BlackLake Security Leadership Team

Sarah Jones is a Co-Founder of BlackLake Security, a prominent cybersecurity firm. She brings extensive experience from her finance and startup background to her leadership role at BlackLake Security. In 2008, Sarah played a pivotal role in co-founding SOS Security, and in 2016, she co-founded BlackLake Security, contributing to the successful journey of both ventures to their current achievements. A University of Houston graduate, Sarah is recognized as a respected figure in the cybersecurity industry. Her dedication to excellence and her leadership have solidified BlackLake Security’s position as a trusted cybersecurity partner for businesses.

Tanya Jones holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Houston and is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Tanya played a pivotal role in founding SOS Security and BlackLake Security, overseeing critical back-office functions including Finance, HR, and vendor relationships. Her hands-on approach and meticulous attention to detail fueled the early success of these companies. Tanya embodies versatility, combining her academic background with entrepreneurial spirit, making her a driving force in the cybersecurity industry.

Kirk Jones is a proven, serial entrepreneur with a 28-year track record of success in selling and managing teams in the IT Security industry. Kirk has led successful InfoSec businesses from every critical leadership position. His background reflects pioneering experience and record-breaking performance. Kirk is currently the Founder and President of BlackLake Security, the industry’s first Clarity-Added partner for Cyber Security. 

Prior to BlackLake, Kirk was recently a Founder and  President of SOS Security, a leader in Information Security Solutions, based in Texas. In less than 6 years, Kirk was able to build a team of industry professionals to make SOS Security become one of the premier providers of information security products and solutions. Kirk was a also Vice President of Sales for RIOREY and Firemon, prior to BlackLake and serves on several boards. Kirk is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and is known for volunteering his time to area youth sports, as a football coach and Pop Warner Board member, to give back to the Austin community.

Mark Jones is a seasoned serial entrepreneur, currently serving as the CEO and Founder of BlackLake Security. With over 28 years of hands-on experience in the cybersecurity industry, Mark has honed his skills in sales, marketing, and management through roles with industry leaders such as RSA Security, Check Point Software, SOS Security, and Fireglass.

One of Mark’s notable achievements was his pivotal role in leading Fireglass, a pioneer in Threat Isolation security, to a successful acquisition by Symantec in 2017.

From 2009 to 2012, Mark served as the Founder and CEO of SOS Security, a cybersecurity consulting firm. Under his guidance, the company gained industry recognition before its acquisition by Forsythe in 2012. Mark continued to oversee SOS Security, A Forsythe Company, for over three and a half years before merging the two successful organizations together.

Throughout his career, Mark has received various accolades and honors for his contributions to the business and technology sectors. His dedication to leading BlackLake Security is driven by his passion to bring Clarity™ to the cybersecurity landscape where it’s needed most. Mark’s visionary leadership continues to shape the industry and inspire the pursuit of excellence in cybersecurity.

Jason Ausburn is the original co-architect of BlackLake Security’s “Clarity-Added™” approach to services. He was the Director of Services at SOS Security, the head of Business Development at Retriever Services, a Business and Product Development Partner at Fulcrum Technology Solutions, and a lead Solution Architect at Dell. Jason is also a ten-year veteran of the Air Force’s cyber security community.

Financial Controller | Strategic Leader | Change Agent

Clay is a seasoned CPA and Financial Controller with over three decades of expertise in public and private accounting. Clay has a proven track record of driving strategic financial management, operational efficiency, and sustainable profitability for diverse organizations. Recognized as a dynamic leader and trusted advisor, he has successfully navigated complex mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including the $67 billion integration of EMC—the largest acquisition in the tech industry’s history.

With extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and a strong background in corporate accounting, financial planning, and compliance, Clay has spearheaded initiatives that deliver measurable results. At Dell Inc., he has overseen financial operations across multiple roles, achieving milestones such as scaling a $346 million organization, reducing close cycles by over 50%, and consolidating $25 million in business intelligence spend.

Clay’s ability to manage multi-billion-dollar budgets, implement innovative financial controls, and lead global teams underscores his commitment to excellence. His expertise spans financial controllership, M&A integration, budgeting, forecasting, and turnaround performance. An advocate for continuous improvement, Clay has earned accolades such as the Platinum and Bronze Awards for his contributions to financial integration and business intelligence initiatives.

A graduate of Troy State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Cum Laude) and a Master’s in Taxation from Nova Southeastern University, Clay is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Alabama Society of CPAs.

Clay resides in Round Rock, TX with his wife Kelly.  Together, they have two adult children that live in the Austin area. In his free time, Clay enjoys reading and kayaking.

With 27 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity sales and leadership at Dell Technologies and Palo Alto Networks, Michael Pistone has consistently demonstrated a customer-first approach, servant leadership, and the ability to build successful sales teams and lasting relationships with customers, vendor partners, and peers in the industry. Michael will oversee all aspects of Blacklake Security’s revenue generation and management, including Sales, Marketing, Professional Services, Consulting Services and Operations.

Throughout his career, Michael has performed at every level, earning numerous sales and sales leadership awards. He is excited to drive BlackLake Security’s next level of growth and will be instrumental in creating, driving, and executing the sales strategy for the company.

Michael graduated from Saint Edwards University in Austin, TX and currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife Ginger.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and traveling.

Aaron DeSimone has over a decade of successful IT and cybersecurity selling strategies. After spending years at industry power houses like Dell, VMware, and Tanium, he was brought to BLS to lead the sales team and strategy. A long background in sports has led to his “team first” culture with a focused strategy around customer service, team growth, and revenue generation for BLS.

With over 35 years of experience in the accounting and finance fields, Ann is recognized as a leader in small privately held companies experiencing rapid growth and change. Her background in public accounting and various private and public companies have led her to be acknowledged for leading development and actualization of key accounting, reporting, human resource, and treasury functions purpose-fit for the company. She is a CPA and is an active volunteer in her community.