Management Team

Darren Bridges
President
Darren Bridges, President for Safe Systems, has worked with community financial institutions on their networking needs for over 20 years and has worked for Safe Systems for over 15 years. He is an expert in many areas of financial institution technology and leads strategy implementations that better equip financial institutions with the proper resources. As President, he maintains Safe Systems' focus on the needs of the marketplace, forecasting new technology, and responding with innovative, compliant-driven products. Before becoming President, Bridges managed the Engineering, Technology and Education, Project Management and Support Center departments at Safe Systems. In addition to his daily management responsibilities, Bridges was responsible for overseeing business development and monitoring client satisfaction and Safe Systems' level of service. Bridges' prior experience also includes working as the Engineering Manager for the COIN Banking Division of MicroBilt. Bridges holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management Information Systems from Georgia Southern University. In 2006, he was awarded the College of Information Technology Alumni of the Year.

Danny Johnston
CEO and Chairman
Danny Johnston is CEO and Chairman for Safe Systems. In his key role, Johnston oversees the strategic direction of Safe Systems’ services and solutions. Additionally, Johnston manages Safe Systems’ continued partnership with Gladiator Technology. With over 30 years of business experience in the financial services industry and the founder of Safe Systems in 1993, Johnston’s prior role was Group President of Gladiator Technology, a solution provided by Jack Henry & Associates’ ProfitStars division. Johnston sits on several boards of directors for financial services companies. Also, he has served on the faculty of training schools that teach technology-related topics for financial institution associations in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and for the Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA). Johnston holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Georgia Southern University. He currently serves as a Director on the Advisory Board for the Georgia Southern Information Technology School, and also served on the board of the Georgia Bankers Association from 2002-2004.

Joe Scott
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Joe Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Safe Systems, has more than 20 years experience in the financial industry. As CFO, Scott is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and Office Administration departments for the company. Prior to joining Safe Systems, Scott served as the controller of the small business division of Best Software, Inc., a publicly held computer software company headquartered in Atlanta. There he managed several departments, including general accounting, accounts receivable and accounts payable, directed the audit process, and led the accounting team. Scott was also the regional controller for iXL, Inc., a publicly held Internet technology company. He has also worked as a Certified Public Accountant auditing community banks. Scott provides the leadership and experience necessary to ensure the company's future growth through effective management of the organization's fiscal function and performance. Scott holds a Bachelor of Administration in Accounting from Columbus State University.

Zach Duke
Executive Vice President, Business Development
Zach Duke, Executive Vice President of Business Development, directs all areas of the Account Management and Sales Departments of Safe Systems. Duke also oversees the development of strategic planning, consultative sales, business and network development, and partnerships. With over twelve years experience at Safe Systems, Duke holds a unique perspective and expertise, specializing exclusively in IT and Compliance for financial institutions. Upon joining Safe Systems, Duke began his career as a technical engineer, then was promoted into a new role where he helped design and develop the Account Management Department that currently serves as a single point of contact for both technical and regulatory expertise to over 350 financial institutions nationwide. Duke is currently on the Board of Directors for Safe Systems, sits on the advisory board for Management Information Systems at the University of Georgia, and is on the Operations/Technology Committee for the Georgia Bankers Association. Duke holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia.

Curt Frierson
Executive Vice President, Technology and Education
Curt Frierson, Chief Technical Officer, manages education, consulting, and professional services which provides network assessments and installations, technical sales consulting, and network hardening, as well as training classes and webinars in network administration, information security, and regulatory compliance. He also oversees Safe Systems' internal infrastructure and leads research and development activities to identify and meet customers' technology needs. With over nine years experience in information technology and security, Frierson's areas of expertise include network design and integration, security architecture, network security consulting, and new technology. In his early years with Safe Systems, Frierson served the company as a Senior Systems Engineer and as a Security Professional. Frierson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia. His professional certifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), and he is a member of the Technology Association of Georgia and Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

Scott Galvin
Executive Vice President, Technical Solutions
Scott Galvin, Executive Vice President of Technical Solutions, oversees all functions related to providing innovative solutions designed to align with the client's business strategy. Galvin works closely with the Safe Systems Sales Team to ensure that the client's unique requirements are matched to solutions that properly meet their needs. Galvin has worked for Safe Systems for thirteen years, where he started as a network engineer. Galvin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia.

Niki Neese
Vice President, Account Management
Niki Neese, Vice President of Account Management, provides guidance and leadership to the Account Management Team while actively managing her own financial institution accounts. Neese, upon graduating with honors from Georgia Southern University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Information Systems joined Safe Systems, Inc. She began as an Engineer, installing hardware and software into the company’s client base. This experience gave her a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of the full product line and services offered by Safe Systems. She then moved to the Account Management team with responsibility for sales and servicing of over fifty clients. Achieving number one in sales for three years, Neese was promoted to Vice President of Account Management early 2009. Her unique combination of technical, sales, and service assignments has enabled her to develop strong company and client relationships. Her primary goal is to ensure that clients stay abreast of the latest technology and compliance trends affecting financial institutions today.

Thomas Hinkel
Director of Compliance, Compliance Guru
Tom Hinkel, Director of Compliance, is responsible for ensuring that Safe Systems’ services incorporate and abide by appropriate financial industry regulations and best practices. In this position, Hinkel works closely with R&D, Product Management, and Operations Managers to ensure that new and existing services comply with FFIEC standards. Most importantly, by staying current on regulatory issues facing financial institutions, Hinkel serves as a regulatory compliance resource for Safe Systems’ customers. As author of the Compliance Guru website, Hinkel shares easy to digest information security tidbits with Compliance Officers at financial institutions across the country. With over fifteen years experience, initially on the engineering side installing and supporting bank networks and later in IT regulatory compliance, Hinkel’s areas of expertise spans the entire spectrum of information technology. He has served on the inside as Manager of Information Systems, as well as Information Security Officer, and as an independent consultant for banks of all sizes from denovo to $1B+. Hinkel has been with Safe Systems, Inc. since 2005, most recently as an Account Manager. Hinkel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, an Associate of Arts degree in computer programming, the GSEC security certification from the SANS Institute, the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designation, the Certified in Risk and Information Security Controls (CRISC) designation, and the Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA) designation from The Institute of Internal Auditors.

Brent Moore
Director of Client Services
Brent Moore is Safe Systems’ Director of Client Services. As Director, Moore is responsible for overseeing the Network Operations Center (NOC) and this includes operational responsibility of support, managed, and hosted services for all clients. Key responsibilities include managing: network support and customer service, deployment of managed/hosted services, new client integrations and network health assurance. With over five years’ experience with Safe Systems, Moore maintains a unique expertise in IT for community financial institutions. Moore previously served as a Safe Systems Senior Network Engineer and was a part of the Professional Services team. Moore holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from Georgia Southern University. His professional certifications include Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), CompTIA Security +, and Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP).

Salina Wuttke
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Salina Wuttke, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, directs all areas of strategic planning and marketing, business and market development, and communications for Safe Systems, as well as supporting the go-to-market strategies for Safe Systems’ new product releases. Wuttke plays a key role in the development of Safe Systems’ comprehensive marketing strategies and campaigns through indirect channels, trade shows, PR and online marketing communications to achieve increased revenue, market share and national visibility. With over eight years experience in information technology, Wuttke’s experience includes: Data Vaulting for banks and credit unions with EVault, A Seagate Company; IT Managed Services and Disaster Recovery with SunGard; and Marketing Association Director and Sales Manager for Cbeyond Communications. Wuttke provides the leadership and expertise necessary to ensure Safe Systems’ continued success through effective management of the organization’s Marketing and Communications Departments. Wuttke holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Japanese from North Carolina State University.