Senior IT & Security Leader

Building Systems
That Scale & Secure

Currently serving as Senior IT Operations Manager and Acting CISO for The Chosen — the most-watched independent film and streaming series in history, with over 700 million episode views worldwide.

Stephen Smith
15+
Years IT & Cybersecurity Leadership
125+
SaaS Applications Governed & Optimized
$2M+
Technology Budget Managed
3x
Businesses Founded & Operated

I don't just manage IT —
I build systems that scale.

My work sits at the intersection of execution and accountability. As the sole IT and security function at a globally distributed media organization, I carry the full stack — from network cables to the C-suite. I focus on outcomes, not tools or tickets.

⚙️ IT Operations

Faster execution, reduced overhead, and systems your team can actually use under pressure.

🔐 Cybersecurity

Real-world risk reduction — not checkbox compliance. Security that moves with the business.

☁️ Infrastructure & Cloud

Designed for scale from day one. AWS, CDN, SaaS lifecycle, and everything in between.

📊 Business Process Optimization

Cleaner environments, better visibility for leadership, and lower operational risk company-wide.

Where I've moved the needle.

Operational Transformation

Rebuilt internal workflows using automation and AI-assisted systems — significantly increasing throughput while reducing manual overhead and support burden.

Security Leadership Without Bureaucracy

Built security programs aligned with industry frameworks while maintaining business agility. Risk-based decision making over rigid compliance posturing.

Cost Optimization

Identified inefficiencies across SaaS portfolios, vendors, and infrastructure — driving measurable five-figure cost reductions without sacrificing capability.

Scalable Infrastructure

Architected systems capable of handling traffic spikes, production demands, and global access needs without downtime or performance degradation.

Where I've done the work.

5&2 Studios / The Chosen 2024 — Present
Senior IT & Security Leader | Acting CISO
Key Wins
  • Reduced operational costs by 5 figures through SaaS consolidation, automation, and vendor renegotiation
  • Designed and facilitated C-suite tabletop exercises covering ransomware, deepfake, and social media takeover scenarios — with full executive decision-making and communication protocols
  • Deployed and manage full UniFi/UISP network stack across all studio and corporate locations
  • Led Zoho CMS implementation across 25+ countries with international team coordination
  • Stood up and manage Brivo card access and Eagle Eye camera systems across all studio facilities
  • Standardized full hardware lifecycle management and onboarding/offboarding across all platforms
  • Built and maintain compliance documentation and executive-level IT reporting cadence
Madwire / Marketing360 2010 — 2023
IT Manager | Infrastructure & Security
Key Wins
  • Managed full Cisco-based network environments including switching, routing, and wireless
  • Built and maintained secure server environments across Windows Server infrastructure
  • Improved system uptime and reliability across all business-critical systems
  • Streamlined internal tools and significantly reduced support overhead

The tools I work with.

Security

CrowdStrike Arctic Wolf Zero Trust EDR / SIEM Incident Response Vendor Risk Prophet Security AWS GuardDuty

Infrastructure & Cloud

AWS Cisco Meraki UniFi / UISP CDN / Edge DNS Architecture Fastly CDN Azure

SaaS & Identity

Google Workspace Jamf Slack Enterprise Asana NetSuite Zoom Zoho CMS Brivo Eagle Eye Networks Monday.com Obsidian Hostaway IAM / SSO
ISC²
CC
Certified in Cybersecurity — Active
CompTIA
Security+ CE
Active
ISC²
CISSP
Candidate — In Progress
FAA
Part 107
Commercial Drone Pilot — Active
NIST CSF
SOC 2
GDPR / DPA
SEC Cybersecurity
ISO 27001
Arsenal Media Co. 2010 — Present
Founder & Owner | Media Production, Drone Cinematography, Web Development
Key Wins
  • Six figures in revenue year one, self-funded from the ground up
  • 15+ year run in the media industry while simultaneously holding a full-time IT leadership role
  • Named Top Rated Local videography, photography, and aerial cinematography provider in Northern Colorado
  • Celebrity and professional athlete clientele through reputation and referral
JAMMIN' DJs Prior
Operations Manager | Website & CMS Management | Graphic Design
Concrete Curb Design Prior
Founder & Owner | Stamped Concrete Contracting
Key Win
  • Six figures in revenue year one as a self-funded startup

More than infrastructure.
End-to-end operational leadership.

🌐

UniFi / UISP Network Management

Full-stack UniFi deployment and management across all physical locations — switching, wireless access points, routing, and UISP-based monitoring. End-to-end visibility and control over on-site network infrastructure.

🔒

Cybersecurity & Physical Security

End-to-end security ownership — endpoint protection, IDS, network segmentation, and access controls via Arctic Wolf and CrowdStrike, plus physical security systems including Brivo card access and Eagle Eye Networks camera surveillance across all studio facilities.

🌍

Global CMS Rollout — 25+ Countries

Architected and led a Zoho CMS deployment across teams in more than 25 countries. Managed international coordination, localized training, phased rollout, and adoption across a globally distributed organization.

🤝

Remote Collaboration & Platform Management

Built and optimize the full collaboration stack for a globally distributed workforce. Own all SSO platforms, employee access, and permissions across Google Workspace, Slack, Jamf, Monday.com, Asana, NetSuite, Obsidian, Hostaway, and 125+ SaaS applications.

🎯

Tabletop Exercise Facilitation

Design and facilitate executive-level tabletop exercises (TTX) with C-suite and senior leadership — covering ransomware, deepfake attacks, and social media takeover scenarios with full executive decision trees and communication protocols. Part of a broader incident response program including playbooks, escalation paths, and recovery procedures.

📡

Executive Technology Alignment

Translate infrastructure risk, vendor decisions, and security posture into clear executive-level language. Work directly with C-level leadership to ensure technology decisions are grounded in business outcomes.

🛡️

Acting CISO — Security Governance

Full cybersecurity governance ownership including policy development, compliance alignment (SOC 2, NIST, GDPR, SEC), risk assessments, penetration testing oversight, cybersecurity roadmap, and business continuity planning. Vendor security assessments and third-party compliance enforcement included.

🖥️

Hardware Lifecycle & Production IT

Own the full hardware lifecycle for all staff — procurement, deployment, configuration, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal. Oversee IT setup and support for productions, events, and daily operations across both corporate and studio environments.

🏢

Facilities & Building Systems

Manage building management systems (BMS), A/C controls, and facility technology at studio locations in partnership with operations leadership — ensuring a controlled, secure, and operational environment across all spaces.

Most IT leaders manage systems.
I redesign them.

Start with business outcomes, not tools. Reduce complexity before adding solutions. Build for scale from day one.

I've built three businesses from scratch — a media production company, a concrete contracting operation, and a consulting practice — all while holding senior IT leadership roles. That entrepreneurial experience shapes how I approach every problem: with ownership, urgency, and a bias for getting things done.

If you need someone who can stabilize, secure, and scale — I'm your person.

Stabilize and scale your IT environment Strengthen security without slowing the business Reduce costs while increasing output
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