Chay has a knack for cutting through complexity and finding elegant solutions under pressure. He is the person you call when nobody else has an answer. His technical instincts are excellent, and he is generous with his knowledge. I'd work with him again without hesitation.

Joshua Gaffney, System Administrator, Web.com

It is my expressed opinion that Chay is responsible to his obligations, respectful to others, very professional and devoted to maintaining any commitment that he has in front of him. As a Security focused professional, Chay uncovered and discovered many security threats on Web.com’s (Interland.com) corporate servers and assisted countless customers with security issues on their sites.

Chuck Murphy, Director of Support, Web.com

I've known Chay for well over three decades and have had the privilege to work with him both in the classroom and through our professional careers. During this time, one quality that has always stood out is his integrity. While Chay is a talented programmer and cybersecurity professional, his integrity always ensures that a task he has committed to will be done correctly and efficiently with no corners cut. I’d recommend Chay for any position requiring a driven technology professional with the experience and dedication to consistently meet and exceed any goal with which he is charged.

Stephen Dukes, CIO, Chronetyx Laboratories

I had the privilege of leading Chay and later partnering with him as a colleague, and in every capacity, he consistently elevated the work and the people around him. He steps forward with confidence and curiosity, bringing a thoughtful technical lens and a solutions-oriented mindset that translates vision into measurable results. Chay approaches challenges with both discipline and humility—delivering strong outcomes, then proactively refining and improving them in pursuit of excellence. His commitment to continuous growth, reflected in the degrees and certifications he has earned, is matched by his focus on scalable, resource-conscious solutions that create lasting impact. Just as important, he fosters collaboration and shared success, making him not only a high-performing cybersecurity professional but also a trusted and empowering teammate. Any organization would benefit greatly from his leadership, integrity, and drive. 

Mark Woosley, Director of Cybersecurity Engineering, Verizon

I strongly recommend Chay Butler for any job that requires quick thinking, great organizational skills, logical thinking, and a pleasant demeanor. I had the pleasure of being his boss at Zenovia Digital Exchange, Corp. Chay assisted in the software development, building of reports, and a dashboard for the company, making our jobs much easier. While at ZDX, he implemented a new revenue tracking system that resulted in a much smoother process. Chay was efficient and effective in his professional role, but also took the time to engage coworkers and clients with a genuine interest in how they were doing. I wish all our employees could be as kind and friendly as Chay.

Dwight Ringdahl - Founder, President, & CSO - Zenovia Digital Exchange

I worked with Chay as a colleague. When I moved into management, I didn't hesitate to hire Chay as my Principal Engineer. Chay consistently demonstrated exceptional skill in cybersecurity, integrating this expertise with a strong background in development, IAM technologies, and robotic process automation (RPA). His years of experience are evident in the high quality of his work. I was particularly impressed by his work on the "Enterprise Class Governance Process for Infrastructure Security Tracking", where he was essential in understanding the value of complex datasets and evaluating data sources for their pertinence to our security goals. This project alone showcases his intuitive ability to extract critical, actionable data from complex systems and leverage it to drive enterprise-level governance.

I believe Chay is one of the most promising Cybersecurity professionals I have encountered in my career. His dedication, intellect, and collaborative attitude make him an invaluable asset to any team. I am confident that he would excel in any position and bring significant value to your organization. I would choose him again given the chance.

Chris Richardson, Associate Director, Verizon

Chay is a rare combination of deep technical expertise, integrity, and genuine collaboration. He has an exceptional ability to cut through complexity and deliver elegant, practical solutions—often under pressure—and is the person you turn to when others don’t have an answer.

A highly skilled cybersecurity professional with strong development and governance instincts, Chay consistently elevates both the work and the people around him.

Any organization would benefit greatly from his leadership, ethics, and solutions‑driven mindset. 

Patrick Kelley - Project Support Engineer - Lantern Studios

As a freelance software engineer, I contracted with Chay's company (New Leaf) to build an asset inventory management system. Chay provided detailed requirements and was an excellent communicator throughout the project. We were able to launch the project together on time and on budget and deliver significant improvements for his company. 

Rolf Martin-Hoster - Sr. Staff Engineer

Over the past 25 years, I have seen Chay serve as both a technical expert and a pivotal leader. He possesses the unique ability to translate complex technical requirements into actionable strategies that bridge the gap between engineering and business objectives. Beyond technical acumen, his longevity in this field is a result of his character—he is a mentor, a clear communicator, and a strategist. Any organization would be fortunate to have Chay’s decades of experience and proven reliability in its ranks

Jonathan Bennett - Security Engineer - Verizon

Chay is always willing to help and has the skills to back up the attitude. He's been a pleasure to work with.

Chris C. - Principal Security Engineer

I have had the pleasure of working directly with Chay Butler for several years as a Cyber Professional at Verizon. Chay regularly demonstrated a willingness to support everyone around him and made my job easier simply by being a resource. His inquisitive nature led him to find solutions to issues we had that nobody had thought of, and made our team's performance better.

Chay is a man of high integrity, one I know I will always be able to count on. His dedication and collaborative focus will make him valuable to any team he works with.

Scott Head - Security Engineer - Verizon

I have known Chay for a few years. In that time, I have come to know him as a thoughtful, reliable, and genuinely good‑hearted person. He approaches every responsibility with care and consistency, and he treats the people around him with respect. He has a wonderful work ethic and is very knowledgeable in his field of cybersecurity and networking.

Chay is steady under pressure, honest in his communication, and dependable in every sense of the word. He is the kind of person who follows through on what he says, and he brings patience, humility, and sincerity to every situation.

Tom Bavaro - Friend/Fellow Musician

I’ve known Chay for the last three or four years. We crossed each others path from our love of music on the West Georgia Community. He has became a dear friend other this time. Chay has great integrity and moral compass. He is a loving son, husband and father. He would make a great asset to the University of West Georgia.

Kerry Milligan - Friend/Fellow Musician