Sheila Johnson Popular Books
Sheila Johnson Biography & Facts
Sheila Crump Johnson (born January 25, 1949) is an American businesswoman, co-founder of BET, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, and the first billionaire African-American woman. Johnson is team president, managing partner, and governor of the WNBA's Washington Mystics, a position she earned before the 2005 season. On May 24, 2005, Washington Sports and Entertainment Chairman, Abe Pollin, sold the Mystics to Lincoln Holdings LLC, where Johnson served as president. She is the first African-American woman to be an owner or partner in three professional sports franchises: the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA). Johnson is CEO of Salamander Hospitality, a company she founded in 2005. Salamander's portfolio includes: Reunion Resort located in Reunion, Florida; The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, a 900-acre (3.6 km2), 72 hole PGA tour golf course in Palm Harbor, FL; Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina; Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica; Aurora Anguilla in British West Indies; and The Salamander Resort & Spa in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Middleburg, Virginia. Early life Sheila Johnson was born on January 25, 1949 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a neurosurgeon father who worked for the Veterans Administration, and an accountant mother. While attending Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois she was a cheerleader, serving as captain of the varsity squad in her senior year. She graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Philanthropy Johnson is a Global Ambassador for CARE, a humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Sheila's I Am Powerful Challenge raised over $8 million in 2007. She serves as chair of the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design in New York and funded the opening of the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, combining classrooms, public program spaces and galleries. She sits on the boards of VH1's Save the Music Foundation, Americans for the Arts, the School of Education and Human Development Foundation (formerly the Curry School of Education) at the University of Virginia, and the University of Illinois Foundation. Johnson is also the Ambassador for the Healthy Site Institute, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity. Film Johnson's first film, Kicking It, premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. She served as sole executive producer on her second film, A Powerful Noise, which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Personal life For 33 years from 1969 to 2002, she was married to Robert L. Johnson. Together they founded the entertainment network BET. They sold the company to Viacom in 1999. They have two children. In an interview, Sheila Johnson said she herself is "ashamed" of what the BET has become. "I don't watch it. I suggest to my kids that they don't watch it," she said. "When we started BET, it was going to be the Ebony magazine on television. We had public affairs programming. We had news... I had a show called Teen Summit, we had a large variety of programming, but the problem is that then the video revolution started up... And then something started happening, and I didn't like it at all. And I remember during those days we would sit up and watch these videos and decide which ones were going on and which ones were not. We got a lot of backlash from recording artists... and we had to start showing them. I didn't like the way women were being portrayed in these videos." After her divorce from Robert L. Johnson in 2002, she was estimated to be worth about $670 million. In 2009, Forbes magazine estimated her net worth to be $400 million. In May 2017, Johnson's net worth was placed at $750 million. On September 24, 2005, she married Arlington County Circuit Court Chief Judge William T. Newman, who had presided over her 2002 divorce. The couple first met three decades earlier when they acted in a play together. In 2007 Johnson was honored as one of the Library of Virginia's "Virginia Women in History" for her career and her contributions to society. Johnson is a Democrat, although in 2009 she endorsed Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell. In early October 2009, Johnson mocked the stutter of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds at a rally for McDonnell's campaign. She later apologized. In April 2010, Johnson condemned Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell for his proclamation honoring Confederate History Month because it omitted any reference to slavery. In April 2021, Johnson along with Washington Commanders team president Jason Wright formed the Inclusive Growth Strategy Council within the Greater Washington Partnership. Awards Recognized as an Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medalist in 2012, Johnson was honored as an individual whose far-reaching influence has made our world a better place. In 2018, Johnson received the Lincoln Medal which is given by Ford's Theatre Society to those who, through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy and mettle of character embodied by Abraham Lincoln. In May 2019, The Lincoln Academy of Illinois granted Johnson the Order of Lincoln award, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Illinois. In October 2019, the Women's Sports Foundation honored Johnson with the Billie Jean King Leadership Award. References Further reading Johnson, Sheila. Walk Through Fire (2023), autobiography External links Johnson's biography at the Library of Virginia Designer Luxury Silk Scarves, Wearable Art by Sheila Johnson. Discover the Sheila Johnson popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Sheila Johnson books.
Best Seller Sheila Johnson Books of 2024
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The Family Gift
Cathy Kelly'Honest, funny, clever, it sparkles with witty, wry observations on modern life. I loved it' Marian KeyesAn uplifting story about one mother trying to hold it all together told wi...
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Vengeance
Susan LewisKirsten Meredith is a successful, rich and beautiful woman who seems to have it all. But she is also a woman haunted by her past which threatens to ruin her life a lingering past ...
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The Wedding Party
Cathy KellyTHE NUMBER ONE IRISH BESTSELLER! 'A burst of warmth and wit, twists and turns' MARIAN KEYES on Other Women 'Warm, believable women with real, messy lives' RACHEL HORE on Other Wome...
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Single for the Summer
Mandy BaggotA fun, feelgood romantic comedy to read on the beach this summer, from Queen of Greek romance Mandy Baggot.Tess Parks has made up her mind: love isn’t for her.When it comes to dati...
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Lilac Skies
Shivani Bansal'Deeply personal and unique ... a refreshing read and would love to see more from this author' FIVE STARS'I was instantly lost in a story that spans many generations' FIVE STARS'R...
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The Best Days of Our Lives
Lucy Diamond'Deeply moving' Katie Fforde'Wise and wonderful' Veronica Henry'Compelling and beautifully written' Sarah MorganThe McKenzies are your average complicated family: knotted together ...
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Other Women
Cathy KellyDon't miss the stunning new novel from Cathy Kelly about sisterhood, love & friendship The Wedding Party is available to preorder now!'A burst of warmth and wit, twists and tu...
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Home for Christmas
Florence McNicoll2020's most perfect pickmeup! Home For Christmas is essential reading for animal lovers and readers who love uplifting, heartwarming and hopeful stories about second chances.Kathy ...
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Sharing a Laugh
Women of FaithLaughter is the best medicine, and the Women of Faith® speakers definitely know how to lose themselves in laughter. Laugh along with them as they share sidesplitting stories and hi...
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What I Told My Daughter
Nina TasslerEmpower yourself and the latest generation of girls with this collection of inspiring reflections from notable, highly accomplished women in politics, academia, athletics, the arts...
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The Marriage Mender
Linda GreenFrom the bestselling author of While My Eyes Were Closed and One Moment comes a powerful, emotional novel about how far we can trust those closest to us. 'Linda Green is bloody bri...
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The Pet Shop at Pennycombe Bay
Sheila NortonA heartwarming and uplifting tale of community, friendship and love to curl up with this summer – perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Milly Johnson and Jill Mansell.'A thoroughly ...
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The Stone House
Marita Conlon-McKennaEverything changes for Kate, Moya and Romy when they receive word that Maeve Dillon, their mother, is critically ill. It is time to return from Dublin, London and New York to Rossm...
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Old Sins
Penny VincenziPOWERTwo clever, stylish and ambitious women are fighting for control of a multimillion cosmetics empire. MYSTERYWhat is the secret that lies behind its charming, ruthless creator,...
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Reader I Married Me
Sophie TannerA sexy, feelgood, fun read for anyone in need of a boost, perfect for fans of The FlatshareAfter breaking up with the love of her life, Chloe's friends tell her she needs to get ba...
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My Teenage Diary
Harriet JaineEver wanted to pick the lock of a celebrity’s teenage diary?My Teenage Diary is a Radio 4 comedy show hosted by Rufus Hound featuring celebrities reading and discussing extracts fr...