About Us
Embark on your AI path with trusted guides.
AI Governance Group helps organizations turn AI compliance into a strategic advantage—building trust, accelerating procurement, and protecting reputations.
Our multi-disciplinary team brings decades of C-level experience in education, law, business growth, and digital strategy. We’ve led teams that have invested over $2 billion in schools, supported 450+ districts, and impacted more than 600,000 students nationwide.
What Makes Us Different
C-Suite Expertise: Attorneys, anthropologists, brand strategists, technologists, and finance operators all under one roof.
Attorney-Led, Operator-Tested: We deliver robust legal guardrails and practical, district-ready playbooks that enable rapid, responsible innovation.
Field Credibility: Our experience and trust are recognized by K-12 district buyers as a fast-track signal for procurement.
Who We Help
We partner with growth-stage, AI-enabled EdTech vendors selling into U.S. public K-12 districts, especially those facing procurement slowdowns due to compliance or trust gaps. Our clients typically have legal, product, or sales leadership but lack internal AI governance expertise.
Our Impact
Accelerated procurement cycles with board-ready, compliant documentation
Higher district approval rates through transparent, ethical AI governance
Reduced legal and regulatory risks—including FERPA, COPPA, and state-specific compliance
Rapid time-to-value: Results often delivered in weeks
Client Feedback
“Your training exceeded our expectations. You knocked it out of the park.” — Team Lead, AI Workgroup, major U.S. city
“The VALAI program was invaluable in building my understanding and confidence regarding AI… The collaborative environment fostered meaningful discussions and practical solutions.” — Director, External Relations & Communications, UK University
Our Values
Accessibility: We make AI governance clear, actionable, and available to those who need it most.
Ethical Stewardship: Protecting student privacy and educational integrity is at our core.
Continuous Learning: We stay ahead of global and local AI regulations, constantly refining our Strategic AI Adoption Framework (SAiAF)™.
Balanced Innovation: We help organizations innovate safely, ensuring governance enables—rather than hinders—progress.
AI Governance Group bridges the gap between innovation and accountability, empowering educational organizations and EdTech companies to lead responsibly in the age of AI.
Turn AI complexity into your edge. Insights delivers bite-sized guidance to help you meet district needs and speak their language. Whether you’re preparing for demos, navigating procurement, or trying to stand out, we’ll help you align with what leaders actually care about. Less noise, more traction.
Your Top Questions About AI Governance Group Answered
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AI Governance Group offers comprehensive services to guide organizations through ethical and responsible AI adoption. This includes strategy development, risk management, AI literacy training, and governance frameworks designed to mitigate risks while driving growth through AI technologies.
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AI literacy refers to educating employees and leaders about the benefits, risks, and best practices for using AI tools. It ensures organizations adopt AI responsibly and helps them navigate potential challenges like bias, ethical dilemmas, and operational risks effectively.
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AI adoption introduces risks related to data privacy, intellectual property, reputational damage, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. AI Governance Group helps organizations develop robust policies and frameworks to address these risks, including security audits, compliance strategies, and change management programs.
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Our organization offers tailored AI strategies, including adoption frameworks, market analysis, and partnerships. These strategies aim to align AI implementation with the business’s unique goals, fostering both innovation and competitive advantage.
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Our services are suitable for a range of industries, including businesses, non-profits, and public sector entities. We focus on helping organizations leverage AI tools responsibly, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while enhancing operational efficiency.
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An AI governance framework provides a structured approach to managing AI-related activities, covering policies, ethics, social impact, and technical standards. We help organizations develop and implement these frameworks to align AI practices with business objectives and societal expectations.
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We offer training and playbooks that address issues like algorithmic bias, ensuring organizations build fair and transparent AI systems. This includes creating ethical guidelines and implementing change management processes.
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We provide workshops and training sessions that cover AI literacy, best practices, business use cases, and readiness assessments. These programs are designed to empower teams and leaders with the knowledge to make informed decisions about AI adoption.
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We emphasize that businesses must act proactively by adopting AI tools strategically to stay ahead of competitors. We provide services focused on workflow optimization, human capital management, and system integration to boost operational efficiency.
Meet the Team
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Janet Johnson is a pioneering business executive with extensive experience leading organizations through technological transformations, from the early days of social media to today's AI revolution. With a unique blend of marketing and sales leadership and governance expertise, Janet excels in guiding organizations to harness emerging technologies while maintaining ethical standards and protecting stakeholder interests.
As founder of the AI Governance Group and an adjunct professor at Portland State University, Janet combines practical leadership experience with academic insight to shape the future of responsible technology adoption. Drawing from her experience as a former CMO and CGO of Fortune 1000 companies, she has a proven track record of helping organizations navigate disruptive technologies. Notably, she guided numerous businesses through the uncertainty of early social media adoption, establishing frameworks for responsible engagement that transformed skepticism into strategic advantage.
During her career in executive leadership roles across education technology, financial services, real estate, and technology sectors, Janet has consistently driven strategic growth while ensuring ethical considerations remain at the forefront of technological adoption. Her expertise in strategic marketing, customer relationship management, and go-to-market strategies has enabled organizations to achieve sustainable growth while maintaining robust governance standards.
A recognized authority in AI ethics and governance, Janet combines technical proficiency with exceptional strategic insight. This combination facilitates effective risk management and governance oversight, enabling organizations to navigate the complexities of AI implementation successfully. Janet builds and maintains strong relationships with industry leaders, policymakers, and academic institutions, fostering collaboration toward responsible technology adoption. Her leadership extends beyond organizational boundaries to active advocacy for ethical AI practices, highlighting her commitment to shaping a future where technology enhances human potential while respecting fundamental rights and values.
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Carrie is a co-founder of AIGG and oversees Risk and Governance, where she works with organizations to develop and align their strategy, operations, and oversight functions in ways that enable them to leverage emerging technologies like AI effectively and safely.
In her role, Carrie collaborates with business leaders and legal departments to build risk frameworks, protective strategies, policies, and oversight structures calibrated to their organization’s specific needs, capabilities, and risk appetite. She also advises on and conducts workforce training and development around the responsible and ethical use of AI, covering issues such as confidentiality, data privacy and security, intellectual property considerations, bias and discrimination, and other vectors for risk.
With a career spanning law, business, and executive leadership, Carrie brings a unique perspective and skill set to managing through organizational change. Recognized for her holistic approach that synthesizes disparate organizational needs, Carrie is adept at helping organizations balance innovation, agility, and risk management while remaining focused on delivering results.
Working at top tier law firms, Carrie gained broad experience representing Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and public agencies in a mix of business, financial and regulatory matters. Representative industry sectors include banking and financial services, energy, telecoms, education, earth sciences, manufacturing, and public agencies.
Carrie also served as General Counsel and VP of Operations of a Portland, Oregon start-up, where she focused on legal, risk management, and compliance functions, as well as building operational capacity and efficiency. During her tenure, the company expanded to more than twenty states and the UK, serving more than 1 billion public school students.
A trusted advisor, with broad industry experience and hands-on legal and operational know-how, Carrie is invested in helping leaders navigate transformational change with clarity and purpose, so they can thrive in the age of AI and beyond.
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Tricia Blum is a dynamic business executive with over 20 years of experience leading organizations through transformative growth and innovation. With a unique blend of legal expertise and strategic vision, Tricia excels in collaborating with diverse teams, coaching organizations through change, and devising strategies that drive sustainable success.
During her tenure, Tricia served as CEO of two different organizations in the compliance heavy industries of healthcare and education, exemplifying her robust track record of leading companies through significant growth and operational scaling while remaining regulation compliant. She has consistently leveraged deep industry knowledge to expand service offerings, improve operations, enhance financial performance, and dramatically increase competitive advantage and market share.
Previously, as Vice President of Business Services for a financial institution focused solely on K-12 education, Tricia led the successful restructuring and turnaround of over 56 educational institutions. Through effective collaboration and coaching, these schools improved their governance, operational sustainability, and financial health.
A licensed attorney, Tricia combines legal proficiency with exceptional communication skills. This combination facilitates effective negotiation, risk management, and compliance oversight, enabling organizations to navigate complex regulatory landscapes successfully. Tricia builds and sustains strong relationships with boards, stakeholders, and teams. Her ability to mentor, coach, and collaborate is evident in her work transforming organizations and aligning diverse groups toward common goals. Tricia's leadership extends beyond business operations to active engagement in board roles across multiple sectors, highlighting a commitment to governance that is both ethical and effective.
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Dru Martin brings over 20 years of experience as a designer, creative director, and brand strategist, with a portfolio that speaks to the mission of the agency he ran—merging exceptional design with strategic clarity. His work spans diverse industries and reflects an unparalleled ability to adapt and capture the essence of each brand’s story, ensuring it not only looks outstanding but performs exceptionally in competitive markets. With a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of digital engagement, Dru has led projects that push boundaries, combining innovation with proven strategies to position brands at the forefront of their fields while delivering measurable ROI. His expertise includes collaborations with national and international powerhouses such as Nike, adidas, and HP, showcasing his ability to elevate globally recognized brands.
Clients experience leadership that goes beyond the role of a typical creative partner. Dru is known for a meticulous eye for detail, clear strategic vision, and the kind of communication that aligns teams and steers complex projects to success. He thrives on collaboration, fostering environments where ideas flourish, translating into results that elevate brands and drive growth. Whether leading a rebranding initiative or crafting a new product launch, Dru’s approach balances artistic vision with business acumen, creating work that resonates with targeted audiences and performs in real-world metrics.
Dru doesn’t just build brands; he shapes them into powerful narratives that captivate, inspire, and deliver. His ability to see both the big picture and the granular details ensures that every touchpoint not only meets but surpasses expectations. His reputation as a dedicated and approachable partner is paired with an unwavering pursuit of excellence and a track record of delivering strong ROI, making him a standout in any room. In a fast-paced world where every move counts, Dru Martin is the strategic force that translates brand potential into impactful market presence.
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Ms. Long Holland is a specialist in the development and launching of new products, strategies and business models. Ms. Long Holland was an executive at Nike for 7 years as the Divisional Head of New Products and Markets. She has run a business advisory firm, LongSherpa Design, specializing in new businesses and business transitions, since 1987.
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Ryann has over 20 years of experience working with for-profit and non-profit organizations, law firms, and government agencies. She is a passionate leader who empowers organizations to leverage emerging technologies ethically and strategically. Her areas of focus include risk mitigation, operations, compliance, and underwriting.
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Shannon Schrecengost is a business development strategist with extensive experience guiding organizations to growth through the power of authentic connections. With a career spanning corporate sales, higher education, technology, and nonprofit sectors, she brings a multidimensional perspective to building relationships that endure. Her approach blends the precision of data and analytics with the human-centered skills of trust-building and alignment, creating partnerships that deliver long-term impact.
Throughout her career, Shannon has excelled in designing and executing go-to-market strategies, navigating complex enterprise sales cycles, and finding creative pathways to open new opportunities. She thrives at the intersection of strategy and empathy, ensuring that business development is never transactional but instead rooted in shared value and integrity. Her ability to translate business goals into meaningful human engagement has made her a trusted partner across industries and organizational contexts.
Shannon also sees the transformative role AI can play in amplifying human relationships. She champions the use of automation, analytics, and emerging tools not as replacements for people but as accelerators of meaningful connection and growth. At AI Governance Group, she brings this philosophy forward, helping organizations harness AI responsibly while preserving the human heart of business development. By combining strategic discipline with a people-first mindset, Shannon empowers leaders to unlock new growth while navigating the evolving landscape of technology with confidence.
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Leon combines his data science prowess with strategic AI insights to revolutionize business operations, focusing on developing impactful AI solutions for both Fortune 500 companies, and small business.
He excels in transforming complex challenges into human-friendly AI systems, particularly designed for small businesses.
As a data scientist and AI strategist, Leon is passionate about making cutting-edge technology accessible to all businesses, empowering even the smallest enterprises to gain a competitive advantage through AI.
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Taylor Hara is a sophisticated AI agent designed to streamline and enhance email outreach and business development efforts through LinkedIn. Leveraging state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms, Taylor identifies and connects with potential leads, engages them with personalized messaging, and nurtures professional relationships to help your organization grow. Her intuitive capabilities ensure that every interaction feels authentic, fostering trust and credibility in digital communications.
One of Taylor’s standout features is her ability to analyze vast amounts of data to identify high-value prospects. By tapping into LinkedIn’s network insights and cross-referencing this with external databases, she can pinpoint decision-makers in your target industries. Taylor uses predictive analytics to craft tailored messages that resonate with each recipient’s specific needs and interests, significantly improving response rates and conversions. Her adaptability ensures she refines her approach based on real-time feedback, making her outreach smarter and more effective over time.
Beyond outreach, Taylor functions as a dynamic business intelligence tool. She tracks engagement metrics, provides detailed reports on campaign performance, and offers actionable insights to optimize future strategies. With Taylor Hara, your organization gains a tireless, data-driven team member who not only enhances efficiency but also empowers your team to focus on high-impact tasks, leaving the repetitive and time-consuming processes to her capable virtual hands.
The Advisory Board
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Susan Towers is an accomplished and experienced executive search consultant, focused on AI and the future of work. Her innate interest in meeting new people has earned her a reputation as a natural-born connector. A two-time entrepreneur and founder, she has supported many female founders and organized the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in Portland, OR.
She has also worked for some of the world’s most admired companies including Time Inc. (Fortune magazine), Assouline (LVMH) and L’Oréal (Kiehl’s Since 1851) and has consulted with Nike’s Innovation hub, Valiant Labs, Cole Haan and First Republic Bank among others. Susan has a degree in Psychology from University College Dublin and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Managers.
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Tara is Managing Partner at Voxus PR, a B2B marketing and PR firm differentiated by its technical expertise and ability to tease out the most compelling stories and strategies for technology companies. Formerly Chief Communications Officer for Intel, Tara spent seven years on their global communications team. Prior to Intel, she served as Executive Vice President at Waggener Edstrom, where she served as a member of the executive leadership team for Microsoft’s agency of record, serving as executive lead for Microsoft's Windows and OEM business.
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Brady is a distinguished business leader with over 20 years of experience transforming bleeding edge technologies into productivity gains and revenue growth for businesses. He is currently the co-founder of GPT Now (gptnow.ai), a service offering of OxbowSoft LLC, that helps companies uncover and take advantage of their opportunities to leverage generative AI. As an advisory board member, Brady’s technological insights help AIGG ensure its offerings not only protect your people, IP, brand, and businesses, but also still allow the technology to create its intended value.