Suncera Johnson, an author and entertainment industry veteran, and Britnie Turner, the founder and CEO of Aerial, a Nashville-based residential and commercial development company that aims to revitalize urban neighborhoods and tackle social issues, will be honored at the 2019 Celebration of Inspiring Women on Monday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Conference Center. The event is part of the ninth annual Women's Leadership Conference and Celebration of Inspiring Women presented by Women in Philanthropy and Leadership (WIPL) for Coastal Carolina University. Johnson and Turner are also scheduled to speak at the Women's Leadership Conference on Feb. 5. For more information, visit wiplconference.com.

The annual celebration and awards were created as an important and lasting way to recognize women who have had a substantive and positive impact in South Carolina and beyond. Since the program's inception in 2011, 41 women have been recognized, including Amber Campbell, Gloria Gaynor and Wendi Nix.

Johnson, who lives in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., survived an upbringing beset by alcoholism, addiction and religiosity while rebounding from young single motherhood marred by excommunication, poverty and hopelessness. She found strength through her relationship with God.

With no college degree or formal training, Johnson began her career as a temporary administrative assistant at Spike TV. Her work now spans across companies such as Atlantic Records and MTV along with credits on top-rated television shows on ABC, NBC, FOX, VH1, OWN and more. She is a member of the Producers Guild Association, New York Women in Film & Television, and the National Association of Television Program Executives.

Johnson is the founder and CEO of amass digital, a digital advertising agency that has worked with companies such as iHeart Media, CBS Digital and Townsquare Media to deliver targeted digital co-branded campaigns affiliated with Fiat, Grand Marnier, McDonald's, Vitamin Water, Nickelodeon, Mazda and other major firms.

Her I.D.E.A. method of audience development teaches brands to identify, develop, engage and amass an audience across social media using targeted ad campaigns. She also is the author of "Dear God: Passionate Prayers in 140 Characters or Less" and is developing the book series "Talks with God: 30 Days of Inspiration." As part of the founding team of a YouTube multi-channel network, Johnson played an integral part in launching and growing audiences on channels such as LIVES with Meredith Vieira and JAY Z's Life+Times.

A native of North Augusta, S.C., Turner bought her first house as a teenager during the 2007 recession. She was working at the Cheesecake Factory at the time and spent every free moment in the kitchen reading various real estate investment books. After moving to Nashville two years later, she worked without pay for a couple of real estate investors for nine months just to learn the business, sometimes living in her car. She started flipping houses on her own, wearing multiple hats as homeowner, agent and rehabber, and her real estate career took off, quickly growing into a multi-million-dollar business.

Turner founded Aerial in 2009 at the age of 21 with the mission of elevating people and places. She has since formed multiple companies under the Aerial brand, all accelerating the mission by empowering people, sustaining the planet and utilizing capitalism as a force for good. Aerial is focused on mindfully revitalizing the urban core by donating a percentage of its profits to support nonprofit organizations in its community and sponsoring an orphan in Kenya for every home it sells in the name of the homebuyer. Through the success of her companies, Turner is resetting the standard of what is possible for women and young people across the globe. She has won several national and international awards for speed of growth, innovation and trajectory.

The Women's Leadership Conference and Celebration of Inspiring Women brings together women from all walks of life for two days of education, professional and personal development, and networking. Entrepreneurs, professionals, community volunteers and activists, students, moms, and women in transition all enjoy this dynamic program with incredible opportunities to learn and grow.

WIPL was founded in 2007 under the leadership of CCU first lady Terri DeCenzo. It is committed to inspiring, connecting and empowering women to strengthen their individual and collective voices in leadership at CCU and in the community, state, region and beyond. Members include faculty, staff and community leaders who are committed to creating and supporting opportunities for women in all areas of leadership and across all disciplines, while continuing to invest in scholarships for CCU students. Since its inception, WIPL has awarded 210 students more than $260,000 in financial support through a fully endowed scholarship and annual awards.