George Dean Johnson, Jr

George is Founder and Chairman of Johnson Development Associates, Inc. He previously founded and served as Chairman of Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE), and as CEO of Extended Stay America, Inc. Prior to Extended Stay America, he was division president and a director of Blockbuster Inc. His extensive public board service includes Duke Energy, Norfolk Southern, AutoNation Inc., and Boca Resorts. He served as president of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1969-1974. Mr. Johnson received a B.A. from Wofford College and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina.