ISC2 Chapter Leaders Summit 2025 | How Volunteers Turned BSides Tampa Into a Regional Powerhouse

What happens when a few passionate chapter members decide to build something more than a meetup? You get BSides Tampa, a community-driven conference that has grown into one of the largest BSides events in the country. In this panel discussion, members of the BSides Tampa Board will share the evolution of how they helped grow the event to over 2,300 participants this year. The conversation will highlight what it takes to organize and scale a major regional conference through community effort, including managing more than 100 volunteers, coordinating 13 Planning Committee Leads, securing 58 sponsors that continues to help us maintain the same ticket price for a decade, and delivering a weekend of impactful talks, valuable trainings, engaging CTFs, and interactive hands-on learning experiences. We will provide practical tips and tricks for chapters looking to get started, including how to launch a smaller local conference, and share the common pitfalls to avoid along the way. This session will focus on real-world lessons, wins, and challenges, giving you insight into how a well-run event can become your chapter’s most powerful engagement and growth tool. Whether you are just beginning or ready to scale, this discussion will equip you with ideas and inspiration to bring your own vision to life.