Our team
Co-Leads
Kristen Beddard
Kristen lives in Sewickley, a suburb outside of Pittsburgh. She has spent the last 18 years in marketing, communications, and project management, most recently for a sustainable-agriculture non-profit. She has two children and is the founder of Sewickley Unplugged.
Favorite analog activities
- Reading
- Scrapbooking
Alex Bird Becker, MSEd, MPA
Alex is a research analyst working in education. She started her career as a classroom teacher and remains deeply invested in literacy. She lives in Rose Valley, a suburb outside of Philadelphia, with her husband and two children, and is the founder of Delco Unplugged.
Favorite analog activities
- Tennis
- Reading
- Watercolor painting
Kelly Marsh, PhD
Kelly is a scientist with more than a decade of experience in rare-disease drug discovery. The growing data on the effects of screens on children and brain development inspired her to advocate for legislation in this space. She is motivated by data-driven parenting decisions and mindful use of technology for children. She lives outside of Pittsburgh with her family and has three kids.
Favorite analog activities
- Playing piano & guitar
- Partially finishing books
- Talking about chemistry
Advisory Team
Kirstin McGowan
Kirstin is a mother, leader, and communicator with over 20 years of experience leading sales and growth teams. What started as quiet conversations with friends about family struggles over technology grew into a community dialogue. With the growing evidence of the harms of smartphones and social media on kids' health and academic success, Kirstin felt compelled to get involved — helping PA Unplugged pave new norms that support what's best for kids and their futures.
Favorite analog activities
- Walking her dog
- Reading
- Cheering on her kids from the sidelines
Katie Talarico, MSEd
Katie is a certified digital-wellness educator, parent, and former teacher passionate about healthy child development. She has been a member of the Fairplay.org Screen Time Action Network since 2017 and created the Let's Grow Brain P.O.W.E.R. program to give families a simple, memorable way to remember the wonderfully simple ways they already help their children thrive.
Favorite analog activities
- Reading
- Hiking
- Cooking
Work With Us
Let's work together
We speak to communities, schools, intermediate units, and parent groups, virtual or in person. We also love to consult and partner on anything that moves this work forward. Presentation and workshop topics include:
- Slow Tech Your Life: The Family Reset
- EdTech & 1:1 Devices
- AI & Kids
- Phone-Free Schools
- Delaying Smartphones & Social Media
Have something else in mind? Ask.
Get in touch →