Speakers
Sheila C. Johnson, Founder and CEO
Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Sheila C. Johnson is an entrepreneur and philanthropist whose accomplishments span the arenas of hospitality, sports, TV/film, the arts, education, women’s empowerment and community development.
As Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, Ms. Johnson oversees a growing portfolio of luxury properties in Virginia, Florida and Louisiana. The equestrian-inspired Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, opened in 2013 and has since been recognized as one of the country’s finest properties. The collection features three of the top golf resorts in Florida: Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Reunion in Orlando and Innisbrook in Tampa Bay, and also includes the new Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida, and NOPSI Hotel in New Orleans, which opens in 2017.
As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Ms. Johnson is the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, for which she serves as President and Managing Partner. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association.
Ms. Johnson is a partner in ProJet Aviation, a comprehensive aviation service company specializing in aviation consulting, aircraft acquisitions, management, and charter services. She is also a partner in Mistral, the makers of fine bath, body, and home products; and in November 2012 launched her own collection of luxury scarves, inspired by her travels around the world and manufactured in Italy. In 2013, in recognition of her entrepreneurial success, she was invited to serve as a judge for Ernst & Young’s World Entrepreneur of the Year Award—the only judge on the international panel to represent the United States.
Ms. Johnson has long been a powerful influence in the entertainment industry, starting with her work as founding partner of Black Entertainment Television. She has served as executive producer of four documentary films, including Kicking It, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival; A Powerful Noise, which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival; She Is the Matador; and The Other City, a critically acclaimed portrayal of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Washington DC, which premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. She also helped finance the Screen Actors Guild nominated feature filmThe Butler, directed by Lee Daniels and distributed by Harvey Weinstein.
A fervent supporter of education and the arts, she serves on the Board of Governors of Parsons The New School for Design in New York, and is a member of the Leadership Council at Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership (CPL). She is also a board member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, as well as founder and chair of the Middleburg Film Festival, a celebration of independent film that opened to sell-out crowds in October 2013.
From 2006 to 2009, Ms. Johnson served as global ambassador for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that combats global poverty by empowering women. She also served as a member of Accordia Global Health Foundation’s International Council, rallying support for the foundation’s efforts to overcome the burden of infectious diseases in Africa. In recognition of her humanitarian efforts, she was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal in 2012.
An accomplished violinist, Ms. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Illinois, as well as honorary degrees from numerous other institutions. She lives in Middleburg, VA, is married to the Honorable William T. Newman, Jr., and has two children.
Judi Holler, Personal Branding Expert
Judi is an expert on personal branding who helps Event Professionals learn how to expand their network, embrace fear and get a competitive edge. Judi has spent the last 15 years working in Sales and Marketing for companies like Marriott, Omni and Starwood Hotels. She was recently selected as one of Connect Magazines 40 under 40 in the Hospitality Industry and is the immediate Past President of MPI Chicago.
Judi is a professionally trained improviser and proud alumni of Second City in Chicago. Judi also works as an event emcee and hosts “The Brandprov Show” (a personal branding video blog for event professionals) on her YouTube Channel. Judi is a proud member of the National Speakers Association; is a total book worm; loves traveling, hip hop, her Yoga mat and the hustle. She says enough with the boring bio. Let’s Brandprov!
Mallory Ward, Director
APCO Worldwide
Mallory Ward is a director in APCO Worldwide’s public affairs practice in Washington, D.C. She specializes in issues management, public affairs, media relations, stakeholder engagement and crisis response. Ms. Ward works with clients on public policy and consumer issues, creating strategic communications campaigns tailored to each individual client’s goals and objectives.
Ms. Ward’s experience spans work with consumer brands, Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and not-for-profit organizations with a focus on travel and transportation. She has counseled clients on ways to reframe the debate, drive media coverage and focus policymakers on key issues.
Ms. Ward works with Meetings Mean Business, an industry-wide coalition to promote the value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities. Working with the coalition’s leadership she helps to set the organization’s strategic direction and implement its communications and advocacy programs.
Ms. Ward’s work on behalf of clients has been by recognized with a PRSA Silver Anvil Award, two Gold Sabre awards from The Holmes Report and a Social Media Icon Award from PR News.
Ms. Ward earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York City.
Bryan Kennedy, Singer, Songwriter, Author, Playwright, Actor and Speaker
Bryan was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. However, he grew up
in Tennessee in the Nashville area. Early on Bryan found his gift in the form
of athletics. He earned a football scholarship to the University of Mississippi
where he became the starting defensive end for three years. Bryan’s senior year
he was awarded the John Howard Vaught award of excellence. He left the
University of Mississippi in 1983 six hours short of his degree, something that
would haunt Bryan endlessly. So, twenty years later Bryan would enroll in
college once again to obtain his degree in Broadcast Journalism. Bryan, went
back to Ole Miss to walk the line, and graduated in the spring of 2003. Bryan
enjoys traveling to Oxford, Ms. to perform and watch the Rebels play ball.
Bryan began his musical quest as a song plugger for his
father, and later for Ricky Skaggs, and The Statler Brothers. He attributes his
writing know how to hearing all the great songs he got to hear daily while
being a son to a legendary record producer Jerry Kennedy, and to growing up in
the same house with a mom (Linda Kennedy) who was singing and recording records
as a teenager, and two brothers who would become most influential in Bryan’s
life and in his career. (Gordon and Shelby Kennedy)
Bryan has written over ten songs that appear on numerous
Garth Brooks records, including three #1 radio hits; “Good Ride Cowboy”, “The
Beaches of Cheyenne,” and “American
Honky Tonk Bar Association.” In addition, Bryan served as the opening act
for Garth Brooks performing in front of over three million people in two years.
You will always find Bryan working on something new.
Currently Bryan is working on the North American leg of a three year World Tour
with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. He makes his home on the gulf coast of
Florida, where he somehow finds time to perform as a singer while he continues
to write books, serve as a keynote speaker and offer his experience as a
certified Life Coach.”
