A parent-led movement for safer digital childhoods.

Board of Directors

Christine Vineis

Founder & Executive Director

Christine Vineis has worked in public affairs throughout her career, specializing in federal government relations for clients nationwide. As president of Capital Partnerships, LLC, she has represented complex, expensive projects requiring creative financing, unique approaches, and intensive relationship-building—winning $2.5 billion on behalf of her clients.

Christine has a track record of creating and launching successful organizations, including WTS, a 79-chapter professional organization, and Ohio Women in Government. She was the youngest officer working for a Fortune 100 company and led Pfizer’s groundbreaking advertising campaign from its New York City headquarters.

As a volunteer, she has chaired the Columbus domestic violence agency and served on the U.S. Capitol Grounds Olmsted Parks Committee, the Community Foundation for Nantucket, and many other organizations.

Board of Directors

Abby Perelman

Retired School Psychologist

Abby Perelman is a retired school psychologist from Connecticut. While living there, she served on the boards of Jewish Family Service and the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation and was a trustee of Wheelock College in Boston.

Today, Abby and her husband divide their time between West Palm Beach, Florida, and Nantucket, Massachusetts, where she is clerk of the board of Fairwinds, Nantucket’s behavioral health center. Abby is the mother of two sons and five grandsons.

Board of Directors

Patrice Gillespie Smith

President & COO, Friends of The Underline

Patrice is president and chief operating officer of Friends of The Underline, a 10-mile linear park beneath the Miami Metrorail that connects the community through a multimodal trail, gardens, and gathering spaces. She has worked as an urban planner across the nation to create walkable, safe, and resilient communities.

Before joining Friends of The Underline, Patrice served as senior manager of planning, transportation, and resilience for the Miami Downtown Development Authority and led Neat Streets, where she created the Miami-Dade Complete Streets Guidelines. As manager of Million Trees Miami, she created the Growing Green Bus Stops and Street Tree Match Grant programs, empowering communities to deploy green infrastructure to combat extreme heat.

Patrice also served as director of transportation planning at Urban Health Planning and chief of staff for the Seattle Department of Transportation. She is driven by the challenge of making communities more livable and equitable through mobility and open-space investments.

Board of Directors

Gerrie Brand

Co-founder, Naible

As a visionary leader at Naible, Gerrie co-founded the company with a mission to make AI accessible, intuitive, and impactful. With expertise in strategic process improvements and inclusive technology solutions, he helps businesses harness AI’s power without unnecessary complexity.

Beyond his professional work, Gerrie is deeply committed to philanthropy and advocacy. As Board of Trustee Committee Chair at The Wellington School, he champions community concepts and an environment in which every individual feels valued and empowered.

A dedicated JEDI advocate, devoted parent and spouse, and outdoor enthusiast, Gerrie strives to break barriers, drive meaningful change, and leave a lasting impact in business, education, and community life.

Board of Directors

Kate Roush

Assistant Clinical Professor, The Ohio State University

Kate Roush is a licensed independent social worker and infant mental health practitioner. In her clinical work, she has served as a dyadic family therapist and early childhood mental health consultant. She has also supervised and supported regional and statewide parenting initiatives aimed at reducing child abuse and neglect.

Kate is currently an assistant clinical professor at The Ohio State University, where she prepares the next generation of social workers to support children and families. She is a double alumna of Ohio State and the mother of three sons spanning middle school through college.

Drawing on her experience navigating the digital landscape with her own children, Kate is committed to creating a safer social media environment for every family.

Board of Directors

Samyak Sawale

Global Credit Financing, J.P. Morgan

Sam Sawale is a finance professional specializing in structured credit and data-driven financial analysis. He works in Global Credit Financing at J.P. Morgan, where he structures and executes complex credit transactions, and previously worked in Structured Credit at Scotiabank.

Sam graduated with highest honors from the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business, earning a BS in Finance, Computing, and Data Science, and was selected as a baccalaureate speaker.

With a strong background in finance, analytics, and technology, he brings valuable insight into the intersection of data, digital systems, and responsible innovation.

Board of Directors

John N. Huffman

Associate Attorney, Taft

John N. Huffman, JD, is an associate attorney at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he represents clients in commercial litigation and medical malpractice matters. He earned his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Capital University Law School and a BA in Political Science summa cum laude from the University of Dayton.

John is admitted to practice law in Ohio and Michigan and has previously served in legal roles with the Supreme Court of Ohio and in the chambers of a federal district court judge.

In addition to his legal practice, John is active in professional and community service, including leadership with the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys and mentoring young athletes as an assistant wrestling coach.