Profile
A ‘career shifter’, Ria has a rich background in technology and crisis leadership having spent a significant portion of her career as a Vice President of Weston Solutions, Inc. (WESTON), successfully leading the strategic direction and profitability for a global portfolio navigating organizations, government entities, and communities through complex crises. Following her career at WESTON, Ria was a member of Mayor’s Cabinet, and the first appointed Director of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience for the City of Atlanta. A change maker, Ria is heralded as an executive that leads organizaations through the convergence of technological innovation, risk management, and business sustainability.
Ria is an advocate for inclusion initiatives, women’s leadership, and passionate about mentoring the next generation of business and technology leaders. She has served as a Mentor for Women-In-Technology (WIT) Single Mother’s Program and Executive Women’s Forum (EWF), and has served on multiple advisory boards, most recently as a member of the Georgia State University Andrew Young School Public Policy, Evidenced-Based Cybersecurity Research Institute Board. Ria has also been a Guest Lecturer for Carnegie Mellon – Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. She is an Executive Member of Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) and was the recipient of the Technology Leader on the Rise Award in 2023.
Ria received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Texas – San Antonio, an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) certificate from Carnegie Mellon University.