the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Penn State Chapter, fostering learning opportunities and enabling a supportive community for peers in cybersecurity. Today, she continues her commitment to mentorship by guiding students through the College of IST Alumni-Student Mentoring Program. Beyond cybersecurity, she holds a diploma in Indian Carnatic Music. 

Driven by a passion for knowledge-sharing and peer empowerment, Manasa is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring fellow cybersecurity professionals as she progresses and shapes her own career journey.

Dave is a software executive and entrepreneur, currently serving as the president of Pledge It, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company specializing in online fundraising solutions. As one of Pledge It’s earliest employees, Dave played a pivotal role in transforming a startup into the industry’s top performance-based fundraising platform, empowering more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations and 500+ professional athletes to raise millions for meaningful causes. Today, he leads the company’s strategy and oversees multiple business units, driving innovation and growth. 

Beyond his leadership at Pledge It, Dave has navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship firsthand, gaining deep insights into what it takes to build, scale, and sustain a business. His career path has been anything but linear—spanning corporate strategy, marketing, and executive leadership—giving him a unique perspective on seizing opportunities and adapting to change. 

Before joining Pledge It, Dave held leadership roles at Minitab Inc., a global software company specializing in data analysis solutions. He spearheaded the modernization and globalization of the company’s marketing function, earning multiple promotions and ultimately serving as Minitab’s global director of marketing. He began his career as a corporate strategy consultant with IBM, working with Fortune 500 companies and the Department of Defense tackling complex business challenges. 

A proud Penn State graduate, Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of IST in 2003 and an MBA in 2004.

John is a product and strategy consultant, currently serving as the co-founder and principal consultant of a small consulting firm specializing in product management, project management, and strategic planning. With a passion for problem-solving and operational efficiency, John helps organizations streamline processes, build impactful products, and drive meaningful change. 

John’s consulting work spans multiple industries, including government and marketing. Currently, he is leading product management efforts to develop Salesforce applications for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and providing strategic guidance for Rediscover State College, a marketing initiative focused on attracting new residents to the area. 

Beyond his consulting practice, John is deeply involved in nonprofit leadership. He serves as the co-chair of the board of directors for the North Central District Allied Connections, supporting people living with HIV/AIDS across 13 counties in Pennsylvania’s north central region. John is also a member of the board for the College of IST Alumni Society, leading the communications committee. 

Before launching his own business, John spent more than six years at Comcast, where he held leadership roles in operational excellence and project management. As manager of Operational Excellence at FreeWheel, he played a key role in driving organizational change and supporting the delivery of cross-functional initiatives. Prior to that, he was an IT project manager at Universal Parks and Resorts, managing large-scale technology projects to enhance guest experiences. His favorite project within the Comcast organization was supporting the technology for the opening team at Volcano Bay in 2017.  

A proud Penn State graduate, John earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of IST in 2018, focusing on people, organizations, and society, with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Kelsey is the dynamic demand manager at Atos and has a decade of experience in IT services, business strategy, and demand planning. She’s passionate about optimizing processes, aligning business needs with technology solutions, and driving efficiency in global operations and has a proven track record of forecasting demand, managing stakeholder expectations, and delivering strategic recommendations backed by data to enhance decision-making.