Simpkins Speaker Series

Save the Date: Jared Orton is November 2026 Speaker

Jared Orton

Jared is the president of The Savannah Bananas, an organization that has built a global brand by relentlessly putting fans first. At the heart of the Bananas' success is a simple belief: if you take care of the fans, the fans will take care of the brand. In this keynote, Jared shares the lessons, mindset, and practical principles behind building a fans first culture and how an unwavering commitment to creating an experience people love can turn a local organization into a global phenomenon.

When: Monday, November 9, at 10:45 AM

Where: Melbourne, Bldg. 16, 2nd Floor Conference Center

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Learn about Jared Orton

Jared has been the President of the Savannah Bananas since day one of the franchise. He regularly speaks to organizations and business leaders around the country to help them create their own Fans First Experiences. Jared currently lives in Savannah with his wife, Kelsey, and their daughter. He originally began working with Fans First Entertainment during the early days of the organization in Gastonia, NC before moving on to a minor league baseball team for two seasons.

Jared learned the ropes of the sports and entertainment industry in those early years where it became clear that a relentless focus on the fan experience could bring an organization to new heights. Building on that experience, Jared took on the challenge of leading the resurgence of baseball in Savannah, Georgia beginning in 2015 where a new team at a historic ballpark would become the Savannah Bananas. What now seems like an overnight success is over 11 years in the making. The Savannah Bananas packed out Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah for 5 straight seasons.

In 2021, the team embarked on a One City World Tour to Mobile, Alabama with their brand new game – Banana Ball – the fastest and most entertaining game in sports. Now, in 2026, the Bananas, along with new Banana Ball rivals – the Party Animals, Firefighters, and Texas Tailgaters will play in front of two million people across the country. Jared and the Bananas believe this is due to staying true to many of their foundational principles such as being Fanatical about the Fans, Playing the Long Game, Entertaining Always, Plussing the Experience, and more.

The November event also will include the presentation of the Bernie W. Simpkins Scholarship at 10:50 AM to EFSC students with an entrepreneurial focus. For questions about the series and Simpkins scholarship, call 321-433-7055.

Bernie Simpkins

Speaker Series Founder

Bernie Simpkins, Entrepreneur

The Simpkins Speaker Series was endowed by Bernie Simpkins to highlight the fundamentals and successes of entrepreneurship. Simpkins, who passed away on October 16, 2020, was a highly successful entrepreneur and Brevard County business leader.

Past Speakers

The Simpkins Speaker Series has included a who's who of the business world.

Browse the photo listing of those who have shared their wisdom through the series, beginning with the most recent speakers. For the events since 2012, a link to a news story is included. You can also view a list of speakers prior to 2012, stretching back to Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy when the Simpkins Series began in November 2001.

Jeff Henderson

Business Consultant and Author