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Protek Leadership Team

It’s a high bar to meet and maintain the standards of expertise that qualify a Protek team member. More importantly, the invitation to join Protek’s team is reserved for those whose character reflects Protek’s touchstones of Honest, Simple, and Smart. It’s the combination of Protek’s unsurpassed expertise and the character of its people that makes us shine in the most challenging of circumstances, and sparks the joy in our pursuit of excellence.

Keith Chval

President & CEO

kchval@protekintl.com

Full Bio

Carla Carter

Lead Examiner

ccarter@protekintl.com

Full Bio

Caitlin Chval

Client Relations & Development

cchval@protekintl.com

Full Bio

Todd Glud

Director & Senior Consultant

tglud@protekintl.com

Full Bio

Brian Tuckett

Director of Digital Investigations

& eDiscovery

btuckett@protekintl.com

Full Bio

Protek Advisory Council

The Protek Advisory Council (PAC) is a cornerstone of Protek’s commitment to excellence and client success. Composed of accomplished leaders with deep expertise spanning legal services, cybersecurity and investigations, and strategic business operations and growth, the PAC provides invaluable guidance as Protek continues to pursue excellence in client satisfaction.

Brandon Walsh

Founder & CEO, 

Westgate Financial Group LLC

Full Bio

Jay Kozie

Founding Member,

Keno Kozie Associates

Full Bio

Stephen Marks

Deputy Assistant Director (Ret.),

United States Secret Service

Full Bio

Betsy Roca

Vice President,

Quantum Polymers, Inc.

Full Bio

Mark Rotert

Former Partner, Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker & Poulos, Ltd. | Former Partner, Winston & Strawn, LLP | Former Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois

Full Bio

Testimonial Experience

Protek’s professionals have extensive testimonial experience on varied related topics across many jurisdictions, state and federal, across the country. Frequently offered as subject matter experts, courts have accepted Protek’s professionals as experts on the following subjects:

– Mobile Device Forensics
– Computer Forensics and Digital Investigations
– Cyber Crimes Investigations
– eDiscovery
– Digital Forensics
– Computer Forensics
– Computer Systems & Technology

Training and Certifications

The digital forensics, eDiscovery, cyber security, and electronic evidence fields are constantly changing, at times suddenly and dramatically. In addition to being plugged into trade groups and industry sources for education and awareness on a continuing basis, Protek also invests the time and money to ensure that its experts receive focused and in-depth training from the most elite institutions and experts on subject matters critical to Protek’s clients. Certifications held by Protek experts include the following:

– Seized Computer Evidence Recovery Specialist (SCERS)
– Berla – Certified Vehicle System Forensic Technician (CVST)
– Berla – Certified Vehicle System Forensic Examiner (CVSE)
– Guidance Software – EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE)
– Guidance Software – EnCase Certified eDiscovery
– Practitioner (EnCEP)
– IACIS – Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE)
– AccessData Certified Examiner
– CompTIA – A+ Certified Professional
– CompTIA – Network+ Certified Professional
– Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC):
Security Essentials Certification
Certified Forensic Analyst
Certified Forensic Examiner
Certified Incident Handler
GISF – Security Fundamentals
GSEC – Security Essentials
– Cellebrite – Ufed Mobile Device Examiner Cellebrite
– Certified Physical Analyst

Associations

Protek’s experts contribute to the advancement and professionalism of its respective fields through membership and participation in several associations recognized as industry thought leaders, including often serving in organization leadership roles. Below are just a few of the associations with which Protek members are proud to participate in.

Keith Chval

President and CEO

Keith, a Protek co-founder, has been engaged at the intersection of electronic evidence, technology, and the law for over two decades, dating to when he created and served for eight years as the first-ever Chief of the Illinois Attorney General's High Tech Crimes Bureau, one of the first such vertical cyber units in the country. A highly sought-after speaker, Keith presents and provides training to leaders across the country, has had many subject-matter articles published, and co-designed and taught one of the first eDiscovery and cyber-focused law school classes in the nation. Taking the helm as President & CEO in 2020, Keith is enthusiastically applying the electronic evidence, cyber, and operations lessons that he's learned in the trenches and from the best of the best over Protek's 15-plus years to lead Protek's relentless commitment to excellence.

Carla Carter

Lead Examiner, ESI Preservation & Collections Services

In over a decade dedicated to electronic evidence and cyber investigations and forensics, Carla has performed hundreds of examinations and investigations across a wide spectrum of devices and systems, as well as across varied subject matters to include in high stakes homicides. Carla has several times provided testimony as a court-recognized expert on mobile device forensics, digital forensics, and cyber crimes investigations. In addition, she holds an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, as well as industry-specific certifications including EnCE and CCPA.

Caitlin Chval

Client Relations & Development

Caitlin lends her intuitive nature with people, flair, and knowledge and experience in marketing to Protek’s Client Relations and Development initiatives. Having learned Protek’s ins and outs through several years of erstwhile back-office work at Protek, Caitlin stepped up to her role after first serving as a summer intern and then graduating from the IU Kelley School of Business with majors in Marketing and Data Analytics and a minor in Spanish. Marketing would seem to be in Caitlin’s genes as both her mother and father are IU Kelley Marketing grads, her mother going on to serve as the Chief Marketing Officer for the Midwest operations of a major national financial services institution.

Todd Glud

Director & Senior Consultant

Todd is a nationally recognized subject matter expert with significant experience in highly sensitive digital investigations involving intellectual property and national security matters, as well as designing, leading, and executing large-scale, complex e-discovery projects. Over his more than two decades in the cyber trenches, Todd has served as a cybercrime-focused federal special agent, as well as the founding manager of Guidance Software’s Professional Services Midwest Regional operations. He has extensive testimonial experience, including recognition as a subject matter expert on various electronic evidence and cyber topics in several jurisdictions. Todd has also served as an adjunct instructor for Guidance Software’s training division.

Brian Tuckett

Director of Digital Investigations & eDiscovery

After a distinguished cyber-focused career of over two decades with the United States Secret Service, Brian joined Protek in 2026 as its Director of Digital Investigations and eDiscovery. As a specialized Technical Special Agent with the Secret Service, Brian personally led and conducted thousands of digital-focused investigations and forensic examinations, including white collar crimes, complex financial fraud, organized identity theft conspiracies, homicides, and national security matters. He regularly collaborated with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and state prosecutors to develop "lock tight" cases based on his and his team’s work, ultimately testifying as a court-recognized expert at trial on several occasions. Brian possesses extraordinary expertise in mobile device forensics and investigations, and closed out his Service career as the manager of its Chicago Digital Evidence Forensics Laboratory. Now at Protek, he directly applies his extensive experience to oversee lab operations and technology infrastructure, ensure excellence in the quality of client services, and both supervise and personally execute services on client matters.

— 40+ years experience building companies
— Track record of managing $300M in investments
— Instrumental in Protek's leadership transition and strategic planning

Brandon Walsh is the Founder, CEO, and Managing Director of Westgate Financial Group LLC, an investment banking boutique he established in 1993, and currently chairs Protek International, Inc. With over 40 years of experience, he is a seasoned executive and trusted advisor in strategically building companies, solving capital needs, and monetizing equity value. His distinguished career includes leadership roles as Head of Midwest Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Finance for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte, and a decade with Prudential Capital, where he managed $300 million in investments, achieving over 70% annual equity returns. Brandon was instrumental in guiding Protek through its leadership transition, strategic planning, and the formation of its Advisory Council, assuming the role of Chairman in 2023.

— 30+ years experience in law firm technology
— Deep understanding of tech adoption
— Expertise in security and eDiscovery software

Jay Kozie is a founding member of Keno Kozie Associates (K2), bringing 30+ years of law firm technology experience and a deep understanding of law firm culture, technology adoption, and the relationship between IT departments and external resources. He frequently shares his expertise with K2's clients and colleagues in the legal services industry. Jay provides clients with a historical perspective on technology, which includes implementing security and eDiscovery software. Jay received his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Illinois.

— 31-year federal law enforcement career, including U.S. Secret Service
— Oversight of financial cybercrime investigations
— Specializes in physical and digital risk mitigation

Steve Marks enjoyed a distinguished 31-year career in federal law enforcement,
ultimately retiring from the U.S. Secret Service as a Deputy Assistant Director. Previously, he served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office, where he oversaw financial crimes investigations and the interagency New England Electronic Crimes Task Force, focused on deploying cutting-edge technologies and cyber investigative strategies to combat cyber-based financial crimes. While previously assigned to the Presidential Protective Division, he developed and implemented security plans during extensive global travel. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. Steve is presently a family office risk management consultant specializing in physical and digital security risk mitigation. Steve holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a senior leadership development certificate from American University.

— Focused on driving aggressive growth and impactful partnerships
— Excels in product roadmaps and resource management
— Proven track record in risk management

Betsy Roca serves as the Vice President of Prime Distribution at Quantum Polymers, an international resin distributor. She has been an integral leader helping to drive Quantum's aggressive growth since joining as one of its original hires. Betsy excels at creating and nurturing impactful partnerships that have significantly contributed to the growth and success of Quantum's Prime offerings. With a strategic mindset and pragmatic approach, Betsy is accomplished at developing comprehensive product roadmaps, managing all aspects of resource allocation, overseeing project tracking, and implementing robust risk management strategies. Her proven ability to drive results, navigate complex challenges, and consistently exceed customer expectations has made her an invaluable leader within the organization.

— 42-year distinguished legal career including U.S. Supreme Court arguments
— Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
— First director of a Conviction Integrity Unit in Cook County

Mark Rotert is a retired attorney with 42 years of experience practicing law in Chicago. He began his career as a prosecutor in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, where he successfully argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He then served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago, prosecuting high-profile cases involving police misconduct, commodities fraud, and racketeering conspiracies, holding various supervisory roles. In 1994, Mark entered private practice as a partner at Winston & Strawn, later opening his own firm specializing in trial litigation and white-collar criminal defense. From 2017-2019, he served as the first Director of a Conviction Integrity Unit in Cook County, Illinois, before returning to private practice of Counsel to Cotsirilos, Tighe, Streicker & Poulos. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Mark is a recipient of the John Paul Stevens Award from the Chicago Bar Association and the Donald Huber Public Service Award from the Chicago Inn of Court.