Will Bowen: A Complaint Free World

In July of 2006, Will Bowen 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 sent 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.

Will personally presented the 6 millionth Complaint Free Bracelet to Dr. Maya Angelou who provided the forward for his book A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted.  That book has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide in 28 languages.

Will Bowen is a #1 International best-selling author; a multi #1 Amazon best-selling author; an award-winning trainer, the 2016 Purdue University Executive in Residence and he is the World Authority on Complaining—what causes it, why we do it and how to get ourselves and others to stop.

You'll hear Will expertly talk about:

• What's wrong with complaining?
• What is (and isn't) a complaint.
• Five reasons why people complain.
• How to get ourselves and others to stop complaining.
• How to be a positive leader in a negative world.

Dr. Sue Ellspermann
President, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

Dr. Sue Ellspermann has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, economic and workforce development, and public service. In January 2018, under Ellspermann’s leadership, Ivy Tech launched its new five-year Strategic Plan, “Our Communities. Your College. Pathways for Student Success and a Stronger Indiana.” The plan’s vision is for Ivy Tech students to earn 50,000 high-quality certifications, certificates, and degrees per year aligned with workforce needs.

In May 2016, she was selected to serve as President of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.  She is the ninth individual to hold the position and first female president for the college. She replaced Thomas J. Snyder who announced his retirement in September of 2015 after serving as President since 2007. Ellspermann assumed the role of President on July 1, 2016. Prior to officially assuming the role as President, Ellspermann visited all 14 regions and 22 different locations in June of 2016 as President-elect. She convened 52 small groups meeting with an estimated 750+ faculty and staff on a listening tour prior to July 1.

She most recently served as Indiana’s 50th Lieutenant Governor from 2013 until March of 2016. As the vice chair of the Indiana Career Council she led efforts to align Indiana’s education and workforce development system to meet the needs of employers which is her continued focus at Ivy Tech.  Her public service began in 2010 when she was elected as the State Representative for District 74.

Ellspermann formerly served as the founding Director of the Center of Applied Research and Economic Development at the University of Southern Indiana and also owned and operated Ellspermann and Associates, Inc, an independent consulting firm licensed in the training and facilitation of Simplex Creative Problem Solving.

Early in her career she spent time with Frito-Lay and Michelin Tire Corporation. Ellspermann holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Louisville in Industrial Engineering and a B.S. from Purdue University also in Industrial Engineering.

She is married to James Mehling, a former high school principal. She has a blended family of four daughters, three sons-in-law, three grandsons and two granddaughters.