Fall Friday Lunch, October Edition: A Full Room in King of Prussia

The October 2026 edition of Fall Friday came with a twist. We made a last-minute pivot to Peppers by Amedeo's in King of Prussia, and the day turned out to be a smash success: a jam-packed room and a waitlist I couldn't accommodate. This series is quickly becoming one of the hottest lunch series in the Philadelphia region.

Why the Friday Lunch Series exists

I created the Friday Lunch Series this past January. I sit in a unique position: as someone in a technology and cybersecurity leadership chair, I get invited to many different events from vendors and partners, and I work alongside my fellow industry peers.

One of the most common complaints among tech leaders is the outreach methods salespeople use to stand out, get in front of buyers, and eventually sign a deal. The sheer volume of emails, phone calls, and LinkedIn messages can make general work, and sometimes life, unmanageable.

On the flip side, many Tech Council events are sponsored by the marketing departments of technology and cybersecurity companies whose products claim to fill gaps in the areas most of us are responsible for improving or protecting. Their salespeople tell me it's impossible to break through, and that leaders don't respond to any of the creative methods they try. They often ask me how they can stand out.

So here we are: a Friday lunch, two hours tops, that people can fit into their workday. I put together a new panel for each session and moderate the discussion with largely the same core questions.

The first half starts with vendor outreach. I ask the leaders what type of outreach actually works and gets their attention, even though we're all bombarded, and then I follow up with what earns an automatic block, delete, or ignore.

It's among the best questions I've asked in my professional career, and the answers over the months have been incredible.

This panel has hosted executives from organizations such as Aramark, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Line Health, St. Luke's University Health Network, Hill International, and many more. Most say the key is to build the relationship first. In a previous lunch, Ed Maule, CIO @ Advocare best said “something along the lines of don’t treat me like I’m a big juicy hamburger!”

The second half of the conversation typically dives into what's top of mind, technology-wise, for people in leadership positions. It’s a great mix of innovation, Cyber Security concerns, and AI experience sharing. The 45-minute conversation plus Q&A has been pure gold.

Salespeople buy a ticket, practitioners get in free, and everyone has time to mix, mingle, and eat together around the conversation. Some great connections have been made during this series, some even leading to strong sales opportunities.

I'd love to take this show to other regions.

Today's cast

Michael DaGrossa, Vice President of Information Security at Genesis HealthCare, anchored the panel. Mike is someone I consider a friend and someone I look up to in this industry. He brings a particularly unique perspective: along with leading cybersecurity today, he has run startups and spent time on the sales side, so he knows the process from both angles.

Matt Bruce is an industry up-and-comer I've admired from afar for some time. He recently took the reins as Chief Information & AI Officer at Dechert LLP. His hard work paid off: he paid his dues with the organization and earned the chief title. The Chief AI Officer role is a trend I expect to continue.

The third panel spot allowed an opportunity to reconnect with Ed Broderick, CISO @ Conner, Strong & Buckelew who is as steady and experienced as they come.

What we heard

• Respect personal phones, especially after hours and on weekends.

• Build the relationship before you sell. It goes a long way, especially in a field where people change jobs every couple of years.

• The talent gap is real. The supply of skilled people still falls short of where leaders need it to be to properly staff their teams.

• AI is top of mind for everyone, in some way, shape, or form, cliché or not. We've never seen anything move this fast with this much impact. It's hard to catch up, and it's a never-ending gallop.

  
  

The question that stuck with me

There was lots of great conversation, but one of my favorite Q&A questions came from Drew Burford, an old-school, respected senior sales executive currently with eSentire. He asked the panel whether the old days of salespeople coming into the office and presenting to the whole team are over.

Unfortunately, the panel agreed: yes.

While that answer was going around the room, I spotted Brittany Nisenzon, a longtime Robert Half executive. I met Brittany many years ago in exactly that fashion, when we were both industry up-and-comers. It made me wonder: how will the next generation network and get ahead when the human element has been significantly reduced.

Less water-cooler time, and the opportunities to help and learn from an older executive. Ed Broderick said it’s never been a better time to start or end your career.

Who was in the room

We had more practitioners than ever, which made for a great balance in the networking. Notable leaders and practitioners from companies such as Arkema, NFI, PayPal, Temple Health and others, showed up for an hour to network, share information, and be part of the community.

Past sponsors Mike Chileous (Expedient), Drew Burford (eSentire) and Marnie Warren (Elisity) were also in the house. Brooklyn’s own Harry Yaz arrived representing Glean along side of other local luminaries attending on behalf of many multimillion dollar technology organizations.

Overall, it was a great mix of new faces and steady eddies. My apologies to anyone on the waitlist who was unable to join.

Thank you

A big thank-you to today's sponsor, Alan Lefort of Strongest Layer, an email security company that is getting rave reviews from some of the most respected tech leaders in the area. Alan flew in from Chicago as Strongest Layer looks to build a bigger presence in the Philadelphia region. Please keep them in mind for any email security needs.

Another big shout-out to Cami Jacobson, who kept the wheels moving and took many of the photos you see here.

And if you're ever in King of Prussia, check out Peppers by Amedeo's. It's a hidden gem: family-style Italian food, great service, and excellent prices.

What's next

• Friday, November 20: The Friday Lunch returns to Conshohocken Brewing Company.

• Friday, December 11: We're looking to close the year with a major bang in a bigger location, possibly with multiple sessions just before and just after lunch. More info to come. Please send me any speaker recommendations you have!

  
  

As always, thank you all for your support of the Tech Council, for taking the lead in making this region stronger through technology, and for showcasing the economic impact this industry has across the board.

For more information on the tech scene, go to www.phillytechcouncil.com.