Meet Jacob Jansen: A Journey of Recovery and Transformative Leadership
Jacob Jansen’s life journey is a powerful testament to resilience and dedication. Once a scholar athlete with a promising career as a day trader, Jacobs life spiraled into decades of hard drug abuse, progressing from alcohol to marijuana to prescription opiates, and eventually, to IV heroin use. On July 19th, 2010, he embarked on his remarkable path to sobriety, driven by an unwavering passion to transform the recovery industry and provide better resources for those seeking help.
Since finding recovery from IV heroin use, Jacob has navigated the judicial system and was Pardoned by Tony Evers and the State of Wisconsin for his past felony possession charge. He went back to school while incarcerated in Huber work release programs and earned a Business Administration degree from UW Milwaukee in 2012. His commitment to helping others led him to found My Recovery Project LLC and became a certified intervention specialist through Alliance Counseling Centers and recovery life coach certification through Crossroads Recovery Coaching School, guiding countless individuals towards personalized and meaningful recovery solutions through interventions, recovery coaching, mentorship and motivational public speaking.
Jacob’s dedication extends to leadership roles within the recovery community. He was voted to the board of directors for Recovery Coaches International, served as an administrator for Stop Heroin WI, and sat as the Tri-chair for the Waukesha County Heroin Task Force. Demonstrating his expertise and reach, he became a Web Radio Show Host for Voice America’s Health and Wellness channel staring as the host of “I Took The High Road”.
Recognizing a critical need for supportive environments for people in early recovery, Jacob established Addiction Recovery Environment Homes (A.R.E. Homes) in 2015; freestanding sober living homes for women in Waukesha, WI providing individualized choice and support in beautiful surroundings. After helping 315 women rebuild their lives, he made the difficult decision to close the homes in 2022 to focus more on AODA prevention.
From 2017 to 2019, Jacob utilized his CBRF administration license to become the founder, designer, and creator of The Ladders Recovery Community. This state-of-the-art, beautiful 30-bed CBRF in Oconomowoc, WI, was a groundbreaking venture, becoming the first CBRF ever licensed in a former
commercial property in Wisconsin and is currently being utilized by Lutheran Social Services. Despite facing the challenge of being unexpectedly released without cause, by the board he trusted, shortly after the facility opened, Jacobs resilience shone through, transforming adversity into an opportunity for growth.
Most recently, in March 2020, Jacob co-founded Turning The Page LLC, a company dedicated to promoting alcohol and drug prevention in communities and mental health support programs in the schools. Turning The Page’s innovative T.R.U.T.H. program (Teaching Resilience Using Trust and Honesty) helps start the conversation with youth. His vast knowledge of substance use disorder treatment, coupled with his profound personal journey of triumph, has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision and mission.
Today, Jacob’s passion for helping others, combined with his talent for motivational speaking, continues to play a pivotal role in the success of Turning The Page. He eagerly shares his story of connection, strength, and hope, making a profound impact on all those he encounters as he paves the way towards a brighter and more empowered future.