Miss Missouri Volunteer Board of Directors

  • Mary Ann Owens, Executive Director

    Mary Ann was involved with the Miss America program for 25 years, directing four local titles in the Miss Metro St. Louis family. During her time on the board and as the Executive Director, the Miss Metro group had five titleholders win Miss Missouri in both the teen and miss pageants. She has also served as a judged at both the local and state levels across the country. Professionally, Mary Ann is the executive director of the Woman’s Safe House, the oldest domestic violence shelter west of the Mississippi. She lives in the historic Shaw neighborhood in St. Louis.

  • Bree Bowen, Marketing/Social Media

    Bree was part of the Miss America Organization for 25+ years as a contestant, volunteer, and judge. She has a background in dance and is a former Rams Cheerleader. Bree works in politics and has worked on the past three Presidential Campaigns and managed statewide and local races. She is a past board member of the Crime Victims Advocacy Center and served as the staff representative on the Board of Trustees at Saint Louis University. Bree has one son, Brett, who will be starting at Southeast Missouri State in the fall.

  • Rebecca Farris, Fundraising Director

    For over a decade, Rebecca worked in public policy, both locally and in Washington D.C. For the last decade, she has served on the board and is currently the Vice President of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association at Washington University. An Illinois native, Rebecca held various titles in the Miss America Organization. She has been judging pageants for 30 years at the local and state level and is a certified Miss America judge. Rebecca is an avid traveler and close to achieving her bucket list goal of visiting all 50 states.

  • Meri Lyn Bisch, Princess Director

    Meri Lyn has been involved in pageants for over 35 years as a contestant, pageant coach, judge, and volunteer. She was Miss Indiana USA 1990 and has served as Momager and #1 supporter for her three daughters; Charlee, Stevie, and Robbie who held multiple titles in various pageant systems. She is involved with the Miss Amazing program and resides in St. Louis with her husband, Steve. She recently went back to work as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines.

  • Phil Shipman, Finance Director

    Phil is a hairstylist with training in London, Amsterdam, and many educational institutions in the United States. He also served as the educational director for the Missouri Cosmetology Association. In 1992, he opened the Philip Johnson Salon/Spa in the Central West End where he spent time focusing on training and promoting his service providers in their career paths. He recently sold the salon and retired but stays active in professional organizations locally and nationally. Phil was a member of the Miss Metro St. Louis/River City Board of Director for over 25 years and has judged pageants throughout Missoouri.

  • Ashley Wicks, Contestant Director

    Ashley is a primary coach and administrative coordinator at Saint Louis Performance Academy. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas with an Honors B.A. in Political Science and Anthropology. After three years, she graduated early from the UofA to move back to St. Louis, where she recently graduated from St. Louis University School of Law.

  • Terri Rohlfing

    Terri has been a classroom teacher in art, English, speech, and literature for longer than she cares to admit. She has been recognized by the National Middle School Association as one of the nation’s “Teachers Who Make A Difference”. She has judged numerous speech contests and remained active in community and regional theatre where she has directed, acted, and taken on technical duties. Terri serves on the board of directors for MU’s Museum of Art and Archaeology and the Fayette Area Community Trust. She and her husband reside on their family farm in rural central Missouri where, as her husband, Chris, jokes, he “farms just enough to keep him out of trouble and out of extra cash.”

  • Brooke Sydenstricker McCarty

    Brooke is a Broker Owner of Weichert, Realtors – First Tier. She resides in Columbia with her husband, Jon, where they own and manage over 110 of their own properties. They have twin boys, Morgan and Mason, and a daughter, Bria, who was recently crowned Princess of America Junior Ambassador. Brooke also founded a committee in her children’s school that focuses on children’s needs that are not met. She was recently chosen as a candidate for the Women of Excellence Award in Columbia, MO.s here