Our Board

Jaime Martinez has been a technology professional since 1985. He has worked in countless roles and technologies over the years affording him rich experience in Cybersecurity and IT Management. He presently is employed by General Dynamics Land Systems and leads teams of software developers providing safe and secure code within military vehicles for the war fighters. Within Cybersecurity he has specialties in Disaster Recovery, Vulnerability Management, IT Audit, Security Policy Development, Security Infrastructure and more.

He participates in various formal mentor programs, mentoring students, aspiring professionals, and veterans entering the civilian workforce. As a mentor, he is a well-known entity and has mentored hundreds.

He volunteers as a reserve police officer since 2012. He presently serves with the rank of R/Sergeant with the Oakland County Sheriff Department. He possesses a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a master’s degree from Walsh College. He possesses numerous certifications including the CISSP, CISA, CISM, CMMI, CDPSE and PMP.

jaime@csadetroit.org

Ranu Parmar is currently the Chief Product Security Officer at Hitachi Energy. She has over 20 years of experience in IT and Enterprise security, risk management, and application security for cloud computing solutions in the banking and energy sectors dedicated to critical infrastructure protection.

Ranu has led and specializes in the risk and compliance team, including NERC-CIP standards in the energy sector. Her cybersecurity risk and compliance experience includes policy-driven automation and driving visibility for asset protection, Security Operations, Audit and Compliance reporting, and Securing industrial Products, Systems, and Services.

Ranu is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional with a Master of Science in Information Assurance from Eastern Michigan University

Ranu is one of the Co-Founders of the CSA Detroit Chapter and Women Security Alliance (Womsa.org)

ranu@csadetroit.org

Smruti Shah is the Director of Risk, Compliance and Delivery Division, for the State of Michigan's Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB). Shah implemented the Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) platform for the state of Michigan and manages risk and compliance for all 20 departments, through the GRC tool.

Ms. Shah brings extensive experience in privacy and security and risk management, within both private and public sectors. Prior to joining DTMB, Smruti served for 14 years, as the Privacy and Security Officer for Michigan Department of Treasury and established the security program within the Department of Treasury. Further, Shah interacted with the IRS, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Customs and other federal and local units of the government.

Shah holds a bachelor’s in business administration and has certifications as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

smruti@csadetroit.org

Leon DuPree serves as a Board Member of the Detroit Cloud Security Alliance, where he is entrusted with advancing innovative ideas, strategic partnerships, and sustainable funding initiatives that support the organization’s mission to strengthen cloud security awareness, education, and community engagement.

With a distinguished career spanning cybersecurity architecture, IT audit, compliance, and secure cloud adoption, Leon brings both technical depth and business acumen to the Board. His role focuses on helping secure scholarships, underwrite program costs, and design initiatives that lower barriers to entry for students, professionals, and underserved communities seeking careers in cloud and cybersecurity.

Leon is deeply committed to servant leadership and views his board service as both a professional calling and a spiritual stewardship. Guided by faith, he approaches this work with gratitude and humility, believing that favor is given not for personal gain, but to serve others and bring people together for a greater purpose.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)

Through collaboration, innovation, and faithful stewardship, Leon supports the Detroit Cloud Security Alliance in cultivating a trusted cloud ecosystem—one that equips organizations, empowers individuals, and strengthens the broader cybersecurity community.

Mike Rutallie is a cybersecurity practitioner with over 20 years of experience in technology engineering. He has built and led teams across IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and software development, with a focus on making complex environments actually work under real-world conditions. Throughout his career, he has prioritized developing people, strengthening teams, and helping both organizations and individuals achieve meaningful outcomes. He holds a CISSP and a Master of Business from Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business.

His experience spans a wide range of environments, from highly regulated and mission-critical systems to fast-moving commercial organizations. Across these, Mike has developed a practical understanding of how technology decisions succeed or fail based on how well they align with the realities of the organization, not just the tools being deployed.

Mike currently serves part-time as an officer in the Michigan Air National Guard, where he has worked as a Cyber Defense Officer and strategic advisor to senior leadership, operating in environments where decisions carry real consequences. He also served on the Marysville Board of Education, bringing the same practical, outcome-driven approach to public service.

Mike founded ValorPoint after years of seeing organizations invest in security and technology that looked strong on paper but failed in practice, costing time, money, and trust across the business.

His work is grounded in a clear belief: organizations deserve more than surface-level guidance. They need someone who understands how they actually operate, what constraints they face, and what success looks like in their environment. That perspective is shaped by his faith and values, and by a long-standing commitment to serve others by helping them succeed in ways that are both practical and lasting.

Valbona Metaj is a distinguished technology professional, legal scholar, and emerging AI thought leader whose career spans the intersection of digital transformation, governance, and innovation. With more than a decade of experience across Information Technology Project Management and European Corporate Law, she brings a rare multidisciplinary perspective that enables organizations to navigate complex technological, regulatory, and strategic challenges with confidence and foresight.

Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Walsh College. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, she continues to deepen her knowledge of emerging technologies and their impact on organizations and society. Combining expertise in law, technology, and leadership, she brings a thoughtful perspective to issues of responsible AI Adoption, innovation, digital trust, and organizational resilience.

Guided by a commitment to continuous learning and impactful leadership, she holds HarvardX’s Exercising Leadership Certificate along with professional credentials in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud security, and privacy. This diverse foundation informs her perspective on responsible innovation, digital trust, and the governance frameworks needed to navigate an increasingly complex technological landscape.

Committed to empowering others through mentorship, professional development, and lifelong learning, she serves on the Board of WomSA, supporting the organization’s mission of providing mentorship, training, and networking opportunities that help individuals enter and advance within the cybersecurity profession. Through her expertise in AI, project management, risk management, and legal compliance, she provides valuable insight on innovation, organizational resilience, and the responsible use of emerging technologies in an increasingly digital world.