Meet our Acceleration coaches
jeff evenson
CEO, Co-Founder, Acceleration Coach
Jeff Evenson is a 1990 graduate of West Point and holds an MBA from Washington University in St Louis. He spent over a decade in the Corporate World - trading stocks for a brokerage firm, managing portfolios for a boutique investment manager, managing pension funds, and facilitating business acquisitions at a Fortune 50 company. His passion is business ownership. He has owned, operated, and exited several companies from hair salons to aerospace manufacturers to smoothie shops.
He is currently an acquisition and acceleration coach, helping other people build generational wealth through business acquisition and ownership. Jeff is recently married and he and his wife have seven above-average kids between the ages of 19 and 25!
Phil sanders
Co-Founder, Acceleration Coach
Before Phil is a coach, he's a husband to Anna (14yrs) and a father to Ollie (9), Emmett (6), and Marigold (1). Recently, he moved from Atlanta to beautiful Chattanooga, TN, to get his kids closer to nature and family.
Phil is a born entrepreneur. As a kid, he sold his baseball cards to his little brother a premium, went door to door selling lawn services, and made custom tees for his sports team because he knew team moms were where the money is. He always saw the potential what things could be, not just what they are. At 17, he found his first mentor, and at 21, his first business coach. He always sought to learn from those who were ahead of him.
In 2010, Phil and Anna launched their first business, Three Pennies, a photography and design studio that helped small businesses with branding, commercial photography, and event photography. Those early years taught them the tough lessons of hiring, growth, and tax law.
In 2014, Phil opened Foster, a co-working space for solo creative entrepreneurs in downtown Atlanta. With over 50 members and regular events he became familiar with the patterns and challenges that creative entrepreneurs face. His passion grew for creating platforms where entrepreneurs could connect and expand their knowledge.
Phil's biggest venture, Citizen Supply, took off in 2015 at the prestigious Ponce City Market. This 12,000-foot retail store welcomed hundreds of thousands of people each year and provided a platform for independent purveyors to sell their goods. Over its six years, Citizen Supply contributed millions to small businesses, offered an exceptional experience to patrons, and gained national recognition.
In 2021, Phil made a bold decision to focus on his true purpose: being a catalyst for entrepreneurs to achieve the freedom they desire in terms of control, wealth, and time. Phil believes that building relationships is the key to overcoming obstacles, and he aims to be that supportive voice for as many business owners as possible.
Learn more about Phil at www.philsanders.co.
“iron” mike Steadman
Co-Founder, Acceleration Coach
“IRON” Mike Steadman is a Professional Acceleration Coach, Brand Strategist, and Business Author based in Newark, NJ. He’s a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, a Marine Officer, and a Hoover Veteran Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Mike has been featured in Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, and other national media outlets.
Mike’s entrepreneurial journey began in the trenches of Newark, NJ where he founded his venture, IRONBOUND Boxing, a nonprofit that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities for Newark youth & young adults. Mike and his partner Keith Colon, oversee the legendary IRONBOUND Boxing Academy, their free boxing gym for youth in Newark, NJ. In addition, Mike owns IRONBOUND Media, a brand strategy and podcast production firm for veteran-owned businesses.
Having experienced the transformative impact of having a business coach himself, Mike became a fervent advocate for business coaching. In 2023, he joined forces with his coach, Bill Watkins, along with Phil Sanders and Jeff Evenson, to launch Flawless Acceleration. Mike's ultimate objective is to cultivate a culture of excellence in all aspects of life—be it at home, work, or in personal growth. He firmly believes that the path to "Flawless Acceleration" necessitates a commitment to business acceleration, enhancing the mind-body connection, and adopting a champion's mindset.
bill watkins
Co-Founder, Acceleration Coach
Bill Watkins (USMA ‘77) has been called many things…and he’d say he deserves most of them.
No stranger to the top—or the bottom—Bill has accomplished what few have: West Point Graduate. Army veteran. Business leader. Successfully-exited serial entrepreneur. 10X Acceleration Coach. Supportive husband. Proud dad. Prouder Grandad. World-class athlete. The real deal. And a few he won’t mention here (but that doesn’t mean they are any less true).
As co-founder of Flawless Acceleration and previously as founder of The Lions Pride, he speaks the language of high performance and accelerated results to high-performance Founder CEOs, startup founders, and entrepreneur owners. With his arsenal of tools gleaned, distilled, and created from personal and professional experience, Bill shows small business owners how to get more—more money, more results, more happiness, more time, and more done—so they can add jet fuel to their business success and lead extraordinary lives at home at the same time.
Bill is married to his West Point sweetheart, Donna, and they split time between the ranch in Victor, Idaho, Tucson, Arizona, and visiting his awesome grandkids. When he’s not coaching badass business owners, you’ll find him climbing the Tetons, exploring the wilderness, and planning his next big adventure!