Sheila Johnson

Sheila Crump Johnson
Sheila Crump Johnson
Born	January 25, 1949 (age 77); McKeesport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Business magnate, CEO, philanthropist, film producer
Known for	Co-founder of BET; CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts; Vice chairman and partner at Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Sheila Crump Johnson (born January 25, 1949) is a prominent American business magnate and billionaire, known for co-founding BET and leading Salamander Hotels and Resorts as its CEO.

She holds the position of vice chairman and partner at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, a sports management company that oversees the operations of the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA). As the chief executive of Salamander Hospitality, established in 2005, Johnson manages an extensive portfolio featuring Reunion Resort in Reunion, Florida, The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club—a sprawling 900-acre property with a 72-hole PGA Tour golf course located in Palm Harbor, Florida—Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina, Half Moon situated in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Aurora Anguilla in the British West Indies, and The Salamander Resort & Spa nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Middleburg, Virginia.

Early life

Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Sheila Johnson is the daughter of a neurosurgeon employed by the Veterans Administration and an accountant mother. She has one younger brother named George and is of mixed heritage including Italian, German, and African American ancestry.

Her education includes attending Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois followed by graduation from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Career

Alongside her first husband, Robert, Sheila co-established the cable television network Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979. The network was later purchased by Viacom in 1999 for $3 billion.

After selling her BET shares in 2002, she diversified her investments into hospitality, real estate, and equestrian ventures. In 2005, she launched Salamander Hotels and Resorts. Additionally, Johnson is a key shareholder in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which controls franchises including the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA).

Philanthropy

Johnson acts as a Global Ambassador for CARE, an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty worldwide. Her campaign Sheila's I Am Powerful Challenge successfully generated over $8 million in 2007 to support women's empowerment initiatives.

She serves as chairperson of the Board of Governors at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City and contributed funding to establish the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, which combines educational spaces with public areas. Her board memberships extend to VH1's Save the Music Foundation, Americans for the Arts, the School of Education and Human Development Foundation at UVA, and the University of Illinois Foundation. Furthermore, she is an Ambassador for the Healthy Site Institute, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and founder of the Sheila C. Johnson Center for Clinical Services at UVA.

Film

Johnson made her debut as a film producer with Kicking It, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. She also participated as one of 237 executive producers on her second project, A Powerful Noise, which was showcased at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Personal life

Sheila Johnson was married to Robert L. Johnson from 1969 until their divorce in 2002; they share two children. In 2005, she wed William T. Newman, Chief Judge of Arlington County Circuit Court, whom she had originally met years earlier during a theatrical production.

In recognition of her professional achievements and community impact, Johnson was named among the "Virginia Women in History" by the Library of Virginia in 2007.

In April 2021, Johnson co-established the Inclusive Growth Strategy Council under the umbrella of the Greater Washington Partnership, collaborating with figures such as Washington Commanders team president Jason Wright.

Awards

In 2012, Johnson was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal in recognition of her significant impact. She received the Lincoln Medal from Ford's Theatre Society in 2018, an award given to those who exemplify the principles of Abraham Lincoln. The subsequent year, she was presented with Illinois' most prestigious accolade, the Order of Lincoln, as well as the Billie Jean King Leadership Award from the Women's Sports Foundation.

Works

Walk through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph. Simon & Schuster. 2024

External links