This year’s Central Illinois Cyber (CIC25) and 2025 Audiovisual Technology Showcase were held together for the first time on Monday, September 29. Hosted by Pearl Technology, the two events were held at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and featured record-breaking attendance. Special thanks to all our sponsors!
Following is a recap of some of the highlights:
CIC25
CIC25 is the area’s leading gathering of cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts. The event was packed with insightful talks, engaging activities, and valuable networking opportunities.
Capture the Flag (CTF) Competition (Powered by Hack the Box)
A standout feature of CIC25 was the CTF competition. Participants showcased their cybersecurity skills through a series of challenging puzzles. Congratulations to the winners:
🥇 1st Place: 2007 Toyota Corolla
🥈 2nd Place: dog4shell
🥉 3rd Place: PearlHunters
Featured Speakers
CIC25 brought together an impressive lineup of speakers who shared their insights on various cybersecurity topics:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: Keynote
- Steve Bergstrom (VP, Peoria InfraGard): InfraGard Activity & Projects: current initiatives, how to plug in, and opportunities for member impact
- Paige Hanson: Cybersecurity and Privacy, the human side of digital risk: high-stick training ideas and everyday privacy habits that actually land with staff
- Nick Mullen: Risk Management & Compliance: aligning controls to real business risk, audit-readiness shortcuts, and common pitfalls
- 5 minutes: Don Shafer: IT Accelerator & AI Training: how to access the Accelerator, upskilling paths, and upcoming AI learning tracks
- 15 minutes: Tony Collings: CISA Services & Threat Update: free federal services you can request today and the latest threat advisories
- Marshal Pruit: Audiovisual + Cybersecurity Briefing: securing conference rooms, AV endpoints, and hybrid meeting tech without killing usability
- Joe Kraft: Bug Bounty 101: how bug bounty programs work, where to start, and how to do it safely
- Anthony Mini: Purple Team: IT Ops + Security Collaboration: proven patterns to tighten defenses by working shoulder-to-shoulder.
Networking and Education
Beyond the formal sessions, CIC25 offered ample networking opportunities. Attendees connected with peers, exchanged ideas, and explored emerging trends in cybersecurity. The event fostered a collaborative environment where participants could learn from each other and discover new strategies to tackle cyber challenges.
2025 AV Technology Showcase
The Audiovisual Technology Showcase is the area’s premier technology event, featuring the latest in audiovisual technology—conferencing, video walls, digital signage, audio-video displays, collaboration, and more. In addition, Pearl Technology featured an exhibit highlighting cybersecurity, data centers, IT and AV solutions.
Does your business need help with IT solutions, cybersecurity, data centers, or audiovisual integration? Contact us to see what technology solutions might work best for you.
