Gentry Humphrey

How do you take a brand from big to huge? How do you make a brand part of the everyday lexicon? Gentry Humphrey, the man who helped make Air Jordans a standard wardrobe accessory, tells audiences how to move consumers by innovating, imagining and inspiring.

If you doubt the influence the Jordan Brand has had on popular culture, think about this: Before the first AIR JORDAN, basketball shoes were "low tech", simple and all white.

Inspired by the greatest to ever play the game, the BRAND JORDAN franchise continues to lead the footwear and athletic apparel industry in design and innovation. Gentry Humphrey has been influencing the brand's creative direction for the past 17 years.

AIR JORDAN 1: It all started here. A legendary franchise, as both a high-performance footwear line and a cultural icon, is launched. So revolutionary for its day, they are banned by the NBA for violating its "uniformity of uniform" rule. Michael wears them anyway, incurring a $5,000 fine per game. Today, the Jordan Brand is a billion dollar enterprise with Gentry spearheading and setting the vision for the business since 1997. Gentry set the creative direction for the brand, the designers, product developers, advertising agencies, and athlete selections. He drove the athlete and consumer insights that are at the core of the brand's success. And Gentry was a key architect in launching the Jordan Brand as a separate business unit from Nike, Inc. in 1997.

Today, as International General Manager, Gentry is responsible for leading expansion of Jordan Brand's cultural influence internationally.

Gentry has provided consulting services to the NBA and the NFL and been profiled on 60 MINUTES, CNBC, DESIGN CHANNEL, ESPN MAGAZINE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, SOLE COLLECTOR and FOOTWEAR NEWS. And Gentry regularly does motivational speaking engagements at universities around the country and for Fortune 500 companies.

Originally from Cerritos, California, a small suburb south-east of Los Angeles, Gentry was a tenacious basketball player known for his dedication and an ability to lead. True to form his dedication to school, allowed him to never miss a single day of high school and earned him a degree in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He paid his way through college by working for the specialty clothing retailer, Nordstrom. This experience provided his initial entry into the footwear industry and fulfilled his passion for sports and athletic footwear. Away from work, the golf course is his sanctuary, and his love of God and for his wife and two boys is his compass for life's journey.

Gentry Humphrey is the visionary mind behind one of the most successful brands in history. On the podium, he shares his story of success and his secrets for building a brand and reaching consumers. In a high powered multimedia presentation, Gentry shows you how to leapfrog the competition and slam-dunk your way to success.