Charisse Richards has more than 25+ years of infrastructure and operations experience and has held senior leadership roles in the Data Center, Hospitality, and Government industries. Most recently, Charisse consulted with the AZ Dept. of Economic Security on their Client Portal and Modernization initiative. Previously, Charisse served as Chief Information Officer for the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, led IT strategy as Chief Information Officer for IO Data Centers, and Vice President of Global Integration for Iron Mountain Data Centers. At Choice Hotels International, her team designed the infrastructure for ChoiceADVANTAGE©, the hospitality industry’s first cloud-based property management system.

Charisse has served as Global Co-Chair and Chair of Infrastructure Masons' Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and is an IM 100 Award recipient for Commitment to Diversity in Digital Infrastructure. She is passionate about promoting "technology for good" in the IT sector.

In 2018, Charisse was identified as one of the TOP 5 Most Influential Women in the Data Center Industry and #9 of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Arizona for 2022 by Women We Admire.

Charisse is the Founder of Think Bright Studio, an organization dedicated to providing digital tools and comfort products for black and neurodivergent women.

Charisse currently serves on the Board of Directors for Southwest Behavioral Health.