Candace Lightner, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is recognized nationally and internationally as the moving force behind reshaping the nation’s attitude toward drunk driving.
As MADD’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, Lightner masterminded MADD from a small California grass roots organization into an international corporation with more than 400 chapters worldwide and an annual budget of over 12 million dollars. Under her leadership, MADD’s membership base grew to more than 2 million. She managed a staff of more than fifty employees and thousands of volunteers.
Her ability to empower people to move beyond their grief and make a difference in their community and state has earned her national acclaim. Equally important, Lightner provided the solution—vision, legislative strategy and consensus-building skills—necessary to move lawmakers into pro-actively changing the laws and saving lives.
Building on her landscape-altering experience with MADD, Lightner moved her mission forward in a consulting capacity as a manager, fundraiser, trainer, advocate, and counselor to issue-driven groups across the country and helped form numerous consensus-building public-private coalitions. These issues include traffic safety, arts and music education, victims’ rights, alcohol and other drugs, youth oriented programs, hunger, anti-discrimination, and energy efficiency in the residential real estate market.
Lightner has contributed knowledge, expertise and personal experience to virtually every newspaper and talk show in the country and was featured in a documentary, the Twentieth Century Project, by the famous Oscar winning director Bob Zemeckis. She has co- authored Giving Sorrow Words: How to Cope with Grief and Get On with Your Life (Warner Books) and she was the subject of a T.V. movie, entitled Mothers Against Drunk Drivers: the Candy Lightner Story.
Ms. Lightner and her late daughter, Cari are the inspirations for an upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum’s American History Museum highlighting Ms. Lightner’s tenure as MADD’s CEO. She was also a subject in a recent PBS documentary entitled “Resiliency.”
In addition to owning a well-regarded insurance practice focused on estate planning and corporate applications of life insurance, Mr. Adrain has been an executive at AT&T and an entrepreneur in the technology and environmental sectors. He was the founder of KindMark, a leader in software and technologies that advance philanthropy. Mr. Adrain is an active philanthropic and community leader.
James Evans joined Gordon Thomas Honeywell in 2005 and has worked across several business units, including the Federal, Multi-State, and Washington State Governmental Affairs Groups. Now working primarily with multi-state clients, James regularly consults with members of state legislatures, legislative staff, state agency officials, and a variety of interest groups throughout the country.
JAMES C. FELL is a Senior Research Scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) in Calverton, MD. Mr. Fell has 46 years of traffic safety and alcohol research experience. He has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Human Factors Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Mr. Fell is a member of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) and the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)
Stan Marks practices in all areas of personal injury litigation though representing the victims of crimes has been his specialty in his more than 35 years of practicing law. Mr. Marks is certified by the Arizona State Bar as a Specialist in Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation. Mr. Marks is very active in the community, investing his time, energy, and expertise into improving the lives of people in Arizona and across the country
Sharon Sikora, a survivor of a drunk driving crash, is a national activist and speaker on traffic safety and victim’s rights. Ms. Sikora is a co-founder of the Ashes to Life support group and the Arizona Children’s Burn Camp.
Stephen Talpins previously served as the Vice President of Industry Relations for Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. and as National Director of Public Policy for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Director of the National District Attorneys Association – American Prosecutors Research Institute’s National Traffic Law Center (NTLC), a National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Association of Prosecutor Coordinator’s (NAPC) Prosecutor Fellow, and an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami-Dade County (Florida) State Attorney’s Office.
Corporal Barge has been in Law Enforcement for 15 years and serves as the Assistant Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Agency Coordinator with the Florida Highway Patrol. Cpl. Barge has been a Drug Recognition Expert since 2003 and a Traffic Homicide Investigator since 2006. Cpl. Barge teaches the DUI Curriculum at the Florida Highway Patrol Academy and is an Adjunct Instructor for the DUI and Traffic Homicide Courses at the Broward Institute of Public Safety and the Florida Public Safety Institute.
Glynn Birch has been a leading advocate for victim’s rights and drunk driving laws after his little boy, Courtney, was killed by a multiple repeat offender drunk driver. He started at the local level of MADD and was elected the first minority and the first male to become President of the organization 8 years later.
For more than 40 years, Dr. DuPont has been a leader in drug abuse prevention and treatment. He is President of the Institute of Behavior and Health, Inc. (IBH), a non-profit organization that identifies and promotes new ideas to reduce illegal drug use. Reducing drugged driving is an IBH priority (see www.StopDruggedDriving.org). Dr. DuPont previously served as first Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the second White House Drug Chief. He is also Executive Vice President of Bensinger, DuPont and Associates and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, D.C.
Stan L. Friedman believes that to change the world, an advocacy organization must tell a better story. The ingredients are values and action aligned with sustainability and innovation. He’s utilized that mix for a variety of social sector, emerging technologies, environment & energy, publishing and media, health & wellness, entertainment and professional services organizations
Mr. Jacob joined the Institute staff in 1984 after serving ten years with the Virginia State Police. He has extensive experience in both criminal and traffic law enforcement. He joined the State Police in 1973 as a trooper and in 1980 he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the State Police Academy staff. Mr. Jacob also taught at other police training facilities throughout Virginia.
Dr. Logan is Board Certified by the American Board of Forensic Toxicologists (ABFT), and has over eighty publications in toxicology and analytical chemistry.
Dr. Logan is Executive Director of the Robert F Borkenstein Center for Studies of Law in Action at Indiana University, hosting the Borkenstein Alcohol and Drug Courses. He also sserves as Executive Director at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education at the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation in suburban Philadelphia.
Jeri Dye Lynch, Founder of the Conor Lynch Foundation, became a pedestrian and driver safety advocate in 2010 after her 16 year old son, Conor, was killed by a distracted driver on October 19, 2010 while he was crossing the street during cross country training for his high school. Since Conor’s untimely death, Jeri has legislated locally, as well as traveled the states to bring national awareness to the dangers of distracted driving. Jeri’s ongoing efforts to promote safety awareness includes; a PSA about Conor’s Story, Teen Driver Safety Fairs, School Assemblies and her labor of love, the 5K Run/Walk In Honor of Conor, which takes place during National Teen Distracted Driver Week.
Chris has been with the OTS for more than 23 years, serving in more positions than anyone in the office’s 43 year history. He is responsible for administering the California Traffic Safety Program, which includes preparing an annual comprehensive highway traffic safety plan to reduce victims killed and injured in traffic crashes and publishing an Annual Performance Report that details the accomplishments and progress of the California Traffic Safety Program.
Mr. Murphy is a member of the Governor’s Alcohol Policy Council, California Older Driver Task Force, California Illegal Street Racing Task Force, the AASHTO Highway Transportation Safety Committee on Safety Management and is co-Leader of California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
The Century Cuncil is a national not-for-profit organization funded by America’s leading distilled spirits companies and dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking.
Before joining The Century Council, Ms. Nannini was the National Director of Public Policy for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD. She was Senior Manager at Blakey and Agnew, a Washington, D.C. public affairs and communications firm specializing in traffic safety issues. Brandy has been recognized by numerous organizations for her dedication to traffic safety issues. She also serves on the board of directors for the Washington Regional Alcohol Program and on the Legislative Subcommittee for the Maryland Impaired Driving Coalition.
Hardy is a consultant & speaker who maximizes performance of nonprofits and associations and their essential leadership teams.
As a key executive at major automotive OEM’s including Ford Motor Company, Jaguar Cars North America, Mazda North American Operations, Infiniti Motor Division and Nissan Motor Corporation, Mr. Williams brings more than 25 years of strategic planning experience to We Save Lives. His automotive achievements include executive sponsorship for the design, development and deployment of international award-winning telematics emergency roadside assistance safety solutions. As an entrepreneur and inventor, Mr. Williams is the founder of Roadside Telematics Corporation, a global provider of motor vehicle emergency contact locator systems for law enforcement.
Ed Wood is an expert on issues related to drugged driving — which is chief among the reasons Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper asked him to support a task force charged with recommending regulations of marijuana to the state’s legislature.
How and why Mr. Wood developed his expertise — and his relentless pursuit of legal reform surrounding impaired-driving laws — is tragic: His own son, Brian, was killed at age 33 in 2010 by drug impaired drivers. Brian braked and swerved in a way that saved the life of his wife, Erin, who was pregnant with their first child. The book Mr. Wood published in 2011, Deception Pass, recounts the tragedy and the legal realities that followed.
Mr. Wood works in his son’s memory with the hope of ensuring others won’t have to experience the heartbreak he and his family have endured. He has launched the Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) Victim Network, which promotes effective per se laws to define DUID.
Elaine Gansz Bobo is a seasoned professional in the national and international strategic communications arena and has operated her own communications and public affairs practice EGB Ink since 1993. Her issue expertise ranges from transportation to pharmaceuticals to healthcare and allows her to counsel We Save Lives at a senior level.
Ms. Bobo also was a Spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, worked as the Deputy Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and led the Washington office for renowned pollster and researcher, Frank Luntz.
A veteran media and political specialist, Ms. Bobo has served on numerous local, state and national campaigns. She also worked as a political aide on Capitol Hill, a campaign director for a national political action committee, and a political appointee in the Reagan Administration. Ms. Bobo is a former vice president of the international public relations/public affairs firm Burson-Marsteller and is also active in the community.
Elizabeth is a nationally recognized author, speaker and artist with a passion for supporting and raising awareness important causes like We Save Lives. She has dedicated her marketing and media expertise to various non-profits in highlighting issues like healthcare and financial literacy, and is honored to take on drugged and distracted driving alongside Candace Lightner.
Elizabeth life’s mission is promoting compassion and gratitude through all things creative. She is the Co-Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings, and Soul Models: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Compassion. She is also the co-inventor of the 7 Habits of Happy Kids Game, inspired by the bestselling 7 Habits series of books by Dr. Stephen M.R. Covey. www.ElizabethBryanStudio.com and www.SoulModels.net.
Ron Engle is a private consultant in Traffic Safety. He recently retired as the Director, Traffic Safety, for The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by America’s leading distilled spirits companies and dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking.
He has more than 30 years of service with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, where he served in a number of management, policy development and program implementation positions. He managed and directed the development and implementation of the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Program and the Drug Recognition Program for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Prior to his joining NHTSA, he served eight years in law enforcement. The last two years, he was the Enforcement Coordinator for the Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Department Alcohol Safety Action Project. Most of his professional experience is directly related to combating the drunk driver.
Kathleen Rae King, has served as an executive, consultant, and volunteer leader for government, private industry, and non-profit organizations where she has managed human resources, training, and development, and conducted multi-million dollar award-winning fundraising and marketing campaigns to support the arts, human services, and emergency relief.
Her career has included leadership positions with FEMA, Catholic Charities USA, Goodwill, Volunteers of America, Inc., the American Red Cross, Baxter International, Inc., Hyland Therapeutics, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
She has served on local and national boards and has published resources on leadership, management, strategic planning, boards, fundraising, communication, and marketing.
John Mittelman is a Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer, and a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College. For decades, John has been aligned with Spence’s dedication to “helping the poor, the injured, the forgotten, the voiceless, the defenseless and the damned in their fight against mammoth corporations, heartless insurance companies, and gargantuan government.”
John is passionate about issues related to distracted driving, and he sees it this way: The more people who drive without distractions, the fewer people who will be injured or killed–and that translates into less litigation and more happiness all around, which is good for everyone. www.MittelmanLawFirm.com
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