Alumni Spotlight - Kevin Cox

Texarkana native Kevin Cox remembers the day he came home to a new family Compaq computer running Windows. “Before too long, I had it cracked open, looking inside it, trying to understand how it worked. I was drawn to the technology and what you could potentially do with it.”  

As a student at Texas High School, Kevin was introduced to a program where he could help with computer repairs for the school district. “That’s how I matured from just an interest in technology into, ‘Oh, this can actually be a career.’”  

That experience led Kevin to pursue a Management Information Systems (M.I.S.) degree at A&M-Texarkana. “One of the most helpful things I learned at the University was that you don’t have to be a programmer to be in IT. Even now, I talk to young people and they say, ‘Yeah, I like computers, but I don’t want to be a programmer.’ I tell them you don’t have to be. If you’re business-minded, there’s still a place for you in technology. You don’t have to be someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes code.”  

Kevin began working in the K-12 technology environment for Texarkana Independent School District and in D.F.W. for seven years before a colleague from an educational vendor company asked if he’d like to join their team as a sales engineer. “My job was to learn everything about the product, get excited about it, and help customers get excited about it too.”   

Kevin went to work for Lightspeed Systems based in Austin, a company focused on security for school districts, filtering internet content, and protecting students online. “My role was to sit down with the district leaders and say, ‘Here’s how we can help protect your systems, your students, and your data.’ And because I had worked in their world, I could speak their language. It also opened my eyes, realizing that no matter where you go, people are dealing with the same [technological] problems. That’s really where I started moving deeper into security.”  

After his experience with Lightspeed, Kevin had the rare opportunity to join software company Dropbox. “I was honestly ‘fanboying’. I had used Dropbox forever and I almost psyched myself out of interviewing, but I went through the process and got the job.”  

Kevin spent four years with the company and came to appreciate the strengths and value he contributed. “I brought practical experience and real-world knowledge. I had a place there and it was an incredible experience. I managed teams in New York and San Francisco, while based in Austin. We worked with large organizations like NPR, government groups, and enterprise companies. Everyone needed the technology.”  

Kevin then joined a startup company in the legal tech industry, focused on digital evidence processing, taking raw system data and making it usable in court cases. “I helped build the pre-sales functions from the ground up, hiring, building processes, and creating structure. Eventually, that company was acquired and a colleague reached out and said, ‘Hey Kevin, come join my team at Silverfort and build out a new function.’ This time, the job wasn’t about selling, it was about delivery.”  

Like logging into a bank account and receiving a verification code, cybersecurity company Silverfort uses a similar concept for enterprise environments. “It’s kind of come full circle for me. I’m back in security, but now at a much larger scale. I have teams across Australia, Singapore, Europe, and the U.S. We work for major companies like General Motors, UPS, and Airbus. Our job is to protect their systems from cyber threats.”  

Kevin’s role falls at the intersection of product capabilities, customer needs, and Silverfort’s ability to meet those needs. “I might be on a call with our product team in Europe early in the morning, then working with my teams here in the Americas during the day. Then later in the afternoon, I’m working with teams in Australia or APJ regions, making sure we’re delivering for customers, influencing product direction, and making sure our teams are prepared for what’s coming.”  

Throughout his career, what excites Kevin most and keeps him going is helping people. “Technology is the vehicle but helping people…that’s the core.”  

Kevin credits his A&M-Texarkana degree with helping develop the leadership skills he uses daily. “Through group projects and collaboration, I started developing leadership skills. I learned how to work with people, how to navigate challenges, and how to collaborate and that’s all part of leadership.”  

Kevin attributes much of his success to a childlike curiosity and believes it can be nurtured and strengthened over time. “If you’re curious, you ask better questions, dig deeper, and learn more, and that leads to problem-solving and growth.” 

Kevin’s wife, Heather, is also an A&M-Texarkana alum, and they have a 14-year-old son, Isaac. “Heather works in content marketing for a tech company and is thriving!”   

Kevin is very proud to be a graduate of A&M-Texarkana, especially with its recent, unprecedented growth. “When I was there, it was just starting to grow. Now, it’s a full campus, offering students a real, world-class experience. That’s exactly what you hope for as an alum.”  

Looking back on his journey, Kevin knows firsthand that a successful career rarely follows a straight path. “It’s a journey and along that journey you build relationships, keep learning, and enjoy the process. That’s what really matters.”