The BARR Advisory team continues to grow with the addition of new associate consultant Jake Smith. In this role, Smith will help clients navigate complex security and compliance issues, identifying and evaluating business and technology risks and remediation methods to mitigate those risks.
Smith comes to BARR after earning a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems from the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. He is currently pursuing his MBA from Cleveland State University and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.
As for why Smith chose to join BARR and steer his career toward the cybersecurity industry, he says it was the collaboration and innovation opportunities available.
“I love working with and learning from other people,” he said. “A strong team bond is something I strive for in my professional life. BARR provides a working environment that fosters those kinds of professional relationships.”
Smith also admits he finds the cybersecurity industry exciting. “The next industry defining idea can come from anywhere — even a company as small as BARR. With data collection and usage being part of nearly every organization’s value-creation process today, that data could potentially be at risk. It’s imperative that organizations have a strong and verified security posture to protect themselves and customers.”
To Smith, data security is vital because it protects a company’s value.
“100 percent of a company’s value lies in having proper controls in place,” he said. “Protecting that is as important as protecting any other company asset.”
Smith’s greatest source of motivation? His friends. “A good life is pointless if you have no one to share it with. My friends have helped me through bad times and been there through all of the good.”
As he looks ahead to the future, Smith is eager to contribute to the BARR team.
“I am excited to see how BARR helps me grow as an individual, and how I can help BARR grow as an organization.”
Interested in joining the BARR team? Check out our current openings.