ABOUT
NORTH OF NOW LLC
One founder. Four companies. One unifying principle: AI that's governed before it reaches you.
Carleton McCauley, BBA, CIS
Founder & CEO, North of Now LLC
Carleton McCauley doesn't fit in a box. He's a state champion hurdler who learned systems thinking on the track, precise stride counts, specific takeoff points, controlled disruption, three steps between hurdles. He was one piece of the system as an athlete. Then he became the architect of the system as a coach.
In 2009, as assistant coach at Wayne Westland School District, head coach Wade Cook entrusted Carleton to architect the meet lineup for the MHSAA Girls Class A State Championship, Michigan's largest and most competitive classification. They won.
That same systems thinking, identifying the precise sequence, controlling every variable, trusting the process, became the foundation of everything Carleton built next.
Four companies. One governance kernel.
FORTELLION
AI Governance Kernel
The first thing Carleton ever created. Sits in front of the LLM, intercepts every call, routes it through a governance system, and vets outputs before they reach the end user. Every AI app Carleton builds runs on FORTELLION.
LexGuard
AI Legal Intelligence
Runs ON TOP of FORTELLION. The tool that proved governed AI works at scale, producing 19 grant applications, 80+ compliance documents across 9 states, 32+ NIL documents across 7 states, complete business plans, board structures, and operational frameworks. Not generated. GOVERNED.
BWCM Vibe Code Lab
AI Education
The technology expression of Carleton's 20-year coaching career. Students learn to build AI-powered applications AND govern them. The only high school program that teaches AI governance as a core competency.
menteeo.com
Mentorship Platform (Co-Founded)
The digital expression of Carleton's network-building skill, the same skill he developed through two decades of track coaching, AAU volunteering, and building championship teams. Co-founded as a separate partnership.
"Building systems and building networks."
Hurdling taught him systems. Coaching taught him networks. FORTELLION is where they meet.
13 members. Unmatched credentials.
6 Doctoral Degrees
- •2 Medical Doctors (MD)
- •1 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- •1 Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- •1 Doctor of Social Work (DSW, LCSW, CCM)
- •1 Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
2 Master's Degrees
- •Master of Science in Administration (school administrator)
- •MSc in Cybersecurity (IoT and Medical Device Security Manager)
Professional Certifications
- •CISSP, Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- •CRISC, Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
- •CPA, Certified Public Accountant
- •Esq., Licensed Attorney
- •CQE, Certified Quality Engineer
This is not a board of names. This is a board of expertise. Every credential is real. Every member is active. Every discipline is represented.
Every AI company talks about what their AI can DO.
North of Now LLC talks about what their AI WON'T do, because it's governed before it reaches you.
That's not a marketing position. That's an architecture.