Dee Haslam

Susan "Dee" Haslam[3] (born Susan Bagwell on July 5, 1954)[1] is an American businesswoman, and the Founder and executive producer of the RIVR Media Companies. Dee is a co-owner of the Cleveland Browns, along with her husband, Jimmy Haslam. The Haslams are majority investors in the ownership group of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew SC. Dee is the CEO of the Haslam Sports Group. She is also part of the family ownership group of the Travel Center company Pilot Flying J.[4]

Dee Bagwell Haslam
Born
Susan Bagwell[1]

(1954-07-05) July 5, 1954[1]
Knoxville, Tennessee
US[1]
Alma materUniversity of Tennessee
OccupationMLS and NFL team owner, businesswoman, television producer
Net worthUS$1.8 billion (2013)[2]
Spouse(s)Jimmy Haslam
ChildrenJames, Whitney, and Cynthia
Parent(s)Ross and Sue Bagwell

Early life and education

Haslam is the daughter of Ross Bagwell Sr., and Sue Burchfield Bagwell. Ross Bagwell is a pioneer in cable television, having produced thousands of hours of programming. He built one of the largest privately held production companies in the United States before selling to Scripps Howard in 1994.

Dee was raised on Long Island in her early years while her father attended NYU and worked for NBC. Upon returning to Knoxville, she completed her elementary school at Bearden Elementary and then middle school at Cedar Bluff. She attended Farragut High School for one year before transferring to Webb School of Knoxville, where she was a classmate with Jimmy Haslam.

Dee studied violin, was a girl scout, and participated in sports and clubs in high school. She and her brother, Ross, were very close growing up and later worked together in the family business. Ross Bagwell Jr. died in 2008.[5]

After graduating from Webb,[6] Haslam attended The University of Tennessee, graduating with a B.S. in Education. She also minored in art and still paints as a hobby.[7][8]

In the spring of 1976, Dee and Jimmy began dating, and they married on December 11, 1976. They worked alongside each other in their respective family businesses throughout their careers. Partnering on finding store locations, business transactions, and major challenges. In 2012, they bought the Cleveland Browns and began their working together in earnest.

Career

At 17, Haslam began working for her father at Bagwell Advertising, answering the phone. As her father began to grow the production company, Cinetel Productions, she also worked on the production projects. While at Bagwell Communications, she was an account executive. In 1994, when the company was sold to Scripps Howard, Dee left along with her father and brother to form a new company: Bagwell Entertainment/Ross Television Productions. In 1998, Dee and Rob Lundgren partnered to acquire Ross Television Productions and launch RIVR Media. Lori Stryer joined Dee and Rob as a partner a few years later. Together they have produced such hits as Trading Spaces for TLC, Whale Wars for Animal Planet, and Renovation Realities for HGTV and DIY Network, and Escaping Polygamy for A&E.[9] Haslam is also senior executive for RIVR Digital and Nest Features.[4][10][8]

Haslam is a member of The Academy of Television Art and Sciences,[11][12][12] the International Women's Forum,[13] C200, and the Society of International Business Fellows,[14] She serves of the Executive board of directors of The United Way of Greater Cleveland, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The University Hospitals, Emerald Youth Foundation, Lakeshore Park, and the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business Advisory Council. In May 2017, she was appointed to the Board of ExcelinEd.[15][16], President of the Cleveland Browns Foundation, the Unify Project, and Cleveland Orchestra .[17][12][18][19][20]

As part of the NFL, Dee serves on the Legislative Committee, Conduct Committee, and Social Justice Committee.[21] She and Jimmy received the Tank Younger Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance for having built one of the most diverse front offices in all of sports.[22]

Honors and awards

Haslam received a Television Art and Science national Emmy nomination for her work with "Trading Spaces."[12][13] Her other honors include a Parents' Choice Award for Moving Picture Books,[13] a Genesis Award for Whale Wars, a Delta Delta Delta Community Volunteer Award,[12] a YWCA Tribute to Women Community Service Award,[12] a Junior Achievement Business Award,[12] the New York Festivals World Medal,[13] University of Tennessee Distinguished Alumni Award,[23] Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award,[24] and numerous ADDYs and Tellys.[12]

Personal life

Haslam is married to James A. Haslam III. They have two daughters Whitney Haslam Johnson and Cynthia Haslam Arnholt and 5 grandchildren.[25] She has a son James E. Oakley (also known as James Bagwell Haslam) from previous marriage.

They reside in Tennessee and Ohio.[4][26]

References
  1. "Birth reference results for Susan Bagwell Haslam". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  2. "Jimmy Haslam Makes Forbes Billionaires List," Knoxville News Sentinel, March 4, 2013. Retrieved: March 4, 2013.
  3. "Dee Bagwell Haslam ('86)". volsconnect.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  4. "People | RIVR Media". rivr.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  5. "Pioneer in cable television industry dies at 56". Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  6. "Webb Alumnae Dee Haslam, Sharon G. Lee Named YWCA Tribute to Women Honorees". July 7, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  7. mridenour. "Zest for life should serve new owner Jimmy Haslam well with Browns". Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  8. "Dee Haslam, Ross Bagwell Sr. receive KAMA's top honor". Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  9. ""Escaping Polygamy" Returns for a Powerful Second Season on A&E Network Sunday, July 10 at 10pm ET/PT". Aetv.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  10. "Dee Bagwell Haslam to Speak at Spring Commencement". Bw.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  11. "Dee Bagwell Haslam ('86)". alumni.utk.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  12. "Dee Haslam To Speak At Chamber Breakfast Archived November 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine," Chamber Life (Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce newsletter), Vol. 20, No. 3 (March 2007), p. 1.
  13. "WEF Event to Feature Famed TV Producer Dee Haslam," Akron Community Foundation website, March 12, 2014.
  14. "Member Press: Dee Haslam (TN, '09) Launches Film Studio Archived July 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine," Society of International Business Fellows website, December 4, 2012.
  15. "Dee Bagwell Haslam - ExcelinEd". Excelined.org. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  16. "Meeting to Kick Off Public Process for Lakeshore Park's Future Archived July 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine," City of Knoxville website, May 28, 2013.
  17. "Cleveland Browns Launch First and Ten Global Volunteering Platform Archived June 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine," Cleveland Browns official website, June 4, 2014.
  18. David Cheek, "Letter from the Chair," In 'Sconset, Fall 2010.
  19. Board of Directors, SCORE official website. Retrieved: June 25, 2014.
  20. "Emmy-Nominated Producer Dee Haslam To Be Featured At Women's Endowment Fund Dinner," Hudson (OH) Hub-Times, March 15, 2014.
  21. "Browns owner Dee Haslam discusses controversial draft pick Caleb Brantley: 'We feel like he's doing the right things to get better'". Ohio.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  22. "Jimmy, Dee Haslam Receive Paul 'Tank' Younger Award". Dawgsbynature.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  23. "UT College of Business Honors Alumni Haslam, Baron, Safavi". Tntoday.utk.edu. November 3, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  24. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. "New Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and his wife, Dee, buy Bratenahl mansion for $4.1 million". Cleveland.com. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
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