I sit at the intersection of AI, technology, business, and education. After 25 years in industry and years leading in higher education, I joined the University of Pittsburgh's School of Business in 2023, where I teach and research the systems that run the modern financial and digital business world.
Today, much of my focus is on artificial intelligence, business automation, and agentic AI; helping organizations put intelligent systems to work to save time, cut cost, and unlock new capability. That work builds on deep roots in cybersecurity, blockchain, and accounting information systems, always asking how technology reshapes trust, security, and business itself. Alongside academia, I remain an active Enrolled Agent and national speaker, keeping one foot firmly in practice.
25+Years in industry
1 of 5Inaugural NCAE-C PhD Scholars
2023Tax Professional of the Year
38Higher-ed courses taught
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Curriculum Vitae
Education and professional experience.
Education
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Indiana University of PennsylvaniaDoctor of Philosophy (PhD) MBA, Management Information Systems
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University of PittsburghDual BS, Information Science & Business Management
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Boston UniversityCertificate, Faith and Finance
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Florida Atlantic UniversityCertificate, Hospitality and Tourism Management
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Blockchain Training AllianceCertificate, Blockchain Architecture
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Grove City College
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Hempfield Area High SchoolDiploma
Experience
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University of PittsburghTeaching Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Technology Management
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InCiteCo-Founder
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Messner & Fox, LLCVice President & Enrolled Agent National Speaker
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Financial Guardians, LLCFounder
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Seton Hill UniversityDepartment Coordinator of Computer Science and Information Systems Faculty Coordinator, Griffin Esports Instructor of Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Data Analytics, and Information Systems
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Community College of Allegheny CountyAdjunct Professor, Computer & Information Technology
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Travel Development GroupFounder & Managing Director
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ConcurSenior Solutions Consultant
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Atlas Travel — Global Travel ManagementDirector, Travel Technology and Process Engineering
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FCm Travel SolutionsArea Leader, Development and Automation
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program — a collaboration led by the National Security Agency with federal partners — designates and supports institutions and scholars advancing the nation's cybersecurity capability.
My scholarship supported doctoral research uniting cybersecurity, blockchain, and accounting information systems — culminating in a critical analysis of how blockchain reshapes the security of financial technology systems.
CybersecurityBlockchainFinancial Technology
Certifications
Credentials across technology & AI, security, business, and research.
Social, Behavioral, Educational ResearchersCITI Program · 2023
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Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)CITI Program · 2023
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Social & Behavioral Responsible Conduct of ResearchCITI Program · 2023
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Ordained MinisterNon-Denominational · 2008
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Eagle ScoutBoy Scouts of America
Service & Volunteer
Giving back to community and profession.
Beyond teaching and practice, I invest in the communities I'm part of — building programs, advising students, and serving where I can be useful.
Seton Hill University
Coordinator — Data Science, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity & Information Systems
Writing Intensive Representative
Academic Technology Representative
Esports Faculty Advisor
Advisor of the Year
University of Pittsburgh
Pitt Cyber
Pitt Cyber Grant Recipient
GitHub Admin for Pitt Business
CompTIA Admin
Graduate (MS) Orientation
AI Conference Presenter
6× MVP (Most Valuable Professor) Recipient
Volunteerism
TIES — The International Ecotourism Society
Community
🕊️ Ordained Minister
Honored to officiate ceremonies for family and community.
🎓 Mentorship
Guiding students and early-career professionals in technology, security, and tax.
Interested in a workshop, mentoring, or volunteer collaboration? .
Interests
What I explore when I'm not teaching or building.
✈️ Travel
Over 2.5 million air miles — and always planning the next trip.
🥤 Commercial Beverage Manufacturing
A hands-on fascination with the craft and business of making beverages.
🦻 Hearing-Loss Technology
Championing technology that improves life for people with hearing loss.
🌈 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A committed advocate for DEI in education, technology, and the workplace.
⚔️ Star Wars
A dedicated fan — I challenge you…
🎮 Esports
Competitive gaming, from the sideline to the main stage.
🤖 AI & Emerging Tech
Tinkering with the latest in artificial intelligence, agentic systems, and automation.
🍎 The Apple Ecosystem
A long-time enthusiast of Apple hardware and software as a productivity environment.
See what's on the shelf under .
Living Donor
Giving something that can't be bought.
I'm a living organ donor — an experience that reshaped how I think about generosity, risk, and what we owe one another. I share it here to help normalize living donation and to encourage anyone who's curious to learn more.
Living donation saves lives. If you've ever wondered whether you could help someone in need, I'm always glad to talk about my experience and what the journey was really like.
❤️ Why I Did It
Because I could — and because someone needed it more than I needed the peace of mind of never trying.
🫶 Learn More
Curious about becoming a living donor? Reach out — no pressure, just an honest conversation.
Questions about living donation? .
In My Own Words
This time on August 5, 2017, I was halfway through a surgery to donate my kidney to another person. Please entertain me while I expound on a few of my thoughts…
They literally cut me open, took a piece out of me and placed it into another living person. Can we please just take a moment and marvel at just that capability? I mean, just a few decades ago, this wasn't even an option.
Alright, this one might cause a bit of controversy. I hear from a lot of people, “Wow. You saved somebody's life. You are my hero.” While this might be the case from an actual physical standpoint, I really don't like hearing this, to be honest. This world is severely lacking in people who are willing to go out of their comfort zone to help somebody else. I truly wish we would hit a point in society where we were willing to look beyond our own mirror and see others. Again, I am not downplaying the importance of what I did; far from it. I just wish that it wasn't such a rare situation that it was viewed this way.
I have come to scarily realize how under-educated the general population is around this topic. Yes, it takes much more than just a matching blood type. No, you do not have to be related to be a donor. No, the ER will not just let you die if you have the Donor election marked on your license. In fact, there is still a massive process that is required if you check that option.
So many people have little to no filter. The questions I get asked make me laugh every time. Yes, I still pee normal. I have not noticed a need to pee more regular. No, I do not share emotions with the recipient. The questions I get asked by total strangers in public continue to entertain me.
To respond to so many: “Yes, I am perfectly fine and healthy a year later.” The recipient is likewise. And, finally, yes, I am not opposed to considering liver donation once I am past the allowable timeframe.
So, in true Brad fashion, I really can't express enough how important it is for people to 1.) List as an organ donor for when they pass and 2.) Look into their viability to be a live donor. People's lives depend on it. It could be your family. It could be a stranger or a friend. Wouldn't you want somebody to step up if your loved one was in need? If you want more information, you can go to core.org and read all about it. Or you can message me.
If you want a bit of humor to share and raise awareness at the same time, check this out.
Current Topics
Intelligent, automated, and secure systems for business.
My current work centers on artificial intelligence, agentic AI, and business automation — and how organizations can adopt them securely and responsibly. It builds on my research into the security of financial technology systems.
“A Critical Analysis on the Impact of Blockchain to the Security of Financial Technology Systems.”
🤖 Artificial Intelligence
Applied AI and machine learning that turn data into decisions across the enterprise.
🧩 Agentic AI
Autonomous, tool-using AI agents that carry out multi-step work — and how to govern and secure them.
⚙️ Business Automation
Streamlining operations so teams reclaim time and organizations run leaner.
⛓️ Blockchain & FinTech Security
How distributed ledgers and cryptographic trust reshape the threat landscape of financial systems.
🔐 Cybersecurity Resilience
Threat modeling and defensive posture for enterprise and financial infrastructure.
📊 Accounting Information Systems
Where controls, data, and technology meet the integrity of financial reporting.
Gone Phishing: Avoid Getting Caught in these ScamsNATP TaxPro Magazine
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Improving Password Management for Tax ProfessionalsNATP TaxPro Magazine
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Does Blockchain Create a Global, Equitable and Fair Financial Infrastructure?The Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Summit
My Work With the UN
Bringing technology and security expertise to the global stage.
Beyond the university, I contribute to international dialogue on the questions that increasingly cross every border: the security of digital systems, the governance of emerging technologies, and the role of blockchain and financial technology in a connected world.
This work brings an academic and practitioner's lens to conversations about how nations, institutions, and communities can build resilient, trustworthy digital infrastructure.
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is a United Nations platform for international cooperation on artificial intelligence. Established under the auspices of the UN General Assembly and rooted in the Global Digital Compact, it convenes governments, industry, academia, and civil society around a shared question: how should AI be developed, deployed, and governed in a way that works for the whole world, not just a handful of nations?
Its aim is to make AI governance genuinely global — ensuring the benefits of these technologies reach every country while the risks are understood and managed together. Working alongside the UN's independent international scientific panel on AI, the Dialogue seeks to ground policy in evidence, encourage interoperable standards, and build the capacity of developing nations to take part fully in the AI era rather than being left on the sidelines of it.
Taking part in these conversations has been one of the great honors of my work. I bring the perspective of both a researcher and a hands-on practitioner in cybersecurity, blockchain, and financial technology — helping keep the discussion of trust, security, and equity grounded in how these systems actually behave. The choices the world makes about AI now will shape opportunity and security for generations, and it is a privilege to help shape them.
🌐 Emerging Technology
Perspectives on blockchain, AI, and digital trust in a global context.
🛡️ Cybersecurity & Governance
Securing the systems that societies and economies depend on.
For details on specific engagements and collaborations, .
Academic
Teaching the next generation of technologists and business leaders.
I currently teach at the University of Pittsburgh and previously served as Department Coordinator for Computer Science & Information Systems at Seton Hill University, where I built and led curriculum across undergraduate and graduate programs.
🎓 Graduate & MBA
Teaching business technology, analytics, and security to graduate and MBA students.
💻 Undergraduate
Foundations of computer science, information systems, and data.
Practitioner-led education for tax professionals nationwide.
As an Enrolled Agent and National Speaker, I deliver continuing education and professional development to tax practitioners across the country — translating changing rules, technology, and best practices into practical guidance.
Recognized by the National Association of Tax Professionals from a membership of more than 24,000.
to your organization or chapter.
Technology
Making hard technology legible for real audiences.
I speak and teach on the technologies reshaping business and security — grounded in research and 25 years of hands-on industry experience. Right now, that means a strong focus on AI, agentic AI, and business automation.
🤖 Artificial Intelligence
From machine learning foundations to practical, production AI for business.
🧩 Agentic AI
Building and governing autonomous AI agents that get real work done.
⚙️ Business Automation
Automating workflows to save time and increase profitability.
🔐 Cybersecurity
Awareness, resilience, and defense for organizations and professionals.
⛓️ Blockchain
Distributed ledgers, digital trust, and what they mean for FinTech.
🚀 Digital Strategy
How organizations adopt and disrupt with emerging technology.
Courses Taught
38 higher-ed courses across four institutions and six programs.
A complete list of the university-level courses I've developed and taught, spanning programming, data, cybersecurity, and business — from introductory to capstone and graduate level.
Business Information Systems University of Pittsburgh
BUSBIS 0100Programming Essentials for Business Analytics
BUSBIS 1060Introduction to Information Systems
BUSBIS 1605Database Management
BUSBIS 1640IT Architecture & Platforms
BMIS 2681Information Systems Security
Data Analytics Seton Hill University
SDT 100Introduction to Data Analytics
SDT 200Practical Data Analytics
SDT 250Advanced Data Analytics
SDT 300Data Analytics Capstone
SDT 500Business Analytics
SDT 502Data Mining & Big Data
SDT 503Business Intelligence & Data Visualization
Cybersecurity Seton Hill University
SCY 125Introduction to Computer Security & Forensics
SCY 295Network Security 1
SCY 391Computer Networks Wired and Wireless
Data Science Seton Hill University
SDS 100Introduction to Data Science
Computer Science Seton Hill University
SCS 116Computer Ethics and Society
SCS 132Prog I: Intro to Development
SCS 135Exper with Computer & IT Professionals
SCS 141Prog II: Mobile App Development
SCS 142Prog II: Math & Engineering
SCS 225Exper with Computer Systems Admin
SCS 230Database Management Systems
SCS 235Machine Learning
SCS 250Programming Languages
SCS 275Computer Networks Security
SCS 290App Dev with Data Structures
SCS 297Advanced Database, Data Mining, & Big Data
SCS 301Analysis of Mobile Software Systems
SCS 341Algorithms Analysis
SCS 374Software Engineering for Mobile Sys
SCS 390Select Topics: Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology
SCS 400Computer Systems Research/Seminar
Computer Information Technology Community College of Allegheny County
CIT 111Introduction to Programming – JAVA
CIT 115Introduction to Information Technology
CIT 145Programming in C
CIT 161Visual Basic: Windows Programming
CIT 135Mobile Apps Programming 1
Invite Brad to Speak
Keynotes, workshops, and professional education.
I present to professional and academic audiences nationwide, translating complex topics in tax, technology, cybersecurity, and blockchain into engaging, practical sessions.
Signature Topics
Artificial Intelligence in BusinessAgentic AIBusiness AutomationBlockchain & FinTech SecurityCybersecurity for ProfessionalsTax TechnologyEmerging Tech Strategy
As a national speaker and educator, I appear in professional media, podcasts, and events discussing technology, cybersecurity, and the future of the financial world.
Let's build something — or talk about what's next.
Whether it's a speaking engagement, research collaboration, a guest lecture, or a question about artificial intelligence, technology, tax, and business, I'd love to hear from you.
Brad D. Messner, PhD, CBSA, EA, is clinical faculty at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Business and a national speaker whose work spans artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, and financial technology.
One-liner
Technology innovator and business disruptor bridging artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, and the world of finance.
