Shannon Johnson

I am the Marketing Director for Virginia State Parks and manage marketing, advertising, and public relations for the 36 (soon to be more) state parks. I moved to Virginia in 2012 from New York City where I worked for 16 years, and was lucky to have found the job I have. I was able to continue to do what I love – build successful brands, create awareness, develop procedures to enhance the way businesses work, create buzz and a dedicated following, think creatively and turn ideas into reality – but now for some of the most beautiful parks where our meetings and business takes place surrounded by nature. I’m a lucky gal.

I’ve been the outdoorsy type all of my life, and spent most of my childhood outside acting out my tomboy ways - climbing trees, mowing the lawn with my Dad, playing all types of sports, acting like I was one of the boys with my brothers and their friends, rescuing animals (like the baby squirrel we found in our front yard), finding bugs with my Mom and walking bare feet in the grass (something I still do to this day). This had everything to do with my Mom and Dad. We were not a stay-in-the-house kinda family, and I’m passing that on to my son.

I grew up and replaced my cleats with high heel shoes, but I’m still that same girl at home and with my loved ones. One of my favorite smells is the smell of rain, and one of my favorite sounds is birds singing first thing in the morning.  (I also really love silence and the smell of freshly brewed coffee, hot waffles, sweets baking…oh goodness, now I’m hungry!)

When I’m not at work for the parks (or at the beach or in my kitchen cooking or baking), I’m busy with my many other jobs – most importantly Mom to my 4 year old son and wife to my hubby of six years. I’m also a freelance food critic for the Virginian-Pilot, which allows me to explore my love for food and writing, and I host a local music and entertainment showed called BME Presents, where I get to show my sassy side and interview some really cool people. I reside in Hampton Roads with my two guys and our fish named Fish. (What can I say? My son named him. It’s genius!)

I hope to see you out in our parks. Until next time…