Ben Gillenwater

Ben Gillenwater helps schools, law enforcement, and community organizations answer the questions families are actually asking about kids and technology. Most professionals working with youth know the internet is a mental health issue but don't have the technical background to explain why, or the framework to tell parents what to do about it. Ben fills that gap.

As founder of Family IT Guy, he trains educators, counselors, school administrators, and law enforcement to identify the specific platforms and behaviors that put kids at risk, have informed conversations with parents who feel overwhelmed, and recognize the warning signs that a child may be in trouble. His sessions are built around practical takeaways that professionals can use immediately, whether they're writing a grant proposal, running a parent night, or responding to an incident.

Before pivoting to youth safety, Ben spent 30 years in enterprise technology, including serving as Chief Technologist for Northrop Grumman's $10 billion IT business supporting the NSA and Department of Defense. He brings that technical depth to a field where most guidance is either too vague to be useful or too scary to be productive.