Workweek News and Notes: NCC alum excels in cybersecurity career | Business

Proctor worked at The Daily Reflector for several years in the IT department. He also worked at University PC Care in Greenville.

“Nash Community College gave me the foundation I needed to jumpstart my career, and I reflect on many things I have learned to this day,” Proctor said.

Proctor attended Northern Nash High School. During his senior year, he enrolled in an electrical engineering class at NCC.

“The convenient location, variety of classes offered, low cost and available campus resources made the community college a natural first choice,” he said. “I fell in love with the campus and the staff.”

Proctor is a senior cybersecurity consultant with MADSecurity, a company that safeguards client business operations through strategic security services and technology solutions. His cyber risk and compliance team performs compliance gap assessments and risk mediation and cyber security consulting for Department of Defense contractors.

“From an early age, I wanted to be a meteorologist,” he said. “But taking IT-related classes in high school changed my career trajectory. Between the early vocational opportunities offered in high school and the option to take classes at NCC, my decision to pursue the technology field was set.”

At NCC, Proctor received the GlaxoSmithKline scholarship. He took classes on circuitry, fabrication, microprocessing, linear applications, electronics, local area networking, physics, robotics, data communication, visual basic programming and more.

“I even met my wife at NCC,” he said. “My electrical engineering at NCC was probably my most memorable class. Not only did the instructor teach the course material, but I also learned life lessons related to empathy towards those using the technology that IT supports. My instructor stressed that while technology is fun, people must come first.”

Proctor graduated with an associate degree in computer engineering and began his career in 2005 at the Rocky Mount Telegram as an information systems manager. He later worked for the Telegram’s parent company, Cox North Carolina Publications, as a junior technician and analyst. Proctor’s resume also includes roles as director of social marketing, IT manager and vice president.

“Community colleges offer a great way to begin your college career,” he said. “Or for those like me who focus on taking the knowledge gained and entering the field right away, community colleges are an affordable way to do just that.”

Proctor said that in the field of IT security, one never stops learning.

“I consider myself a lifelong learner and someone who pursues new interests,” he said.

This was evident when he decided to transition his 18-year IT career to focus specifically on cyber security. The change in direction required his successful completion of industry certifications including CMMC-AB RP, CySA+, Security+, Network+, A+, Project+ and ITIL Foundations before attaining the CISSP, which is considered to be the gold standard of cybersecurity certifications.

Proctor also is an Apple Certified Support Professional, Apple Certified Macintosh Technician and Apple Certified iOS Technician.

“My motivation to keep moving forward is my desire to help others by sharing knowledge,” he said. “I live by the idea that knowledge is useless if not shared.”

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons, has granted accredited status to ECU Health Medical Center for the ninth year.

Patients receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center have access to information on clinical trials and new treatment options, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services including psychosocial support, rehabilitation services and survivorship care.

“ECU Health serves a vast rural region burdened by high prevalence of chronic diseases including cancer,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer of ECU Health and president of ECU Health Medical Center. “Our partnership with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University allows us to provide research and clinical trials for patients, as well as recruit high-quality cancer care providers, both of which largely contribute to our accreditation.

“Bringing standardized, quality care close to home for the 1.4 million people we serve helps us meet our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The even higher prevalence of cancers in eastern North Carolina highlights the importance of having an accredited cancer care center in the region.

Access to preventative screenings and early detection allows for less invasive treatments, a greater variety of options and a greater potential to prevent the spread of breast cancer.

“ECU Health is committed to maintaining excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, compassionate, patient-centered, high-quality care for patients with all types of cancer,” said Dr. Emmanuel Zervos, executive director of cancer services at ECU Health, and professor at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU.

“Patients with breast cancer at ECU Health benefit from a robust team of disease site specialists in surgery, oncology and radiotherapy who are committed to working together to provide the type of care this important designation represents,” Zervos said. “I am grateful to our ECU Health team members and new breast cancer program leader, Dr. Karinn Chambers, for not only adhering to these standards but surpassing them.”

Accreditation by NAPBC is granted to programs proven to provide the best possible care to patients with breast cancer. To achieve voluntary NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards that address a center’s leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement for patients. Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit every three years.

Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina has announced it will award $1.5 million in grants this year to 33 community service organizations throughout 51 counties in eastern North Carolina.

“Our goal is to provide opportunities that transform lives throughout the local and regional communities we serve,” said GIENC President and CEO Christopher Hash. “These grants will act as a mission multiplier, providing needed resources to organizations and allowing them to expand their scope of service for the various populations they serve,”

The organizations that will receive grants through the Agency Empowerment Program in 2023 include:

• Boys & Girls Club
• Living with Autism
• A Safe Place
• Esteamed Coffee
• Shriners Children Hospital
• The Carying Place
• Libby Dalton Averett Foundation
• A Place at the Table
• Open Door Food Pantry
• Make a Difference Food Pantry
• Baptists on Mission
• Community Crossroads Center
• Healing Household 6
• Promise Place
• Interfaith Food Shuttle
• Veterans Life Center of NC
• Backpack Friends
• Food Bank of the Albermarle
• Hope Mission Ministries
• SHIP Community Outreach
• Caroline’s House
• Broad Street Clinic
• Families Moving Forward
• E Fusion Solutions
• The Gifted Arts
• Outer Banks Dare Challenge
• Passage Home

“We’re excited to partner with these wonderful organizations as they continue to shape improvements within their communities,” Hash said. “These grant recipients are already driving change through successful programs that complement our employment, education and life-enrichment initiatives here at Goodwill.”

GIENC continues to explore ways to partner with organizations to ensure ongoing and sustainable progress in combating homelessness, food insecurity, addiction, human-trafficking, poverty, healthcare disparities and barriers to employment and education.

“As a broker of conversations, our goal is to ensure that we create opportunities for meaningful discussion, process-driven solutions, and quick strategic implementation,” Hash said. “Those in need are often unable to wait for assistance. By partnering with other service organizations, we increase the scope of our outreach efforts while greatly enhancing our ability to serve others as needs arise.”

Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina is a tax-exempt organization, focusing on employment, education, and life-enrichment opportunities in 51 counties within the Triangle, Sandhills, and greater eastern North Carolina. GIENC is affiliated with Goodwill Industries International, a network of 155 community-based Goodwills throughout the United States and Canada. To donate or learn more information about GIENC, visit www.gienc.org.