Lois McElravy grew up believing she could accomplish anything she set her mind on doing. She never knew her mind would turn into her greatest challenge. When a utility truck violently crashed into Lois' car in 1990, the resulting brain injury may have destroyed Lois' life plans, but not her spirit. Learning to laugh and hangin' on with humor rescued her from the distress and despair surrounding her daily life and initiated her recovery.

Twelve years post injury, Lois’ brain function improved. In 2005 she founded her motivational speaker business, Lessons from Lois. Averaging 20 programs a year, Lois motivates, inspires and entertains international audiences with her playful sense of humor and personal stories that impart a heartfelt message of perseverance and hope. Drawing on her personal journey of brain injury, Lois paves the way for others to bounce back when life looks ugly. She equips them with strategies to adjust to change, cope with the unpredictable and feel happy in the midst of trying times.

Lois lives in Missoula, Montana with her husband Larry. They will celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary in June. Their four children are young adults. Lois is a member of Toastmasters International, Mountain West NSA and the National Speakers Association. A member of the Brain Injury Association of America, she served on Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of Montana for seven years and the Missoula Businesswomen’s Network Synergy Board for six years. Lois was MBN’s 2008 Businesswomen of the Year. She currently serves on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Vocational Rehabilitation and the Montana Brain Injury Council. Lois joined the Association of Applied Therapeutic Humor in 2010 and enrolled in AATH’s Humor Academy to study therapeutic humor. She presented a humor program at their Orlando, Florida conference in 2011.