The 2023 Manfred Steinfeld Humanitarian Award recipient

Shelia Lohmiller serves as CEO of NEWH, Inc., the Network of the Hospitality Industry, a premier nonprofit networking resource for the hospitality community. NEWH provides scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities throughout the industry.
A longtime hospitality design professional in Chicago and later southern California, Lohmiller helped start the NEWH Los Angeles Founding Chapter and has worked to grow membership, structure, and awareness for NEWH ever since—as a member and now as CEO. She is a driving force of NEWH domestically and globally, nearly 30 chapters strong, awarding more than $8.1 million in educational scholarships to rising professionals pursuing hospitality careers.

Educated at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Bellin School of Nursing, and Harrington College of Design in Chicago, Lohmiller has 40-plus years’ experience in the hospitality field. She became the first saleswoman for Falcon Products and was named West Coast Regional Manager in 1983, making her the first woman to be named manager for the company. She founded an independent furniture representation business, the Lohmiller Group, in 1984 in Los Angeles. Lohmiller cofounded the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality in 1984 with Dorrit St. John and Susan Spalding. She served as founding president from 1984 to 1986, and then Secretary of the NEWH, Inc. Board of Directors. Shelia was honored as the first recipient of NEWH’s Recognition of Excellence in 1992 for exemplary service to the organization. Shelia served as NEWH, Inc. executive director from 1993 until 2020 when she was promoted to CEO.