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| VANBROS
and Associates Inc. holds the State Licenses for the
MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® State
Pageants in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and
Nebraska. |
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John
M. Vannatta, Jr.
President • Executive Director
John
M. Vannatta Jr. is President of VANBROS and Associates,
Inc., which holds the State Licenses for the MISS USA® & MISS
TEEN USA® State Pageants in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri,
Oklahoma, and Nebraska. He serves as the Executive
Director of the Pageants. During the 2001 MISS USA
pageant the Miss Universe Organization recognized John
as the Outstanding Director of the Year.
VANBROS
and Associates, Inc., acquired the license for Kansas
in 1992, Missouri in 1993, Oklahoma in 1997, and Nebraska
in 2002. During this time, he has written and produced
4 live telecasts in Kansas, including the pre-recorded
prize package, contestant activities, and host city
special segments. Under his direction, these four states
have produced two national MISS TEEN USA winners, one
MISS USA winner, a 1st runner-up to MISS UNIVERSE,
two national 1st runners-up, four national 2nd runners-up,
four national 3rd runners-up, two national 4th runners-up,
one national 5th runner-up, fifteen national semifinalists,
and twelve national honorable mentions (11th-15th place,
prior to 2003). Of 79 young women who have competed
at nationals as a VANBROS girl, 43 have finished somewhere
among the top 15. VANBROS titleholders have also brought
home national awards for, Teen with Style, Miss Photogenic,
Miss Congeniality, Most Beautiful Eyes, and Best State
Costume. John has enormous pride in the 80 young women
who have been VANBROS titleholders, and he attempts
to not only serve as director for his titleholders,
but a mentor and a friend.
His
goal for the state pageants is that they provide a
forum in which young women can gain more self confidence,
improve themselves as individuals, and make an impact
in their community. He believes that it's important
for young women who compete in pageants to be able
to feel as though they are better individuals the day
after the pageant, than they were the day they decided
to enter. John uses the pageant to encourage his titleholders,
as well as all the contestants, to become socially
aware and active. After it is all said and done, he
feels that all of the contestants are winners by virtue
of their preparation for, and participation in the
pageant competition.
John
is a graduate of Jersey Village High School in Houston,
Texas, where he was a member of the Varsity and All-District
Swim Teams. Following High School, he attended Houston
Community College, and Johnson County Community College
as an honor student before finishing his undergraduate
work at the University of Kansas. He holds Bachelor's
Degrees in both Political Science and Sociology, with
a minor concentration in History.
Prior
to his founding of VANBROS & Associates, Inc.,
he worked in Real Estate Management. He enjoys reading,
swimming, attending baseball and hockey games, and
is a huge KU basketball fan. He resides in Overland
Park, Kansas.
john@vanbros.com
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Jason
D. Vannatta
Vice President • Executive Director
Jason
Vannatta is Vice President of VANBROS and Associates,
which holds the State Licenses for the MISS USA® & MISS
TEEN USA® State Pageants in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri,
Oklahoma, and Nebraska. He graduated with a degree in
Graphic Design from the University of Kansas. Prior to
joining VANBROS full time in March of 2004 Jason worked
in the Association industry for 7 years as a Creative
Director. He is responsible for all visual communication
projects including designing and maintaining the VANBROS
Web sites. Jason also serves as Creative Director for
Greenwood Productions Inc. (TN, GA) and Crown Productions
(DE, CT), and does design work for USA state pageants
in CA, AZ, IL, MD, MI, NJ, OH and RI. If you are interested
in obtaining his graphic design or Web related services
he can be contacted through the pageant office.
jason@vanbros.com
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Jennifer
I. Vannatta-Fisher
Executive Director
Jennifer
graduated from the University of Kansas in 1996 with
a degree in Journalism. She went on to work for KQTV
as an anchor, reporter and producer from 1996-1998. She
left her job as a journalist to pursue her dream of becoming
Miss Kansas. On June 6, 1998, that dream came true. Miss
Greater Kansas City was announced as the new Miss Kansas!
Jennifer was also a Preliminary Swimsuit Winner, the
Interview Winner, and received the Tara Dawn Holland
Community Service Award for her work with the Kansas
City Promise Alliance for Youth.
Jennifer
was blessed with the opportunity to represent Kansas
in the 1998 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. During
her reign as Miss Kansas, Jennifer traveled nearly 75,000
miles speaking in schools. She shared with over 10,000
children, the importance of living their dreams, and
the importance of volunteering in their communities.
She's incredibly grateful for the ways God blessed her
life through all of her pageant experiences. "Through
each experience, I improved my self-esteem, communication
skills, and talents. I also learned a lot about my faith,
and just how much Jennifer Vannatta can really handle."
Because
of the positive ways Jennifer's participation has impacted
her life, she desperately wanted to stay involved in
pageantry. When she gave up her title in 1999, she joined
the VANBROS staff helping her brother John. She and John
work as a team to build the program, and make it a positive
opportunity for young women all over Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, and Oklahoma. "This isn't about dresses, heels,
jewelry, or the 'stuff' at all. It's about providing
young women a way to step out of their comfort zones
that will inevitably help them grow. It's about providing
an opportunity that helps to enrich their lives, through
building more self-esteem, interview skills, friendships,
physical fitness, and making valuable contacts. It's
about making an impact, and encouraging them to make
an impact as well. The "PAGEANT," is just our vehicle
in which to do all of this!"
On
February 7, 2004, Jennifer married her long-time love
J.C. Fisher. They met at the 1997 Miss Kansas Pageant
when she was a contestant and he was a featured performer.
The wedding was classy, elegant and romantic. It was
a wonderful moment for Jen and J.C. who patiently waited
for the right time to finally marry. Many friends and
family were able to attend the ceremony, including several
former titleholders. Jennifer and JC make their home
in Overland Park, Kansas. She continues to work for Vanbros
while he travels the world as a classical vocalist (www.jctenor.com) When
their schedules permit, they love taking trips together.
jen@vanbros.com
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Janet
Parkes
Operations Coordinator
Janet
Parkes has been a part of the VANBROS and Associates
Inc. team for the past 6 years. She is involved with
daily operations and internal coordination. Janet
also serves as Operations Coordinator for Greenwood
Productions (TN, GA). Janet has five children and
is the proud grandmother of Kala. She is very active
in her church and has been married to her husband
David for 29 years.
janet@vanbros.com
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