CLEVELAND (April 2, 2025) – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced John Jacobs, co-founder and chief creative optimist of Life is Good, as a featured speaker at the 60^th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla. Jacobs will address all attendees on Monday, June 9, at 4 p.m. ET, in the Association-Wide Featured Session sponsored by Ameritas.
 
"The Featured Sessions at the NACDA & Affiliates Convention are an important part of the programming because it brings all attendees together for a unifying experience that helps set the tone for the event and carry us forward with renewed enthusiasm," said NACDA President Ross Bjork, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director at The Ohio State University. "At this transformative time in our industry, it is critical that administrators listen and learn from their peers to navigate the changes that lie ahead. This session featuring John Jacobs will inspire and educate us to move forward together."
 
John Jacobs is co-founder and chief creative optimist of the $160 million lifestyle brand Life is Good. When he and his brother Bert started the company in 1994, they had $78 in their pockets, lived out of their van, and sold t-shirts on the streets of Boston.
 
It has been over 29 years since they sold their first t-shirt, but John and Bert champion the same mission: to spread the power of optimism. On their journey, they've been inspired by a vibrant community of resilient optimists who identify deeply with the brand and who constantly demonstrate the depth and meaning behind the three simple words, "Life is Good."
 
While John and Bert believe life is good, they also know life isn't perfect, which is why Life is Good donates 10 percent of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Playmaker Project, which helps over 1 million kids overcome the impact of poverty, violence, and illness each year. In making their company a fully integrated for-profit/non-profit model, the brothers hope to use their business as a vehicle to do good in the world.
 
Because of his unique perspective that ties rational optimism to business, John has been asked to share his transformative message at a wide range of corporate and thought leadership conferences including Inc 5000, Morgan Stanley, SAP Sapphire, Discover, and more. He and Bert have been featured in Forbes, NPR's How I Built This, CNNMoney, CNBC's Business Nation, ABC News' Nightline, NBC's The Today Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, and Men's Health Magazine, among others.
 
NACDA & Affiliates Convention attendees from all Associations are encouraged to attend Jacobs' Featured Session, which will also include recognition for several of NACDA's prestigious awards: James J. Corbett Memorial Award, NACDA Hall of Fame Class of 2025, and the Michael J. Cleary Merit of Honor Award.
 
Hotel and Convention registration for #NACDA25 is now live. Visit nacda.com/convention for more information.
 
About NACDA: Now in its 60th year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 24,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,300 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 19 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts and/or has a presence at seven major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.