Cory Rankin

About Cory Rankin

Visionary technology leader with over a decade of experience in K-12 IT operations, cybersecurity, and infrastructure modernization. Currently serving as Incident Response Lead at NC Department of Public Instruction, where I support cybersecurity initiatives across North Carolina\'s public schools.I believe cybersecurity is for everyone. If it isn\'t broken, find a way to improve it. And if you break it, it needed to be improved.My background spans managing enterprise technology departments, implementing NIST and CISv8 security frameworks, and building zero-trust architectures that protect FERPA-regulated student data. I\'ve led initiatives that reduced phishing click rates by 50%, cut network attack surfaces by 84%, and saved organizations over $100K annually through open-source solutions.Outside of work, I explore vibe coding projects tinkering with AI-driven tools, automation scripts, and self-hosted infrastructure just for the fun of building things.Certified Government CIO (CGCIO) • Open-source advocate • Linux, PowerShell, Python

Experience

1. Independent Technology Consultant

   AlphaSights

   Oct 2023 — Present

   IT Consulting with these focuses- Edtech- Cybersecurity- K-12 Procurement

Education

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  CGCIO

Skills

• Wireless
• Customer Experience
• Customer Satisfaction
• Retail Sales
• Telecommunications
• Account Management
• Direct Sales
• Retail
• Cellular Communications
• Sales
• Mobile Devices
• Call Centers
• Sales Operations
• Customer Retention
• Customer Service