Events & AwardsOct 31, 2023
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Savannah Bananas Owner to Headline AGS Conclave 2024
Jesse Cole will deliver the opening keynote address at the American Gem Society’s main event next year.
Las Vegas—Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Savannah Bananas, will be the opening keynote speaker at Conclave 2024, the American Gem Society announced Wednesday.
Based in Savannah, Georgia, the Savannah Bananas is an exhibition baseball team—think the Harlem Globetrotters, but baseball.
Cole is credited with transforming the Bananas into the “greatest show in sports.” His creative method of making baseball fun has led to unprecedented success for the team, AGS said, with sold-out games, a waitlist of more than 600,000, and a global fan base.
The team has been featured on the Today show, CBS Sunday Morning, HBO’s Real Sports, and ESPN+.
“Jesse’s unparalleled success with the Savannah Bananas perfectly embodies the spirit of ‘Keeping Conclave Weird,’” said Denise Richards, chair of the AGS’s Conclave sub-committee.
“His novel approach to business aligns with our theme, encouraging us to embrace the unconventional and find joy in the unexpected. As we anticipate Conclave 2024, where each moment promises to be exceptional, Jesse’s insights will undoubtedly inspire and entertain our members.”
Related stories will be right here …
Based in Savannah, Georgia, the Savannah Bananas is an exhibition baseball team—think the Harlem Globetrotters, but baseball.
Cole is credited with transforming the Bananas into the “greatest show in sports.” His creative method of making baseball fun has led to unprecedented success for the team, AGS said, with sold-out games, a waitlist of more than 600,000, and a global fan base.
The team has been featured on the Today show, CBS Sunday Morning, HBO’s Real Sports, and ESPN+.
“Jesse’s unparalleled success with the Savannah Bananas perfectly embodies the spirit of ‘Keeping Conclave Weird,’” said Denise Richards, chair of the AGS’s Conclave sub-committee.
“His novel approach to business aligns with our theme, encouraging us to embrace the unconventional and find joy in the unexpected. As we anticipate Conclave 2024, where each moment promises to be exceptional, Jesse’s insights will undoubtedly inspire and entertain our members.”
Conclave 2024 is scheduled for April 15-17 in Austin, Texas.
In addition to Cole, AGS has revealed the names of additional keynote and featured speakers. They are as follows.
Monday, April 15
While Cole is the day’s keynote speaker, Rachel Tipograph will be the featured speaker. Tipograph is the founder and CEO of MikMak, an e-commerce marketing platform for multi-channel users.
Tuesday, April 16
Breakfast keynote: Mick Ebeling, founder of Not Impossible Labs, will discuss pragmatic innovation using technology and storytelling to create life-changing devices.
Featured speaker: Tasha Eurich, a New York Times best-selling author and organizational psychologist, will provide insights on thriving in a dynamic world.
Wednesday, April 16
Breakfast keynote: Peter Katz, a Juno and Canadian Screen Award-nominated singer-songwriter renowned for transformative “keynote concerts,” will inspire connection and shared vision.
Titleholder luncheon keynote and featured speaker: Sylvie Di Giusto, an internationally acclaimed speaker, will explore modern emotional intelligence, guiding audiences to understand perceptions, choose behaviors, and achieve optimal outcomes. Di Giusto is also the featured speaker that day.
“Not only do we have an incredible lineup of professional and industry speakers innovative, we have so many fun, different, and yes, weird experiences planned for our members,” Richard said. “Conclave Austin is going to amaze and delight attendees!”
To learn more about Conclave’s keynote and featured speakers or to register for the event, visit the AGS website.
AGS members can save $200 with early-bird registration, sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America.
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