About.

Janelle Marie is an award-winning author and traffic safety advocate with a distinguished career dedicated to promoting road safety and educating the community.

As the Executive Director of Oregon Impact, Janelle leads initiatives that administer DUII, Distracted Driving, Youth, and Latino Victims Impact Panels. Her impactful work in schools underscores the grave consequences of making poor choices while driving.

Janelle’s contributions to traffic safety have been widely recognized. She received a Commendation Medal from the Portland Police Bureau for her efforts in assisting newly arrived immigrant drivers in Oregon. Her exemplary leadership earned her the Small Non-Profit Award from the North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce, honoring her high-level achievements as an executive who encourages, inspires, and mentors others.

A lifelong resident of Clackamas County, Oregon, Janelle is deeply rooted in her community. She has spent many years volunteering in schools and various community projects. Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in spending time with her family, especially her grandsons Connor, Camden, and Charlie, who keep her on her toes with their boundless energy.
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Janelle’s dedication to traffic safety and her community is reflected in her writing, where she continues to advocate for safer roads and more informed drivers.

Speaking Topics.

Whether you’re hosting a conference of thousands or a small team retreat, Janelle Marie delivers a human and data-backed message to educate and inspire your audience. Through years of experience and practical tools Janelle can speak to crash survivors, military communities, law enforcement agencies, and first responders. Her work in schools particularly resonates with young audiences, highlighting the grave and often altering outcomes of poor choices behind the wheel.

Keynote options.

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The S.A.F.E. Road Recovery Framework

A trauma-informed path to reclaim confidence and safety on the road.

Ideal audience:

• First responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers)
  
• Civilians (crash survivors, their family members, witnesses, and community support networks)

​Value:
​First responders gain practical tools to provide immediate, compassionate scene response and follow-up that reduces long-term trauma in victims. Civilians (survivors and families) receive a clear, step-by-step recovery roadmap that helps them move from fear and overwhelm to rebuilt confidence and emotional safety. Both groups leave with better understanding of each other’s needs, leading to stronger community trust and more effective post-crash support.
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Description:
​In this impactful keynote or workshop, Janelle Marie Lawrence presents her signature S.A.F.E. Road Recovery Framework, drawn from her book Healing Behind the Wheel: Navigating Trauma-Informed Traffic Safety. Tailored specifically for both first responders and civilians, this session bridges the gap between professional response and personal recovery.

​Janelle teaches how trauma shows up on the road — for victims at the scene and long after — and equips first responders with trauma-informed communication and scene management techniques that prevent re-traumatization. At the same time, she gives civilians (survivors and loved ones) actionable, gentle strategies to regulate their nervous system, process the event, and safely rebuild driving confidence. The framework emphasizes collaboration between responders and community members for more humane, effective traffic safety and recovery outcomes.

Take-aways: In this program you will learn...

• For First Responders:
  • Simple trauma-informed scripting and techniques to use at crash scenes that promote safety, trust, and empowerment rather than adding to victim distress.
  • Recognition of acute trauma responses and how to hand off survivors with better emotional support resources.
  • Ways to protect their own mental health while serving trauma-exposed individuals.
• For Civilians (Survivors & Families):
  • A clear understanding of the four pillars of the S.A.F.E. Road Recovery Framework and how to apply them personally.
  • Immediate, practical tools for nervous-system regulation, reducing hypervigilance, and gently returning to the road.
  • Guidance on how to communicate effectively with first responders and ask for the support they need.
• For Both Groups:
  • Strategies to build collaboration and mutual understanding between responders and survivors.
  • A personalized action plan (for individuals) or response checklist (for professionals) to implement right away.
  • Validation that emotional recovery after a crash is normal and achievable with the right framework.

Included with your booking.

Discount on signed copies of Janelle's books — to give attendees of your conference.​

CONTACT ABOUT BOOKING

As seen on CBS News - Portland

“Recognizing that traffic crashes can cause significant emotional and psychological trauma is the first step toward recovery.” - Janelle Marie

Civilian Roads Military Minds

Understanding and Supporting Veteran Drivers

Ideal audience:

• Veterans and active-duty service members
• Military families and spouses
• Veteran service organizations (VSOs), VA centers, and military transition programs
• First responders and law enforcement agencies
• Traffic safety professionals and highway safety offices
• Corporate employee resource groups (ERGs) supporting military/veteran employees
• Leadership and training teams at military bases or installations
• Community organizations, Rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits focused on veteran reintegration or road safety
• The session works especially well for mixed audiences that include both those with military experience and civilians who want to better understand and support them.

​Value:
This presentation bridges two worlds that rarely intersect: elite military training and the everyday realities of civilian driving. Attendees gain a deeper understanding of why many veterans experience heightened risk or anxiety on the road, while learning practical, compassionate ways to reduce crashes, support successful transitions, and honor the unique skills service members bring home.Organizations walk away with actionable insights that improve safety outcomes, strengthen veteran support programs, and foster greater empathy across military-civilian divides — ultimately saving lives on our roads.
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Description:
Military service builds exceptional skills — hypervigilance, rapid decision-making, threat assessment, and discipline under pressure. Yet these same strengths can create hidden challenges when veterans return to civilian roadways, where the rules, pace, and environment are dramatically different.

In this powerful and insightful keynote, Janelle Marie Lawrence — Executive Director of Oregon Impact and author of the upcoming book Civilian Roads, Military Minds — explores the often-overlooked transition veterans face behind the wheel. Drawing from years of direct work with military communities, trauma-informed traffic safety programs, and real veteran stories, Janelle reveals how ingrained military mindsets, muscle memory, and unresolved trauma can influence driving behavior long after service ends.

This session moves beyond statistics to deliver human-centered understanding, practical strategies, and hope. It equips attendees with tools to recognize warning signs, support smoother reintegration, and create safer roads for those who have served.

Take-Aways, In this program you will learn...
• For Veterans:

• Understand how your military training shapes the way you drive on civilian roads — and why it matters.
• Recognize the hidden impact of hypervigilance and muscle memory on everyday driving.
• Learn practical tools to manage driving anxiety and rebuild confidence behind the wheel.
• Bridge the gap between combat-honed instincts and safe civilian driving.
• Discover that safer, calmer driving after service is achievable and within your control.

• For Supporters

• Gain real insight into why veterans often experience the road differently.
• Learn to spot the subtle signs that a veteran may be struggling with driving.
• Discover practical ways to support veterans without judgment or pressure.
• Help build stronger bridges between military experience and civilian road safety.
• Walk away with actionable steps to reduce risk and support successful reintegration.

Included with your booking.

Discount on signed copies of Janelle's books — to give attendees of your conference.​

BOOK NOW