Board Members

Mary Ann Owens (Executive Director)
Mary Ann Owens became involved with the Miss America pageant system in 1994 when her daughter Bree was a contestant. She has continued her love of pageants by working with the Miss Metro St. Louis and Miss River City Pageants as well as judging pageants in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and was honored to judge the 2005 Sweetheart Pageant. Mary Ann also serves on the Advisory Board for the Miss Missouri Pageant and the Advisory Board for the Missouri Outstanding Pageant. Mary Ann has been the Director, Membership Services for the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis, the largest council in the nation, for nine years. She was also the founding Executive Director of the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council and New Way Shlter. Mary Ann is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in Business Administration.


Bree Owens
Bree, past contestant in the Miss Missouri program, was a recipient of the non-finalist talent award for her ballet on pointe, non-finalist with the most points, and the community service award. She has been a member of the Miss Metro St. Louis Board of Directors for six years. Bree is a member of the Board for Missouri Outstanding Teen Pageant.



Brad Kolkhorst
Brad, who lives in St. Louis, is a Certified Public Accountant and is employed as a Defined Contribution Administrator by Aon Consulting in Clayton, Missouri. Brad has been on the Miss Metro St. Louis Board of Directors for 9 years. He has judged pageants in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. His hobbies include bowling and travel.



Kim Massaro Brinegar
Kim is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Missouri - St. Louis. She has a degree in Elementary Special Education with an emphasis in learning disabilities. In 1996, Kim was selected as Miss Missouri and went on to become the fourth runner-up to Miss America. Through the scholarships she was awarded at the state and national level, she is also pursuing her Masters degree in Instructional Technology. Since her year of service, she has been actively involved in the Pattonville School district in St. Louis. Kim was honored to be nominated for the Pattonville Elementary Teacher of the Year. In December of 1997, Kim became Mrs. Jeffrey Brinegar. She and her husband reside in St. Louis with their dog Sasha and are the proud new parents of their 2 daughters Alyssa and Olivia.


Phil Shipman
Phil is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is the owner of the award-winning Philip Johnson Salon in the Central West End district of St. Louis. He has served as President of the St. Louis Cosmetology Association as well as Education Director of the Missouri Cosmetology Association.




Amber Etheridge
Amber is a 2003 graduate of Missouri State University and a 1998 graduate of Mehlville High School in St. Louis, MO. In June of 2003, Amber was awarded the title of Miss Missouri 2003 and went on to be a top 15 finalist at the Miss America Pageant later that year. During her year, Amber drove over 40,000 miles to work on her platform of Rape Education and Prevention. Since she finished her year, Amber has gone on to work for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in St. Louis, MO. She now spends her work day helping raise money for blood cancer research and patient aid. Amber continues to stay involved with local as well as nationwide non-profits regarding her platform issue and is very excited to be involved with such an outstanding local pageant.


John Moran
John, a native St. Louisan, is Midwest Region Sales Manager for HHP, a New York-based data collection products manufacturer. John has been in sales & marketing management in the technology industry since 1982 and has worked for several fast growth companies during his career. John’s hobbies include bowling, golf, tennis, travel and biking. He got involved in pageants as a “pageant dad” and has been hooked ever since. John resides in South St. Louis County with his wife and best friend, Denise and their children Jamie, Scott and Sarah.


Jamie Moran
Jamie is finishing her Masters of Physical Therapy at St. Louis University. She will graduate in 2007 and plans to work as a pediatric therapist in the St. Louis area. Jamie works part-time at New Lady Fitness and is a dance instructor. Jamie was a three time preliminary talent winner, two time preliminary swim suit winner, second runner-up and first runner-up to Miss Missouri, and the 2005 recipient of the Miss America Community Service Award.