Our Team

Principal and Co-Founder

Before co-founding IST, Harry worked at the Truck Safety Coalition in various capacities, including Executive Director. Throughout his time in the truck safety space, he has fostered strong connections with lawmakers, media, safety advocates, and victims and survivors of truck crashes in the U.S. Harry has a BA in Law and Society from American University, an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Affairs, and experience interning in all three branches of Federal government.

Principal and Co-Founder

As Principal of the Institute for Safer Trucking (IST), John leads the organization's efforts to advance data-driven policies and solutions that reduce truck-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. A nationally recognized truck safety advocate, he brings more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of transportation policy, safety advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.

John served as a board member and former chair of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and has worked extensively with regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, safety organizations, and crash victims' families. Through his leadership and expertise, John has earned a reputation as a trusted voice on practical, effective solutions to improve the safety of America's roadways.

 John has a BA in Economics from William and Mary, an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Principal and Co-Founder

Jen serves in a variety of leadership roles for the Institute for Safer Trucking and works closely with crash victims' families, policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to advance meaningful safety reforms. With more than twenty years of experience in transportation policy and truck safety. She brings a deep understanding of the regulatory, legislative, and operational issues that impact roadway safety.

Prior to Jen’s experience in the nonprofit sector, she worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she gained firsthand experience with federal transportation policy and the legislative process. Her extensive experience and collaborative approach have made her a respected advocate for safer roads and stronger transportation safety policies.

Jen has a BS in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University.  

Board Member

Eric’s truck safety advocacy began in 2015, after his 16-year-old son, Riley Eric Hein, was killed in a side underride crash involving a semitrailer without side guards. Before retiring, Eric spent 30 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species scientist and policy leader. He now educates the public and elected officials about the safety and financial benefits of side underride guards and campaigns for them to be required on semitrailers and single-unit trucks. In 2026, he published a peer-reviewed cost-benefit analysis of side underride guards in the Journal of Progress in Safety and Security, and he appeared in the ProPublica and FRONTLINE documentary America’s Dangerous Trucks. Eric has a BS in Geography with a minor in Zoology from Southern Illinois University and an MS in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University.

Board Member

Tracy’s daughter, Channing, was killed in 2009 after a tire flew off a construction vehicle and struck her vehicle. Channing earned her B.S. from University of Maryland College Park. She was also pregnant at the time of the crash. After this tragic and preventable loss, Tracy has worked tirelessly to honor her daughter as well as educate the public about truck safety solutions. For over 25 years, Tracy has worked in Human Resources with leading Fortune 500 companies like Marriott and Insperity. Tracy has a BA in Liberal Arts from Notre Dame of Maryland University and is actively pursuing a MA in Adult Education and Training.

Board Member

Laurie lost her son, Michael, in a fatal truck side underride crash. Since then, she and her husband Randy have become fierce advocates and educators about the many preventable truck safety issues, like underride, so that other families do not have to experience the loss that they have. When she is not working to make our roads safer, you can probably find her and Randy rooting for the University of Memphis Tigers.

Board Member

Peter survived a large truck crash that killed both of his parents and injured both of his sisters in 2015. After his crash, he began advocating with his sister, Monica, for solutions to make trucking safer. He has a B.S. Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo and an MS in Real Estate from NYU School of Professional Studies.

Board Members

Susan and Steve Owings co-founded Road Safe America following the tragic loss of their older son, Cullum who was killed in stopped traffic when hit from behind by a speeding tractor trailer truck. In the fallout of that horrific experience, the couple was shocked to learn of the risks American drivers routinely and unknowingly take while sharing our roads with vehicles that dwarf their own and of common-sense rules that other leading countries had already established to mitigate those risks. RSA was created to bring US truck safety practices up to date with global standards. Professionally, Susan taught elementary school and Steve was a Financial Advisor. Steve served on the Motor Carrier Safety Committee since it was created in 2006, serving as its chairman during two of those years.

Board Member

Pierce Owings’ brother, Cullum, was killed by a tractor trailer in 2002.  Pierce was in the passenger seat when the crash occurred.  His parents subsequently founded a non-profit called Road Safe America, which merged with IST in 2023.  Pierce has served on the board of Road Safe America since 2004.  He works in the Atlanta office of Partners Real Estate, where he and his team focus on land sales in the Atlanta area.  Pierce graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2006. 

Volunteer Ambassador

Kate's son Graham was critically injured when a trucker fell asleep at the wheel after staying up all night at a party. Graham has undergone 22 surgeries, 3 years of physical therapy, & is permanently, partially disabled.  The minimum insurance amount was not enough to cover Graham's ongoing care, so Kate's goal is to help prevent the devastating financial burdens placed on families due to insufficient insurance limits. Kate spent most of her career providing software training, but is now semi-retired and works part-time for a doctor. She is an avid reader and Chicago Cubs fan.

Director of Advancement

A seasoned fundraising professional, Cara is passionate about creating impactful initiatives and making a positive difference in non-profit organizations. Her expertise lies in cultivating donor relationships, executing successful campaigns, and strategically leveraging resources for non-profit organizations. Prior to the merger with the Institute for Safer Trucking, Cara spent nearly twenty years working with Road Safe America.