Cybersecurity Leader & CIO

Dr.Ken Knapton

IDC Adjunct Research Advisor  ·  Author  ·  ECPI University Faculty
CIO, Win Brands LLC  ·  Founder, Rocky Mountain CIO

CISSP C|CISO DIT MBA 3 U.S. Patents 2 Books

Twenty-plus years in the C-suite driving technology transformation across financial services, healthcare, and high-tech industries. Specialist in enterprise tech debt, cybersecurity leadership, and building IT organizations that speak the language of business.

20+
Years C-Level IT Leadership
3
U.S. Patents
2
Published Books
2
Security Certifications
127
Countries — Global Banking System Designed
IDC
Adjunct Research Advisor, IEP

A Career Built
at the Intersection of Tech & Business

Dr. Ken Knapton
Dr. Ken Knapton
CIO, Win Brands LLC  ·  Founder, Rocky Mountain CIO
IDC Adjunct Research Advisor  ·  CISSP  ·  C|CISO

Dr. Ken Knapton has spent more than two decades in C-level IT roles, leading transformation across industries as varied as financial services, mortgage origination, healthcare, and high-tech. He is known for one core ability: making technology legible — and accountable — to the business leaders who fund it.

His career began in software development, with early work on enterprise security solutions that were eventually acquired by Symantec and shipped as Norton Anti-Virus Corporate Edition. He has since held CIO and CISO roles at organizations including Merrick Bank, Progrexion (Credit.com / CreditRepair.com), W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, Access Data, Content Watch, and Avalon Healthcare.

One of his most distinctive achievements: helping design and architect the global banking system currently in use for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — a platform supporting 127 currencies across as many countries.

Today, Ken is active across multiple lanes simultaneously. In his operating role, he serves as CIO at Win Brands LLC, the hospitality company behind Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill and FatCats Family Entertainment venues — leading enterprise IT strategy, security, and operations across a multi-brand, multi-location organization. He also advises small and mid-market businesses through Rocky Mountain CIO, contributes published research as an IDC Adjunct Research Advisor for IT Executive Programs, and teaches graduate-level cybersecurity as faculty at ECPI University.

He holds a Doctorate of Information Technology from Walden University, with a dissertation focused on big data governance and the ethical use of personal information. He also holds an MBA from Brigham Young University, an MS in Strategic IT Leadership from Walden University, and a BS in Computer Science and Information Systems from Utah Valley University.

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Chief Information Officer — Win Brands LLC Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill & FatCats Family Entertainment
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Doctorate of Information Technology Walden University — Big Data Governance dissertation
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MBA Brigham Young University
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MS — Strategic IT Leadership Walden University
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BS — Computer Science & Information Systems Utah Valley University
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CISSP — Certified Information Systems Security Professional ISC²
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C|CISO — Certified Chief Information Security Officer EC-Council
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3 U.S. Patents Early work in enterprise security & anti-virus technology
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IDC Adjunct Research Advisor IT Executive Programs (IEP) — Tech Debt, Cybersecurity, Agile
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Graduate Faculty — Cybersecurity ECPI University (MSCS633)
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Board Member AIM Utah (Association for Information Management)

Strategic IT Leadership,
Without the Full-Time Price Tag

Most growing businesses face the same problem: enterprise-scale IT challenges with no one at the executive table to address them. That's exactly what Rocky Mountain CIO was built to solve.

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Virtual CISO Services

Security strategy, risk management, compliance frameworks, and incident response planning — embedded in your organization without a full-time hire.

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IT Strategy & Roadmapping

Align your technology investments with your long-term business goals. We translate "tech speak" into strategic decisions your board and executive team can act on.

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Tech Debt Assessment

Quantify and communicate your enterprise tech debt leverage — with a framework your non-technical executives can understand and act on.

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Cloud Strategy

Cloud migration planning, vendor evaluation, and governance. We help you determine what belongs in the cloud, what doesn't, and how to manage the transition.

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IT Process & Operations

Budget analysis, operational efficiency, vendor management, and process improvement. We bring enterprise-level discipline to your IT operations.

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Interim & Transition CIO

Helping you find the right full-time CIO, and managing your IT team through the transition with continuity and strategic oversight.

Our Model: Executive Partner, Not Hourly Consultant

We don't bill by the hour and disappear. We become a genuine extension of your executive team — attending the meetings that matter, understanding your business deeply, and providing the kind of strategic continuity that drives real transformation.

Most small and mid-market companies have talented IT staff who keep the lights on. What they lack is someone at the table who can connect technology decisions to strategic outcomes. That's the Rocky Mountain CIO model.

Merrick Bank Progrexion Avalon Healthcare W.J. Bradley Mortgage Access Data Content Watch Credit.com

"Ken is a very driven and knowledgeable individual and I believe he helped our company make huge strides in regards to our IT infrastructure."

— Paul H., Mortgage Origination Industry

"Ken brought a clear strategic vision, strong leadership, and the ability to effectively guide cross-functional teams through complex technological challenges."

— Senior Leader, Progrexion
Schedule a Conversation

Thought Leadership
in Practice

Dr. Knapton speaks, writes, and appears regularly for CIO, CISO, and executive audiences — through bylined research, podcast interviews, and conference presentations — on enterprise tech debt, cybersecurity leadership, change management, and data governance.

Published IDC Research

As an IDC Adjunct Research Advisor, Dr. Knapton publishes IDC Perspective papers for IT Executive Programs — available through IDC's research platform and distributed via CIO.com.

IDC PERSPECTIVE
Jun 2025
#US52930725
IT Organizational Structure: Finding the Right Model for Your IT Function
Explores the factors that influence the most appropriate organizational structure for IT — including team capabilities, enterprise culture, and the evolving role of the CIO.
IDC PERSPECTIVE
2025
Connecting Legacy Systems Without Compounding Technology Liabilities
Uses IDC's enterprise technical debt leverage (ETDL), data tech debt, and technical health frameworks to explore how organizations can modernize without deepening existing debt.
IDC / CIO.COM
Oct 2025
When Time Turns Against You: What a Negative TTE Means for Cyber Resilience
Introduces time-to-exploit (TTE) as a board-ready cyber resilience metric — and what a negative TTE means for an organization's real exposure window.
IDC / CIO.COM
May 2025
Solving the Tech Debt Problem While Staying Competitive and Secure
Frames tech debt reduction alongside AI and cybersecurity investment — why CIOs who fail to connect these dots lose the budget battle every time.

Full IDC Perspectives require IDC subscription access. CIO.com versions are freely available.

Speaking Engagements

Dr. Knapton speaks regularly at technology conferences, executive summits, CIO roundtables, and corporate leadership events. His audiences include C-suite executives, IT leaders, and business decision-makers who need practical, experience-grounded perspective on the issues shaping modern IT organizations. Past engagements have included CIO Initiative summits, AIM Utah events, and IDC-affiliated programs.

Available to speak on: Enterprise Tech Debt  ·  Cybersecurity Leadership  ·  Artificial Intelligence in the Enterprise  ·  IT Leadership & Culture  ·  IT Strategy & Roadmapping  ·  Change Management  ·  Data Governance  ·  Big Data Ethics  ·  and other topics at the intersection of technology and business strategy.

Available for Speaking Engagements

Conferences, executive roundtables, and corporate leadership events on tech debt, cybersecurity strategy, and IT transformation.

Book Dr. Knapton

Technology
Leadership & Security

Written for business leaders and IT executives who need to bridge the gap between technical complexity and strategic decision-making.

Unveiling Tech Debt book cover
Latest Book · 2024

Unveiling Tech Debt

A Business Leader's Guide to Measuring and Managing Enterprise Tech Debt Leverage

Enterprise tech debt costs organizations an average of $3 million per year — yet most executives lack the vocabulary to put it on the board agenda. This book changes that. Drawing on decades in the CIO seat across financial services, healthcare, and high-tech, Dr. Knapton introduces a practical framework for quantifying tech debt leverage in business terms that non-technical leaders can understand, act on, and fund.

Whether you're a CIO trying to make the case to your CEO, or a business leader trying to understand why your IT roadmap keeps slipping, Unveiling Tech Debt gives you the common language — and the dashboard — to finally close the gap.

Buy on Amazon → Book Dr. Knapton to Speak on Tech Debt

Dr. Knapton is a two-time author. His first book, Cyber Safety: A Family Guide to Online Security & Technology Standards, drew on his enterprise security background to help families establish technology standards at home. Find it on Amazon →

Ideas on Technology,
Leadership & Security

Perspectives drawn from the CIO seat, IDC research, and twenty-plus years at the intersection of IT and business strategy.

Let's Talk Strategy

Whether you're exploring a virtual CIO engagement, a speaking opportunity, or want to discuss tech debt and cybersecurity — the calendar below shows real-time availability.

Dr. Ken Knapton

Based in Utah, serving clients and audiences nationally.
Available for virtual CIO/CISO engagements, keynotes, executive roundtables, and advisory work.

📅   Schedule Time with Dr. Knapton

Live Availability