My Story – CEO: JR Garrett
Early Life & Foundations
I grew up as the only boy in a house with my three older sisters and my mom, who was both a Marine and a Pastor. That upbringing shaped me with discipline, resilience, and a sense of responsibility. In 2003, I graduated from college with a background in Multimedia. My dream was to direct movies someday, but life had other plans. Bills were coming due, and I had to make some tough choices.
Hard Work & Determination
For five years, I worked two full-time jobs to pay off debt, spending countless hours behind the wheel of straight trucks. Eventually, I was able to cut back to one job and move in a different direction: inspecting foreclosures. That role required me to drive over 50,000 miles a year while staying safe, planning efficient routes, and meeting strict deadlines. After three years in foreclosure inspections, I returned to the company where I had previously driven straight trucks.
The Accident That Changed Everything
One day on I-83 South, traffic slowed ahead and I put on my flashers. Out of nowhere, an SUV rear-ended my truck at high speed. My truck spun, narrowly avoiding others before slamming into the median barrier. When I got out, I found the other driver badly injured—distracted by his phone at the time of impact. The first responders focused on him, never even checking me, and I pushed through to finish my shift that day. By the time I got home, I could barely walk.
That accident ended my time as a driver, as sitting in a truck was too painful on my back.
A New Direction
I transitioned to a lower-paying desk job where I learned valuable organizational skills and how to manage large, crowded events. But I wanted more for my future—marriage, a home, stability. I interviewed with a FedEx contractor for a P&D (Pickup & Delivery) driver position. While the first offer was low, a long-time friend steered me to a better opportunity with another contractor.
In 2013, after my road test and interview, I was told by the BC Manager, Adam: “You’re one of the best interviewers I’ve ever had.” That stuck with me. I was given one of the hardest routes they had, and at first the work was brutal. With encouragement from my wife and guidance from my friend, I stuck with it. Two years later, I was promoted to management. By my third year, I was asked to create a safety program for the company. That challenge became the turning point where I discovered my passion for safety and helping others work more safely every day.
Building Safety From the Ground Up
I developed a points-based coaching system that quickly showed results. In one year, the number of employees with no accidents and no coachings grew from just a handful to 31. Other contractors noticed and began asking me for advice. That’s when a vision took hold: to build a company dedicated to helping businesses strengthen safety culture.
Guardian Owl, LLC
On July 25, 2022, that vision became reality. Guardian Owl was born. By August, I had my first client. Within a year, I was helping multiple contractors turn their safety records around and save their contracts. One client was on the verge of losing their FedEx contract due to poor safety performance. Through structured coaching, accountability, and clear processes, I helped transform their operation into a safer workplace, and they successfully renewed their contract.
In 2023 while working full time with my current employer and Guardian Owl, I got to compete in the Pennsylvania State Trucking Championship. I finished in second place overall, and in first place in the course for Step Van drivers. After the competition, I stayed with my employer for another four months before going all-in on my business in September 2023. In a full-circle moment, my previous employer became one of my clients. Since then, Guardian Owl has been profitable every year, but more importantly, we’ve been focused on safety first so that employees return home every night and companies succeed.
Why We Do What We Do
Guardian Owl exists because I know what it’s like to walk into your house barely able to move after a preventable accident. Our mission is simple: “Working to keep you safe every day.”
We do this by breaking down safety expectations for employees in ways that make sense in their daily responsibilities, supported by effective communication, ongoing training, and thorough record-keeping. When employees understand safety, they get home safely.
Family is at the heart of Guardian Owl. We want our services to feel like family, which is why our focus is on protecting people, keeping businesses strong, and making sure every worker returns home at the end of the day.
The Results
Our programs reduce accidents and injuries, give companies peace of mind, and keep businesses strong. Guardian Owl has already proven itself by helping contractors in danger of losing their contracts become safer, stronger, and more sustainable.
Guardian Owl is more than a business—it’s my calling.
