Chris McKenna

Chris McKenna

CEO | Protect Young Eyes | Internet Safety Expert

Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area
1K followers 500+ connections

About

I'm supposed to be a partner at EY right now! But God had other plans.

1) My current job? I love showing families, schools, and churches how to create safer digital spaces as the CEO of Protect Young Eyes. And for some reason, I've been given an insane amount of energy directed at these efforts. But that's not how it started.

2) I spent 12 years at EY helping large companies not become the next ENRON as a SOX consultant. What a blast. I learned so much about how to be a great employee and human from Anna Bourne. I will forever be grateful for her leadership and mentoring. But I had to quit.

3) Because I received an unmistakable call to leave EY and work in the church. The timing was crazy - my wife was pregnant with twins and the church didn't offer health insurance. But we lept. And have always had enough. For 7 years, I led a large student ministry and three multi-million dollar capital campaigns. I never did find another youth pastor who was also the development director. But something significant happened while I was there.

4) I watched adults give the internet to children in portable form (aka iPhone). I had already confronted my own demons after a decades-long battle with pornography. Then I watched us put that monster in their pockets. This terrified me so I started Protect Young Eyes.

5) So here we are. We do a ton of presentations - my amazing speaking team did over 400 live talks with students, parents, and professionals this past school year around the world. A few years ago, I spoke to Congress and shared our research. I advise large tech companies, lobbyists, and legislatures about how families ACTUALLY use their products. I consult with schools about how to change their digital culture.

I love this life.

Services

Activity

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Experience

  • Protect Young Eyes Graphic

    Founder

    Protect Young Eyes

    - Present 9 years 9 months

    https://protectyoungeyes.com

    Parents are often afraid of what their kids might experience online. Our research, education, and advocacy provide families and organizations with practical resources so that they are prepared, balanced, and protected online.

  • Covenant Eyes Graphic

    Digital Marketing Manager

    Covenant Eyes

    - 7 years 9 months

    Owosso, MI

    We provide software and content to help people stop looking at porn for good or never start.

  • Cornerstone Church Graphic

    Director of Middle School Ministry and Advancement

    Cornerstone Church

    - 10 years 8 months

    Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

  • EY Graphic

    Senior Manager

    EY

    - 12 years 1 month

    Greater Chicago Area

    Sarbanes-Oxley implementation specialist, Business Risk Services

Education

  • Western Michigan University Graphic

    Western Michigan University

    Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) Accounting 3.94

    -

    Activities and Societies: Beta Alpha Psi, Eldridge/Fox Residence Advisor

    BA Business Administration (Accountancy and Spanish)

  • Aquinas College - Grand Rapids Graphic

    Aquinas College

    (Unfinished) Masters of Education EDUCATION

    -

    (Unfinished) Masters of Education

  • Western Michigan University Graphic

    Western Michigan University

    Bachelor's degree Accounting

    -

    Activities and Societies: Beta Alpha Psi

Volunteer Experience

Languages

  • English

    -

  • Spanish

    -

  • Spanish

    Professional working proficiency

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