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Moving Safety from the Head to the Heart

I am Laurel Youngstrom.

Wife.
Safety Advocate.
Motivational Speaker.

For more than 25 years, Russ and I shared our story — a story shaped by more than 30 years of living with the consequences of a careless workplace decision that changed our lives forever. Together, we helped people see that safety is never just about rules or procedures. It is about people, families, and the lives changed by a single decision.

Today, I continue that message with the same heart and purpose, helping audiences stop and think before making a choice they can never take back.

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In-Person Speaking

Russ and Laurel travel around the world sharing their unique story. Gather your team for this dynamic in-person presentation, moving Safety from the Head to the Heart.

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Virtual Speaking

When your team is spread across multiple locations or gathering them all at the same time is a challenge, Russ and Laurel can share their message virtually.

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We have proudly spoken for these industry leaders

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About Youngstrom Safety

We are not your typical motivational safety speakers.

Laurel is the widow of Russ Youngstrom (work related paraplegic). Together, they were the founders of Youngstrom Safety. For over 25 years they reached out to audiences in over 75 different industries, moving safety from their Heads to their Hearts. Laurel and Russ accomplished this by encouraging listeners to think about how an accident would impact their loved ones.

Laurel is a safety advocate and award-winning international keynote speaker. Laurel is available to share their powerful story (two different perspectives, with Russ on a video he recorded for such a time as this) about personal accountability in safety, at meetings, conferences, trainings, and job sites throughout the world.

The Youngstrom Safety team did over 500 presentations, and spoke to hundreds of thousands of workers, in 35 states + Canada. From onsite, in the back of a pickup truck, to huge stadiums, the message has always been the same – think twice, instead of doing something unsafe!

Click here to read more about our story.

“Russ and Laurel are great people with a touching personal story to tell. They are high on my list to motivate the workforce to be safe at all times.”

Stephen Seger - Safety Manager at Foushee & Associates, Inc.

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Years of Speaking

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We Provide In-Person and Virtual Speaking Presentations

We do safety presentations, anywhere in the country, for any shift, in any industry. Unlike others who share our passion for safety, we will not review regulations and best practices, although the choice not to follow them is at the heart of our message and the life we have led for the past 30 years. What we will do is paint an unvarnished picture of what the future holds for workers who choose ease or ego over safety.

Book Now

In-Person

Russ and Laurel travel around the world sharing their unique story. Gather your team for this dynamic presentation, moving Safety from the Head to the Heart.

Book Now

Virtual

When your team is spread across multiple locations or gathering them all at the same time is a challenge, Russ and Laurel can share their message virtually.

“The first time that I saw their presentation up in Michigan, it touched my heart in so many ways and at that time I remember thinking “everyone in construction, manufacturing, general industry and even small businesses should hear and see this presentation”. Nobody thinks it will happen to them. When you hear how one disastrous decision can change an entire family, their hopes and dreams, everything they were looking forward to, and hear how it can be shattered in a single moment, you realize that you have to change what you do. How you manage your workers. Russ and Laurel’s unflinching honesty and often times brutal descriptions of how one bad decision has changed their lives in so many ways, is something that every worker should hear. “

Scott Owyen- Director of Training at Genie – a Terex brand

Speaking Events & News

Latest Speaking Presentations

See All Presentations

Remembering Russ Youngstrom

A Celebration of Life Some of you have already heard the news. Many of you have reached out with..

Safety is about taking care of yourself for the people you love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP4lKgj3pnY Behind every worker is someone who loves them and wants them home safe.In this short video, Laurel shares..

Thirty years ago, this work began with a simple belief: people matter.

https://youtu.be/wUidl8yQJRY Over time, we’ve learned that safety isn’t something you can force with rules or reminders. Real change happens..

The Story Behind the Bands

https://youtube.com/shorts/hw_YWrzJdgA?si=Hqi2uyOiNFMY9E6I The hospital visitor bracelets in this video represent more than dates and times.They represent presence. Each band marks..

Our Clients Say

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Jessi Thompson

Asst. Project Manager at D.E. Harvey Builders

Russ and Laurel's presentation was definitely one to remember. Their presentation was about the life altering impact one safety "shortcut" can make and the repercussions from it. It gave over 500 workers a little glimpse of the personal hardships they go through on a daily basis, which really opened up the eyes of all the workers hearing the presentation. They also work very well with an interpreter and still managed to get the important safety message across to each person in the room. Russ and Laurel are genuine, honest people who share their story in order to help the future of others. It was a great pleasure to get to meet them and have them in Houston. We hope they come back soon!

Kirk Welch

Safety/Compliance Manager at Toyota Logistics Services, Inc.

Russ and Laurel made their presentation to our group of drivers this week, and you could have heard a pin drop during the presentation. Their story is one that hits home, especially when your associates deal with risks everyday, and sometimes incorporate "shortcuts" to save them a few minutes. Their story presents a "wake up call", to take Safety seriously, for yourself, and your co-workers. THANKS Russ & Laurel, for making us ALL think about our actions, everyday. It was great getting to know you!

Eric Jones

President/CEO, LEED GA at Foushee & Associates, Inc.

Russ and Laurel delivered a very important message (worker safety & personal responsibility) in a very straight forward and authentic manner. For our group, (commercial general contractor) it hit the mark as succinctly and powerfully as we could have hoped for.

Mark Johnnie

Vice President & Region Manager at Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc

Those of us working in the construction industry face risks to our health and safety each and every day. In most cases there are fantastic state of the art methods for mitigating the risks we all face except for one….our own personal decision to take an unnecessary risk. The reality of Russ’s injury coupled with his frank and open discussion about why his accident occurred and how it has affected him is trumped only when his Wife Laurel talks about how Russ’s injury has impacted their family. Russ and Laurel’s message is eye opening, humbling, shocking, powerful, and life changing. Everyone should hear their message and everyone should want to know why Russ say’s “you should immediately fire employees like me”. Thank you Russ and Laurel for having the courage to share your story. It is extremely powerful!!

Social Media :

Moving Safety from the Head to the Heart

In-Person Speaking

Virtual Speaking

We have proudly spoken for these industry leaders

Past safety presentations

About Youngstrom Safety

We are not your typical motivational safety speakers.

Stephen Seger - Safety Manager at Foushee & Associates, Inc.

Years of Speaking

Book us to Speak

We Provide In-Person and Virtual Speaking Presentations

In-Person

Virtual

Scott Owyen- Director of Training at Genie – a Terex brand

Speaking Events & News

Latest Speaking Presentations

Testimonials

Our Clients Say

Social Media

Quick Links

Locations

12 Free Safety Prompts

Moving Safety from the Head to the Heart

In-Person Speaking

Virtual Speaking

We have proudly spoken for these industry leaders

Past safety presentations

Contact Store

About Youngstrom Safety

We are not your typical motivational safety speakers.

Stephen Seger - Safety Manager at Foushee & Associates, Inc.

Years of Speaking

Book us to Speak

We Provide In-Person and Virtual Speaking Presentations

In-Person

Virtual

Scott Owyen- Director of Training at Genie – a Terex brand

Speaking Events & News

Latest Speaking Presentations

Remembering Russ Youngstrom

Safety is about taking care of yourself for the people you love.

Thirty years ago, this work began with a simple belief: people matter.

The Story Behind the Bands

Testimonials

Our Clients Say

Quick Links

Locations

12 Free Safety Prompts