James Kimble serves as the Senior Director of Enterprise Security Architecture, where he is instrumental in orchestrating collaboration with executive leadership and key stakeholders to establish and sustain strategic frameworks for securing applications and infrastructure. He is tasked with the role of guiding the mission, vision, strategy, and tactical direction of the Business Information Security Officers (BISO) and Enterprise Security Architecture teams. These teams are pivotal in advising business and technical leaders on optimizing information technology to drive their business objectives forward, all while mitigating overarching risks.
James embarked on his 30+-year career beginning with the United States Air Force (Tennessee Air National Guard), shortly after graduating high school, serving as an Aeromedical Evacuation Specialist during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His career trajectory in Information Systems, Technology, and Cybersecurity has been both rich and varied, commencing in the banking and fintech sectors, then advancing to significant roles with the primary contractor for the Environmental Protection Agency, and subsequently with the largest Carpet Co-op (Retailer) in the United States.
James co-founded a VoIP enterprise, where he served as the Vice President of Operations and Chief Technology Officer, spearheading the company’s growth and successfully taking the company public. His expertise in IT, Security and VoIP was further leveraged in the development and support of call centers for Asurion. Prior to his current leadership role at Lowe’s, James made substantial contributions during his 11-year tenure at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, culminating in his recruitment by Lowe’s to establish the Enterprise Security Architecture and BISO organizations.
James' career is characterized by a synergistic blend of deep technical proficiency and strategic business acumen, qualities that have been integral to the high-caliber execution of his responsibilities at Lowe’s.
Experienced and Influential Information Security and Technology Leader acknowledged for producing new and alternative ideas in the Retail and Hospitality industries. Demonstrated expertise in Transformation, IT Security, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, IT Architecture, IT Service Management and IT Operations Management.
An Information Security and Technology Professional with 15+ years in Tier 1 PCI-DSS experience and driving efforts to manage risk and while reducing security related friction to the velocity of business objectives.
Expert in building products, solutions and capabilities while advising and partnering with C-Level executives and stakeholders on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, efficiency improvements and strategy development.
Core competencies include:
Western Governors University | 2016 - 2018
Study of best practices in systems and services, networking and security, scripting and programming, data management, and the business of IT.
ISC2 | 2012 - PRESENT
Certified Information Systems Security Professional
EC-Council | 2021 - PRESENT
Certified Chief Information Security Officer
CompTIA | 2018 - PRESENT
Certified Project Professional
CIW | 2017 - PRESENT
Certified Internet Web Professional - Site Development Associate
EXIN | 2008 - PRESENT
Information Technology Infrastructure Library - Foundations Certified
Lowe's | 2019 - PRESENT
Senior Leader responsible for collaborating with Executives and Key Stakeholders to establish and maintain their strategic road-maps for secured applications, infrastructures and disaster recovery. Responsible for the mission, vision, strategy and tactics of the BISO and Enterprise Security Architecture teams that advise various business and technical unit leaders on how to leverage information technology to achieve and reduce the risk throughout their business objectives.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores | 2008 - 2019
Collaborated with Executives and Key Stakeholders to establish and maintain a strategic road-map for the Infrastructure and its Disaster Recovery. Technical Consultant, advising various business unit leaders on how to leverage Information Technology to achieve their business objectives. Technical Consultant to the Security and Compliance Department for the creation of policies related to Regulatory requirements (PCI-DSS, HIPAA & PII). Incident Response Manager, managing all aspects of technical incident response from initiation to conclusion. Managing the team tasked with the execution of technical and security related policies and their remediation activities. Direct responsibility for the development, communication and execution of the departmental budget. Direct responsibility for the recruiting, development, and evaluation of departmental staff.
Asurion | 2006 - 2008
Led a team of Architects and Engineers that designed, deployed and supported the network and systems utilized by various call centers. Managed all security devices throughout the Enterprise. Direct responsibility for the development, communication and execution of the departmental budget. Direct responsibility for the recruiting, development, and evaluation of departmental staff.
Over the last 18 years I have provided vCISO services for 2 Judicial Drug Task Forces in Tennessee that serve 8 counties.
Read MoreI serve as the Servant Leader for the Lake Norman Information Technology Professionals CISO Peer Group. Duties include recruiting new members and arranging monthly breakfast topics and speakers.
Read MoreI help recruit sponsors for annual events that drive charitable donations in support of STEM, Women-in-Tech and other worthy technological related organizations.
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