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.

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

 

 

 

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

 

 


 

 

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

 

 

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