Experience & Leadership That Matters
Scott Johnson is a Partner with Ascendant Solutions, a Dallas based Private Equity firm focused on making investments in, or acquiring, quality U.S. based lower middle-market businesses in the manufacturing, distribution, service, healthcare, finance, and retail industries. Johnson is also the Managing Partner of Wheelhouse Ventures, a local investment firm with holdings in smaller diversified health care, retail, and entertainment businesses as well as real estate.
Previously Johnson served as Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Omni Hotels / TRT Holdings. Johnson was responsible for the overall direction of Omni Hotels’ development department, including sourcing, negotiating and closing all development related activities and with growing the Omni brand throughout the United States and internationally. During his tenure at Omni/TRT, Johnson was responsible for more than $500 million in real estate acquisition and development, including the acquisition of the famed La Mansion del Rio and the Watermark Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, and the development of the Omni San Diego Hotel. Johnson also lead the development of the $210 million Omni Fort Worth Hotel and Residences which will have an almost $2 billion impact to the Fort Worth economy and serves as a model for public/private development throughout the country.
Prior to that, Johnson spent time doing advance work on the campaign trail with former Governor George W. Bush during his 2000 Presidential campaign.
Service & Recognition
Scott Johnson currently serves the 120,000 citizens of Frisco on the Frisco City Council, having been elected in 2008. He has a proven record as a true fiscal conservative and has consistently fought for reduced spending in City Hall and against tax increases. His is often the lone vote against excessive spending measures, property rights infringements, and activist government. Johnson serves on the Legislative, Public Improvement District, and Grand Park sub-committees as well as various other committees and is a constant voice for Frisco in Austin.
Johnson currently serves on the Board of the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TexasOne) having been appointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2006, and was unanimously elected to serve as an Officer of the Board of Directors. TexasOne is the visionary public/private partnership created by Governor Perry to showcase Texas to top decision makers and business leaders worldwide as the premier business location and to promote economic development and job creation in Texas.
Johnson also served on the Leadership Team under former Secretary of State Roger Williams for the Republican Party’s “Texas Victory 2008” campaign. Additionally, Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief appointed Johnson to a one-year term on the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors for 2007.
Johnson was named twice, in 2005 and in 2010, to the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 under 40”, recognizing him as one of the top 40 business professionals under the age of 40 in the Dallas area.
Additionally, Mr. Johnson serves on the Collin College Education Foundation Board of Directors, the Board of the JD Kynerd Charitable Foundation, and has served on the board of numerous private companies.
Personal
Scott has been married to his wife Julia for 8 years. They have a 4 year old daughter, Finley, a 2 year old daughter, Palmer, and a 16 month old son, Creed. They have lived in Frisco for 5 years and plan on staying a lifetime. They are active members of Prestonwood Baptist Church.
Johnson is a four-time IRONMAN triathlon finisher, and has finished the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii twice. His athletic achievements and his personal story of success and determination following 4 spinal surgeries have been covered and highlighted by NBC Sports, the Dallas Morning News, and other publications and media.
Johnson grew up in Dallas, Texas, and is a graduate of Auburn University.