Professional Speakers

Matt Graifer

Host and Chief Potassium Enthusiast | The Savannah Bananas

Engaging customers from first impression to lasting loyalty.

About matt graifer

Matt Graifer entertains always! He shares his experience as The Savannah Bananas Cast Director and in-game host to help businesses engage their customers in every aspect of the customer journey.

Better known as The Young Professor—who at this point has matured and is no longer a professor—Matt brings the energy and excitement to every field, every stage and media moment!

Aside from his electric on-field performances with the Savannah Bananas as an in-game host, he also serves as the organization’s Cast Director.  Matt oversees the recruitment, coaching, and management of performers across the Banana Ball Championship League. He also writes, produces, and directs live entertainment that has helped redefine the fan experience in sports. Every moment of customer engagement matters and Matt shares how the Bananas do it and how you can too.

His career began in education, where he became a college professor at just 25 years old and spent more than a decade teaching exercise science and later high school social studies. While teaching, he moonlighted as a trivia host throughout Central Florida, eventually adopting the memorable stage name “The Young Professor” and developing the larger-than-life personality and signature flashy suits that have become his trademark.

Before becoming a Banana, Matt added excitement into other sports entertainment working as a professional wrestling ring announcer and in-game host for the Jacksonville Sharks before adding MMA, boxing, Minor League Baseball, and NCAA athletics to his résumé. Professor has also hosted marquee events for the NHL, NASCAR, the PPA Tour, Major League Paintball, and ESPN, where he served as lead anchor for The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century during ESPN: The Ocho.

His announcing résumé includes introducing icons such as John Cena, Dirk Nowitzki, Terrell Owens, Andre Agassi, Ryan Howard, Kurt Busch, Goofy, SpongeBob SquarePants, O.A.R., Riley Green, and many more.

Matt lives in Florida with his wife, Shanna, and their children: Finn, Morrigan, Adam, and Lilian.

About
MATT GRAIFER

Matt Graifer entertains always! He shares his experience as The Savannah Bananas Cast Director and in-game host to help businesses engage their customers in every aspect of the customer journey.

Better known as The Young Professor—who at this point has matured and is no longer a professor—Matt brings the energy and excitement to every field, every stage and media moment!

Aside from his electric on-field performances with the Savannah Bananas as an in-game host, he also serves as the organization’s Cast Director.  Matt oversees the recruitment, coaching, and management of performers across the Banana Ball Championship League. He also writes, produces, and directs live entertainment that has helped redefine the fan experience in sports. Every moment of customer engagement matters and Matt shares how the Bananas do it and how you can too.

His career began in education, where he became a college professor at just 25 years old and spent more than a decade teaching exercise science and later high school social studies. While teaching, he moonlighted as a trivia host throughout Central Florida, eventually adopting the memorable stage name “The Young Professor” and developing the larger-than-life personality and signature flashy suits that have become his trademark.

Before becoming a Banana, Matt added excitement into other sports entertainment working as a professional wrestling ring announcer and in-game host for the Jacksonville Sharks before adding MMA, boxing, Minor League Baseball, and NCAA athletics to his résumé. Professor has also hosted marquee events for the NHL, NASCAR, the PPA Tour, Major League Paintball, and ESPN, where he served as lead anchor for The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century during ESPN: The Ocho.

His announcing résumé includes introducing icons such as John Cena, Dirk Nowitzki, Terrell Owens, Andre Agassi, Ryan Howard, Kurt Busch, Goofy, SpongeBob SquarePants, O.A.R., Riley Green, and many more.

Matt lives in Florida with his wife, Shanna, and their children: Finn, Morrigan, Adam, and Lilian.

MATT in action

Behind the Scenes feature from Rowan University

The Real Life Survivor Series Speech

Banana Ball Introduction

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Matt's Topics

“Entertain” means to provide enjoyment and amusement. Matt believes every business needs to look at themselves as being in the entertainment business. How can you create an entertaining and remarkable experience at every touchpoint? For example, when people buy a ticket from The Bananas, instead of getting a regular payment confirmation, they get a video sent to them. The "on hold message" is so fun that fans ASK to be put on hold. Parking -it's fun. Invoices, yes, fun!

Look at the normal and go the exact opposite. Turn the normal to extraordinary. Take the required to remarkable. Look at all the little touchpoints. What can you make it extraordinary or remarkable or wow? Matt shares his experience from The Savannah Bananas, as well as professional wrestling, football, basketball and even trivia nights to help your company elevate the customer experience.