Accelerent - Kansas City

Amy Downs, a powerful keynote speaker and author, inspires audiences with her journey from surviving the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing to achieving personal triumphs.

Having faced unimaginable challenges and emerged stronger, Amy's insights drive teams to overcome adversity and achieve extraordinary success. Her experiences resonate with audiences seeking resilience and transformation, helping them turn trials into triumphs and inspire hope through purpose.

First Sergeant Matt Eversmann (Ret.)

Black Hawk Down Battle of Mogadishu Hero; 2x New York Times best-selling author and documentarian

A true American hero, First Sergeant Matt Eversmann illustrates the importance of duty, courage and selfless service to succeed when ordinary circumstances become extraordinary challenges.

On October 3, 1993, Matt was placed in charge of a group of Army Rangers to lead a daytime raid against an eager enemy militia. Matt experienced the horrors of war when he and his fellow soldiers were trapped in a hostile district of Mogadishu and marked for death by an angry mob.  His inspiring story of survival was immortalized in the epic film, Black Hawk Down, which recounts the harrowing experience. For his actions on the battlefield he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device.

Matt returned from Somalia committed to teaching the next generation of warriors. During his remaining time in uniform, he worked at the Army War College, taught at The Johns Hopkins University and finally deployed to Iraq where he lived with the Iraqi Army for 15 months during The Surge. He remained on active duty until May of 2008, when he retired after 20 years of service. He is co-author of The Battle of Mogadishu and in February 2021, Matt and James Patterson released their first book together, Walk in My Combat Boots.

Committed to sharing the lessons he learned in the military, Matt draws parallels from his experiences to highlight the importance of leadership, followership, courage and responsibility within any team or enterprise. Most important is his desire to explain the dynamics of avoiding “strategic shock” where organizations are crippled by unforeseen disasters. 

Unambiguously humble, gracious and warm, his powerful story and straightforward insights on instilling these values stay with business leaders’ long after the applause has ended. His experiences in healthcare, non-profit, and data management industries have solidified his passion to prepare “average people to tackle incredible things.”

With presentations that leave an emotional impact, audiences take away a renewed sense of patriotism and inspiration for dedicating their efforts to a worthy cause.

Growing up, Cam dealt with academic and social challenges. Bullying and anxiety led him to join a boxing gym to protect himself. Cam had tried out but was unable to make any teams he tried out for. Boxing was the only available choice since no team had to be made.

Cam quickly fell in love with the sport. He realized his potential to be great and dedicated every waking moment to be the best boxer possible. Cam's mental toughness served as his superpower in the ring. Within 2 years in the sport in 2008, Cam won the National Championship claiming the title as the #1 Super Heavyweight boxer in the country.

Cam holds 4 Golden Gloves Championships, 6 US Championships, 3 PAL National Championships, 6 Ringside Championships, and 3 Olympic Trials. Cam holds the title as the Winningest Boxer in USA Boxing history. Cam's accomplishments are impressive but pale in comparison to the losses he has accumulated to reach this point. His story of resilience is so inspiring it's featured in the NETFLIX Original documentary COUNTERPUNCH.

During his motivational speeches he shares how he faced adversities in and outside of the ring with a Championship Mindset. Boxing is the greatest metaphor because everyone is fighting their own battles. This is what makes Cam's message so relatable.

"If you can fail without being discouraged, success becomes inevitable." Is a quote Cam lives by. Cam's secret to remaining resilient through ups and downs is keeping a positive mindset through practicing gratitude.

Cam has been featured in several print and internet publications and digital media outlets, including ESPN, Sports Nation, ESPN’s Highly Questionable, Washington Post, Yahoo! Sports, Team USA, Bleacher Report, Rolling Stone, SB Nation, Kansas City Star, SI.com, ESPN Radio, Fox4KC, Mashable.com, Boxing News Online, The Sweet Science, news.com, Viva La Vegan, National Post, among many others.

After several decades as a top salesperson in media and insurance sale, Will Bowen was teaching a class on prosperity in July of 2006. That summer morning, his life changed forever. Will handed out 250 purple bracelets inviting people to use them as a tool to eradicate complaining from their lives. His idea exploded around the world and, to date, more than 11 million purple Complaint Free bracelets have been distributed to people in 106 countries. Among others, Bowen has been featured on Oprah, NBC’s Today Show CBS Sunday Morning, The ABC World News Tonight, And Fox News Channel. The Complaint Free movement he began has been featured in thousands of newspaper and magazine articles including People magazine, Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, O magazine, Self Magazine and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Bowen personally presented the 6 millionth Complaint Free Bracelet to Dr. Maya Angelou. Will Bowen is a #1 International best-selling author; a multi #1 Amazon best-selling author; an award-winning speaker and trainer AND he is the world authority on complaining—what causes it, why we do it and how to get ourselves and others to stop.