Abstract:
Cyber risk isn’t just an IT issue anymore, it’s a financial one. For construction finance managers, the impacts show up directly in the areas you’re responsible for every day:

• Cash flow at risk – payment diversion scams and ransomware can drain accounts or delay receivables.
• Bonding and insurance pressure – incidents reduce working capital, raise premiums, and limit bonding capacity.
• Project delays – cyber outages and vendor breaches can stall schedules and trigger penalties.
• Reputation and trust – subs, owners, and sureties lose confidence quickly after an incident.

In this session, we’ll:

• Break down the most common cyber threats facing construction firms today.
• Show how those risks translate into real business and financial consequences.
• Share practical, non-technical steps CFMs can put in place right away to reduce exposure.

You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of the risks that matter and a simple playbook to protect your firm from costly losses.

Speaker Bio – Lee Carsten

Lee Carsten is the Founder and CEO of Whitecap Risk Advisors, where he helps mid-market businesses take a practical, business-first approach to cybersecurity. With more than 20 years of experience spanning cybersecurity, IT, and enterprise risk management, Lee specializes in guiding organizations to strengthen their defenses, align with insurance expectations, and prepare for the “when, not if” of cyber incidents.

Before founding Whitecap Risk Advisors, Lee served as a Vice President at Aon’s Cyber Solutions, where he advised Fortune 500 and high-growth companies through complex challenges including ransomware, nation-state attacks, and regulatory scrutiny. Earlier in his career, he helped scale the application security practice at Denim Group and held leadership roles in services and operations.

Lee is a recognized thought leader and contributing author to Tribe of Hackers: Cybersecurity Advice from the Best Hackers in the World. He has been named a Fellow of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), an honor awarded to fewer than 2% of members worldwide for significant contributions to the profession. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the University of the Incarnate Word’s Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems programs.

Known for his clear and practical style, Lee regularly speaks to boards, executives, and professional groups about the business realities of cyber risk, helping leaders translate technical threats into financial and operational impact.