b'MRCA CONEXPO HighlightsMRCA Keynote Speaker Daniel CormierA MAN WHO HAS LIVED BY MANY TITLEST he MRCA Conference & Expo has had some amazing Keynote Speakers over the last several years,butnonecomparetotheKeynote speech given this yearby Daniel DC Cormier. Danielhaslivedaninspiringlife,havingstarted fromhumblebeginningsandliterallyfighting his way to the top. Like many successful people, Cormier faced his share of trials, but rather than be defeated by them, he rose from the darkness that accompanies such hardships and made a career in the light. Daniel Cormier is a man who has lived by many titles. NorthsideHighMightyViking,ColbyCommunity College Trojan, Oklahoma State Cowboy, UFC Light HeavyweightChampion,andUFCHeavyweight Champion to name a few. He is a man known not just for his MMA skills and wrestling background, but for his fighting spirit. He grew up with many hardships, from losing his father as a child to losing his daughter when she was just a child, but because of those hardships, he became the outstanding example of resilience he is today. He came to Kansas from Louisiana and wrestled for Colby Community College from 1997-1999 where he wrestled for Head Coach, Steve Lampe. His time in Kansas may have been short, but it was a springboard for his career to come. Cormier moved on to Oklahoma State University to wrestle for the legendary John Smith. After two seasons with the Cowboys, Cormier finished with a record of 52-10. Cormier did not stop at college wrestling. He joined the international scene representing the U.S. as the national champion from 2003-2008. He competed in the Olympics in 2004 and served as team captain in 2008 (he could not compete due to injury).At the close of the Olympics, Cormier still had a thirst for competition and decided to try his hand at mixed martial arts. He made his debut for the UFC in 2013 after competing for smaller promotions, and the rest is history. In the years since entering the octagon for the UFC, Cormier has defended his title as Light Heavyweight Champion and gained the new title for Heavyweight Champion, making him one of only three fighters to have held two UFC championships at the same time. Outside the octagon, Cormier started a wrestling program for kids to help show children that wrestling can present a great opportunity for the future (which is so clearly chronicled by Cormiers own life).12 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'