The appointments of Jami Klotz and Dr. Joe McKenna will continue to drive Ƶ’s mission of helping schools and communities across the U.S. achieve “zero incidents” of violence and harm
RICHFIELD, OHIO (May 9, 2023) – Ƶ, the nation’s leader in K–12 school safety and student wellness solutions, announces the appointment of Jami Klotz as chief product officer, and Dr. Joe McKenna as vice president of threat detection and prevention program development. Bot are passionate, innovative and experienced leaders poised to drive a new wave of meaningful impact in school safety and student wellness for the more than 50 million students in the United States.
“We are pleased to welcome these accomplished executives in SaaS technology and K–12 leadership to the Ƶ team,” said JP Guilbault, chief executive officer of Ƶ. “Jami and Joe bring a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience which supports our mission of zero incidents of violence and harm.”
Year to date, the Expert Insights data from Ƶ show alerts related to self-harm are up 51 percent year-over-year and alerts related to weapons and harm to others are up 25 percent year-over-year. On average, the Ƶ report also found more than 4,000 anonymous tips per week come into school tip lines powered by Ƶ P3 School Tip Line solution, with the most common tips related to self-harm and weapons.
“Ƶ is already doing what no other company in the K–12 space can, and we are poised to continue that trajectory. Joining this mission-based organization at the helm of the product organization will allow me to further enhance Ƶ’s already impressive product offerings and make an even greater impact on society,” said Jami Klotz, chief product officer at Ƶ. “As a woman, mother and leader in tech, there is not a better opportunity to leverage technology to make a positive impact on the mental and physical safety of our youth. Data has power, and Ƶ is uniquely positioned to drive positive short- and long-term results that impact all areas of society.”
A results-focused product champion, Klotz comes to Ƶ with more than 20 years of experience in the product leadership space, driving strategic growth and cultivating a strong brand image for several PE-backed companies—including BigTime Software and Avionte Staffing Software. Klotz’s experience will ensure Ƶ’s solutions are built around educators’ needs and deliver the real-time data and information schools and districts need to create learning environments where students, staff and educators feel safe.
Complementing the executive appointments is , who will be overseeing the creation and implementation of threat assessment programs for Ƶ customers as Vice President of Threat Detection & Prevention Program Development.
“Research-based early detection and prevention measures are proven effective when implemented with fidelity,” said Dr. Joe McKenna, vice president of threat detection & prevention program development. “Ensuring that schools and districts who make the meaningful investment in behavioral threat assessment training, as well as case management, have the guidance and support needed to be proactive and successful is my ultimate goal.”
McKenna joins Ƶ from WestEd’s Justice & Prevention Research Center where he served as their Director of School Safety. In this position, he led federally funded research projects, as well as supported schools and districts across the country in implementing various school safety strategies. With his Master of Science and PhD from Texas State University in Criminal Justice and his Bachelor of Science from Roger Williams University, McKenna also served as the Deputy Superintendent and Executive Director of Safety and Student Support for Comal Independent School District in New Braunfels, Texas, as the Associate Director of the Texas School Safety Center and as an Adjunct Professor at Texas State University.
With these new additions in key roles, Ƶ is poised and ready to further their mission of helping schools and communities across the U.S. achieve “zero incidents” of violence and harm.
About Ƶ
Ƶ is the premier provider of safety solutions for schools, leading to enhanced student wellbeing. For more than 20 years, our multifaceted, layered approach—providing everything from curricula that support positive behavior and self-image to campus physical safety and personnel training—has focused on incident prevention. Empowering people, schools and communities to stay safe and thrive, Ƶ serves more than 30,000 schools across the US and more than 14 million students. Recognized as a Certified Great Place to Work, Ƶ is mission-driven and founded on a data-driven approach to school safety and student wellness.
