Jonathan Adkins was named Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in 2014. GHSA is the national nonprofit that represents state highway safety agencies. GHSA members are charged with implementing their governors’ highway safety plans and administering federal behavioral highway safety funds. Adkins is responsible for directing the organization’s Washington Headquarters office, serving as the association’s chief liaison with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other federal agencies, and representing the organization on Capitol Hill and with private sector partners. He frequently represents the states’ viewpoints on highway safety solutions in the media and before Congress, federal agencies and industry partners. Adkins is regularly quoted by a variety of publications, including Politico, USA TODAY and The Washington Post.
During Adkins’ tenure as Executive Director, GHSA has expanded its scope and influence by adding new programs, member services and staff. Adkins has built partnerships with a variety of leading organizations in the automotive, insurance and consumer products industries, and has leveraged those relationships to develop tools for state highway safety agencies. Adkins also launched the GHSA’s Consulting Services Initiative, through which the organization assists states in managing their highway safety programs. Adkins began his work with GHSA in 2000. Prior to being named Executive Director, he served as GHSA’s Communications Director as well as Deputy Executive Director. Adkins has served on a variety of boards and in appointed roles within highway safety and the broader community, including the National Organizations for Youth Safety, The Road to Zero Coalition and the National Lifesavers Conference. Adkins holds a political science degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.
Debra Coffey is Vice President, Government Affairs for Smart Start and a member of the Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers board. Ms. Coffey is responsible for driving Smart Start’s government and special interest initiatives, as well as focus on the company’s legislative efforts in state government and Congress. Additionally, she is responsible for maintaining the lines of communication between Smart Start and Judicial, Court related, DMV authorities and Public Safety advocates. She keeps these audiences informed about the application and benefits of Smart Start’s ignition interlock program, helping to assure its successful adoption. Coffey is often a presenter across the U.S. on Ignition interlock topics and is considered a knowledgeable speaker and credible representative in the field of Ignition interlocks.
Ms. Coffey has provided resource testimony across the U.S. before House and Senate committees concerning model interlock legislation, functionality of the interlock device and her vast experience of state interlock programs. Ms. Coffey joined Smart Start in 1998, bringing 20 years of Texas court management experience. Ms. Coffey earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She lives in Ft. Worth, Texas, is married to Retired Criminal Court Judge, Daryl Coffey, they have two adult children, a new grandson, cows, dogs, and cats.
As President of RADD, Erin Meluso applies decades of marketing, promotion, and management skills to oversee the creation of edutainment programming: music and entertainment-driven outreach projects to promote alternatives to driving impaired.
Statewide projects she oversees include a new California Highway Patrol-sponsored CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant, plus the RADD California College Coalition, (R3C) which serves as the state’s member of the National Consortium of State Coalitions formed by the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs Misuse & Prevention (HEC).
Colonel Ron Replogle is the National Law Enforcement Initiatives Manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Prior to joining MADD as a full-time employee, Ron served on the MADD National Board of Directors. In 2015, he retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol after 31-years of service, serving the last five years as the Patrol’s superintendent. He and his wife Cindy reside in Southwest Missouri where they enjoy spending time with family and their four grandchildren.
Sabra K. Rosener, JD is an experienced government affairs executive serving as SVP of Legislative Affairs at Intoxalock. Intoxalock has been manufacturing ignition interlock devices for over 30 years and is an industry leader in reliability, customer service and technology. Ms. Rosener is responsible for guiding legislative strategy at a federal and state level, management of outside lobby teams and acts as the company’s representative with key industry partners including the Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers, Responsibility.org, SADD, MADD and GHSA. Rosener has a wide breadth of experience in navigating the legislative and regulatory landscape, having spent nearly 20 years working in advocacy within the public health and private health care sectors. Over the years, she has been a federal lobbyist and registered as part of the lobby in numerous states. She has testified before state legislative and U.S. congressional House and Senate health committees on issues important to public health and has been an influential voice for positive change. Prior to working in healthcare, Ms. Rosener was a private practice litigator and a law clerk to former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Streit. Ms. Rosener earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her law degree from Drake University law school.
Jane Terry is the Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Safety Council. An experienced policy and legislative leader, she has more than 20 years of experience working with local, state and federal government officials on transportation, telecommunications, workplace safety, community development and healthcare initiatives.
At NSC, she leads outreach to policymakers at all levels of government to eliminate preventable deaths. Her efforts provided the foundation for the Road to Zero coalition, led to more effective partnerships, implementation of new laws and more. She is a regularly requested speaker on NSC initiatives such as roadway safety, the opioid epidemic and workplace safety.
Prior to joining the National Safety Council, Jane served as the Director of Government Affairs at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In this role, she improved transportation nationwide by advocating for NTSB safety recommendations in the areas of aviation, pipeline, rail, and highway safety becoming law.
Jane led her own government relations firm in Atlanta, GA, handling transportation and local government policy at the state and federal levels. Prior to that, she worked in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill, focusing on transportation, telecommunications, tax and other policy issues.
Originally from Austell, GA, Jane graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Political Science and Economics.
Joanne Thomka is the Director of the National Traffic Law Center of the National District Attorneys Association in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to joining NDAA, Mrs. Thomka was a Senior Assistant District Attorney for the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office in Syracuse, New York. She was the Bureau Chief of the DWI Unit. Mrs. Thomka also previously served as a Program Counsel at the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).
Mrs. Thomka is a member of several committees which pertain to traffic safety: Transportation Research Board’s Traffic Law Enforcement Committee, National Sheriff’s Association’s Traffic Safety Committee, Highway Safety Coalition, and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation’s DWI Working Group, She is also the recipient of the 2013 J. Stannard Baker Award, presented by the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Highway Safety and a 2016 Public Service Award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for protecting communities and enhancing traffic safety through legal information and training to the Nation’s criminal justice community.
Brian retired from the Washington State Patrol in February 2010 after 30-years of service, the last five years as Assistant Chief. Brian joined the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) in March 2010 as their Director of Law Enforcement. Brian has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an M.B.A. in Managerial Leadership from City University in Seattle, Washington. Brian has also attended the FBI National Academy and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
In 2004 Brian received the Washington State Governor’s Distinguished Management Leadership Award; and in October 2016 received the IACP’s J. Stannard Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Highway Safety.
