About Us
Meet the Founders of Safety First Steps
Joey “JW” Clements
Joey Clements is no stranger to risk—or to the responsibility of keeping others safe. With over two decades of high-stakes experience, he has protected people, assets, and operations in some of the most unpredictable environments on earth.
As a former U.S. Marine Infantry Sergeant, Diplomatic Protection Specialist, and Master Texas Peace Officer, Joey has led teams in both domestic and international security operations. He is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) through ASIS International—one of the highest certifications in the global security industry—and holds the honorary title of Texas Ranger Captain.
Joey has worked behind the scenes protecting C-suite executives, high-net-worth families, critical infrastructure, and sensitive government personnel. He has conducted risk assessments, responded to real-time threats, managed crisis events, and helped build layered safety systems that save lives and prevent disaster.
But for all his elite training and tactical background, Joey's most important title is “Dad.”
In recent years, he’s watched as young adults—smart, talented, and full of potential—enter a world more chaotic and less prepared than ever before. He’s seen what happens when instinct and awareness are missing. He knows how fast a situation can escalate when someone doesn’t recognize the signs, set a boundary, or act with urgency.
That’s why he created Safety First Steps.
Not everyone needs a security detail. But everyone needs a strategy—and the earlier that mindset is built, the more likely it is to prevent harm and build lifelong confidence. This course brings elite-level thinking to everyday situations—designed specifically for students and young adults learning to stand on their own two feet.
For Joey, this isn’t about worst-case scenarios. It’s about helping the next generation make better, faster, and smarter decisions when it counts the most. It’s about giving parents peace of mind—and giving young people the tools to live boldly without being naive.
Sarah Clements
Sarah Clements, a mother of teenagers, understands the quiet fears that start to surface long before a child ever leaves home. It’s not just about the big milestones like graduation or moving into a dorm—it’s all the unseen moments in between.
The unfamiliar co-worker who gets too close.
The group hangout that starts to feel off.
The parking lot they walk through with their keys clenched just a little tighter.
The moment something feels wrong—but they second-guess themselves.
She’s asked the same questions every caring parent eventually faces:
Will they trust their instincts when it matters most?
Will they know how to set boundaries early—before it’s too late?
Have we prepared them not just to survive, but to act with confidence when no one else is there to guide them?
Sarah helped create Safety First Steps not as a professional voice—but as a mother. A woman who built this course with her own children in mind, determined to give them the awareness, clarity, and tools they’ll need as they grow into independence. Because she knows that confidence doesn’t come from fear, and safety doesn’t come from simply telling kids to “be careful.” It comes from practice, preparation, and the courage to act on what you know.
This course is everything she wishes her children—and yours—could carry with them as they step into the real world. It’s designed to empower, not alarm. To educate, not overwhelm. And to give families a shared language around safety—one that sparks honest conversations, builds stronger instincts, and creates habits that last a lifetime.
Why We Created Safety First Steps
We built Safety First Steps because we believe every young adult deserves more than just a diploma and a dream. They deserve the practical skills to survive, adapt, and make smart decisions in the real world.
Too many families assume that common sense or classroom education will keep their kids safe. But the truth is, awareness, confidence, and preparedness aren’t inherited—they’re taught. And sadly, most schools don’t teach them.
This course is our way of standing in that gap. It’s the kind of training we’d want our own kids to have—if we weren’t there to protect them. It’s grounded in real-world experience, not theory. And it’s made for everyday life, not just worst-case scenarios.
Whether your young adult is heading to college, moving out, traveling abroad, or just learning to navigate the world with more independence, Safety First Steps equips them with the mindset and tools to:
Because being “on your own” should never mean being unprepared.
— Joey & Sarah Clements
