About

 

Johnny Schillereff is an artist, entrepreneur, and avid skateboarding philanthropist.

At four, Johnny Schillereff got his first skateboard and found his calling. Escaping the turbulent childhood dysfunction, Johnny began submerging himself in the underworlds of skateboarding culture, politically charged music, street art, and nature. Inspired by this positive, conscious movement, Johnny merged this unlikely marriage of the urban culture and the natural world - and founded Element in the early ninety’s and other supporting businesses.

In early 2001, Johnny sold Element, and it became part of a publicly traded company. He remained a key shareholder, the President, and a public figure for nearly two decades. The Element Brand went on to be sold in more than 100 countries, with flagship stores around the world, including Times Square New York, London England, Paris France, Tokyo Japan, Sydney Australia, Barcelona Spain, and Dubai, amongst others - in addition to being available in more than 10,000 wholesale accounts and e-commerce platforms worldwide. During his tenure at Element, Johnny upstarted and built skate camps across the globe in locations such as the United States, Spain, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. Along with creating Element, through his mission to grow the skateboarding industry, Johnny has employed and nurtured thousands of skateboarders and enthusiasts - and up-started, owned, and advised some of the world's most renowned athletes and skateboarding businesses.

 

In 2018, Element merged with a leading private equity firm to form the world’s largest action sports conglomerate. After nearly 30 years since Element’s inception, in 2020, he boldly decided to exit Element and its corporate culture to create higher conscious industry standards by pursuing his greatest philanthropic and entrepreneurial endeavor.

From that, he created The Heart Supply with his wife and children. The Heart Supply is inspired by his passion and deep understanding of the needs of the skateboarding community. A portion of sales from The Heart Supply provides skateboards to kids in need, allowing them to roll toward positive opportunities, health, and happiness. Johnny’s mission is to give kids the same gift he was given: riding their skateboards and being welcomed into the skateboarding community.

In 2020, Johnny collaborated with a world-class real estate developer, innovator, and business leader to bring the world's first international Action Sports and Active Lifestyle resort and community to life. The project spans across 3,000 acres and will include three hotels and 150 homes. In addition to this, Johnny also successfully opened a series of indoor Action Sports complexes. Johnny’s development projects include activities that have positively shaped his life and bring health, wellness, and happiness to people through mind, body, and spirit. Johnny’s destination initiatives showcase his continued ability to think and execute big and embody his greater vision to blaze new trails of creativity.

In 2022 Johnny Schillereff further affirmed his position as the most successful, impactful leader in skateboarding by becoming the CEO and President of USA Skateboarding. The world’s first official National Governing Body of the sport of skateboarding for the United States, Team USA, and the Olympic Games. In this role, Johnny represents skateboarding for our country and continues his mission to legitimize and grow the sport in a positive light on the world stage.

Today, Johnny continues his mission to mentor, inspire and empower the youth through skateboarding and art. He believes riding a skateboard is a creative, physical activity that sees no color, inspires equality, and builds self-esteem and awareness. The freedom and friendships developed from skateboarding are invaluable.

From being an East Coast skate rat and street artist to creating and growing the globally-respected and time-tested Element brand (that held the number one position for more than two decades), Johnny Schillereff’s mission is to continue to positively impact skateboarding with an ultimate goal of indisputably providing more skateboards to future generations of kids than anyone on earth.