Ryan Powers is the founder and Executive Director of the Safety in Technology Initiative, driven by a deep passion for empowering parents, families, and educators to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape confidently and responsibly. With over 15 years of experience in regulatory compliance and risk mitigation within heavily regulated industries, Ryan brings a wealth of expertise to his role.

During his tenure at JUUL Labs, Inc., where he established the Regulatory Compliance, Brand Protection, and Youth Prevention departments, Ryan began to see how technology—particularly social media and the digital landscape—was being exploited for illegal and illicit activities. This realization ignited his passion for educating and training various audiences, including law enforcement, educators, and parents, about these emerging challenges.

Recognizing that people leading busy lives found it difficult to stay on top of rapid advancements and trends in technology, Ryan was inspired to create the Safety in Technology Initiative. His goal was to develop an organization that provides comprehensive resources to help parents and educators stay informed about what the digital landscape has to offer, how it is being utilized, and what they need to know to have productive conversations within their households.

Under Ryan’s leadership, the Safety in Technology Initiative aims to benefit parents and educators by not only educating them but also keeping them updated on the latest developments. The organization also serves as a resource for educational materials and mental health support for individuals and families who may need it. Ryan’s commitment to addressing a critical gap in public resources has positioned the Safety in Technology Initiative as a vital platform to help communities succeed in understanding the digital landscape more easily.