Stacy Helen Schusterman (born c. 1963) is an American heiress and billionaire businesswoman. The daughter of oil executive Charles Schusterman and his wife, Lynn Schusterman, she is the founder of deepwater drilling company Samson Energy.[1]
Stacy Helen Schusterman | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1963 |
| Alma mater | Yale University (BA) University of Texas at Austin (MBA) |
| Occupation(s) | Businesswoman, philanthropist |
| Spouse | Steven H. Dow (div. 2020) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Charles Schusterman Lynn Schusterman |
In addition to her work in business, Schusterman is active in the field of politics, and notably donated $1.55 million to advocacy group Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI).[2] As a philanthropist, Schusterman has donated to a number of ventures, and currently co-chairs the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.[1]
Early life
editStacy Helen Schusterman was born circa 1963.[3] Her father, Charles Schusterman (1935-2000), was an oilman who founded Samson Resources.[4] Her mother, Lynn Schusterman, is a billionaire philanthropist. She has two brothers, Jay and Hal, who live in Israel.[5]
Schusterman studied in Israel in 1983 before returning to United States to attend Yale University in 1985.[3][6] Schusterman later received a master in business administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.[3]
Business career
editSchusterman started her career at her father's oil and gas company, Samson Resources. She served as its chief executive officer from 2000 to 2011, when she sold it to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $7.2 billion.[3] During her tenure as CEO, Schusterman switched the company investments from clean gas to oil, shale gas and tight gas.[3]
Samson Energy
editAfter the buyout of Samson Resources, Schusterman founded Samson Energy, a deepwater drilling company whose main assets are on the Gulf Coast of the United States.[1][7] She serves as its chair and chief executive officer.[1] From 2019 to 2020, Samson Energy contributed $2.5 million to liberal groups.[8]
Samson Energy's activities in Cheyenne, Wyoming are reportedly controversial due to their proximity to populated areas.[2] In 2019, the Cheyenne Area Landowners Association voiced concern about the placement of Samson Energy drilling spacing units, which partially fell within city limits.[9] In opposition to Samson Energy's proposed expansion, Wayne Lax, the vice president of the association, cited a study by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment that found that fracking sites posed a health danger to individuals living within 2,000 feet.[10]
Granite Properties
editIn 1991, with Michael W. Dardick, Schusterman co-founded Granite Properties, a Plano, Texas-based real estate investment company.[3][11][12] The company owns buildings in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Denver.[13] By 2015, Granite Properties had an annual revenue of $182.7 million and 150 employees.[11]
Black Coral Property
editSchusterman is also the founder of Black Coral Capital, a Boston-based clean technology investment firm.[3]
Politics and philanthropy
editPolitical activity
editSchusterman is a top donor for advocacy group Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), and donated $1.55 million to the organization.[2] Schusterman has donated to a variety of political candidates, including Democratic politicians such as Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Shontel Brown and Republicans such as Senators Jim Inhofe and John Barrasso.[14] Schusterman serves on the board of trustees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).[15] Schusterman is a supporter of LGBT rights and has called for Congress to pass the proposed Equality Act.[16] Schusterman also helps fund National Parent Union and financial donor of most charters in Tulsa.[citation needed]
She supported Oklahoma State Question 820 to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma.[17]
Philanthropic activities
editSchusterman also serves as the president of Bezalel Foundation, a non-profit organization which endows Jewish causes,[3] and as a member of the BBYO board of trustees.[3][18] She also serves on the international board of governors of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.[19] During the 2010-2011 period, Schusterman endowed the Stacy Schusterman '85 Scholarship at her alma mater, Yale University.[6]
Alongside her mother Lynn Schusterman, she co-chairs the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, "the largest Jewish family foundation in America", with her mother.[1] Schusterman and her husband support the Winter Relief Program of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine and Moldova.[20]
Personal life
editSchusterman was married to Steven H. Dow.[21] The couple divorced in July 2020.[22] The couple have three children. Schusterman lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Nemes, Hody; Nathan-Kazis, Josh (September 29, 2014). "Schustermans' Deep Roots in Oil Make Foundation Divestment Unlikely". Forward. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ a b c Cunningham-Cook, Matthew (2021-07-16). "Oil and Gas Heir Funding Super PAC Attacking Nina Turner". The Intercept. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Resnick-Ault, Jessica (November 23, 2011). "Schusterman Caps Israel-to-Tulsa Oil Career With KKR Sale". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ Ovide, Shira (October 11, 2011). "Rich Family You've Never Heard Of Could Sell Their Company for $10 Billion". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ Sherman, Bill (July 26, 2014). "Tulsans in Israel see 'Iron Dome' in action". Tulsa World. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ a b "Nathan Hale Associates Scholarships". Leaders in Giving: A Newsletter for the Nathan Hale Associates. Yale University. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "History". Samson Energy Company. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Oil & Gas". www.opensecrets.org. OpenSecrets. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- ^ Eagle, Tom Coulter, Wyoming Tribune (27 December 2019). "Drilling plans near city limits raise concerns among landowners". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Drilling plans near city raise concerns among landowners". Associated Press. December 27, 2019.
- ^ a b "100 Best Workplaces for Women: 4 Granite Properties". Fortune. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "History". Granite Properties. Archived from the original on December 31, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Properties". Granite Properties. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Browse Individual contributions - Stacy Schusterman". FEC.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ "Meet the AIPAC leaders bankrolling the Bernie Sanders attack ads - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ Schusterman, Stacy (21 March 2021). "Column: Why Oklahomans must support the Equality Act". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ Gorman, Reese (February 24, 2023). "Criminal justice reform efforts driving fundraising in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana". The Frontier. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ "BBYO's International Board of Directors". BBYO. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Leadership". Hillel. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Protecting the Most Vulnerable in the FSU". American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ "Order Terminating Marital Relationship". District Court for Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma. 14 July 2020.