BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Marianne Hamilton
Ms. Senior Italy Universe 2019
Ms. Senior Universe 2021-2022
Member, World Senior Games Hall of Fame
SPG Pageant Executive Director
Chair, Board of Governors
Marianne Luchessi Hamilton is a lifelong journalist whose work has appeared in national and regional publications covering the entertainment, food and wine, and high-tech industries. She is also a fitness instructor and athlete who has earned more than 40 gold medals in race-walking competitions across the US. She is race director for the race walks and power walks at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. Marianne devotes much of her time to volunteer work, serving as board chair for the Art Around the Corner Foundation, co-founder and co-director of the United States Power Walking Association, co-director of the Southern Utah Wine Guild, and special events manager of the Docutah International Documentary Film Festival. In December of 2019 Marianne was crowned Ms. Senior Italy Universe, and in October of 2020 she received the title of Senior Games Ambassador at the Ms. Senior USA pageant. In 2021, Marianne was inducted into the World Senior Games Hall of Fame, and in 2022, she won the title of Ms. Senior Universe, and followed that with a multi-platinumageant, international win in the Fitness Category. In 2023, Ms. Hamilton earned the position of Pageant Executive Director. Most importantly, she is celebrating being a breast cancer survivor, and credits her commitment to fitness as the key to her successful outcome.
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Caren Mislinski
FOUNDING MS. SENIOR MICHIGAN
MS. SENIOR USA At-Large 2016
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Caren Mislinski is the Founding State Queen from the State of Michigan. Her unique skill set made her the obvious choice to Chair the Public Relations and Communications Committee along with Board Member Connie-Ross-Karl. Caren was born in Michigan, and currently lives in Harrison Township. Chrysler Headquarters in Detroit is where Caren’s career was fueled. She gained valuable experience in the Customer Relations Department. Caren authored and presented the “National Customer Relations Best Practices. Due to the trust and respect Caren earned, she often assisted in the CEO’s office. Caren received numerous awards and letters of accommodation. Caren went back to collage at age 50 to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baker Collage. Following her retirement from Chrysler, Caren worked another five years as Assistant to the CEO for the Heinz Prechter Company, America Sunroof Corporation. Currently, Caren and her husband are designing and building homes. Caren believes now is the time to give back and inspire others. Volunteer priorities for Caren are Veterans, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity.
Elizabeth Purtee
MS. SENIOR UN AMBASSADOR 2016
Ms. Senior USA - West 2016
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Elizabeth attended college at the University of Salamanca, Spain, allowing her to work on one of her five spoken languages. Elizabeth’s work includes presenting seminars nationwide to medical professionals and being a TV and radio spokesperson. Her interests include traveling, ballroom dancing, weight training, bicycling and Toastmasters, where she has become an award-winning speaker. While Elizabeth’s accomplishments have been many and varied, her greatestjoy is her family of 5 beautiful children and 8 adorable grandchildren. A Founding Member of the Board of Governors of Ms. Senior USA and Ms. Senior Universe, her natural gifts of persuasion and influence, have resulted in Elizabeth becoming the first Ms. Senior UN Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Connie Ross-Karl
MS. SENIOR WORLD AMBASSADOR 2016
Ms. Senior USA - South 2016
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Connie is a summa cum laude graduate of Washburn University and the proud founding Director for the South region of Ms. Senior USA. Connie represented South Carolina in the Ms. Senior America Pageant in 2007, she was first runner-up to Ms. Senior America at the National Pageant in Las Vegas. Connie is a certified SC Miss America judge. She has lived in North Myrtle Beach since 2005, where she is a community leader, successfully working in sales, marketing, real estate and the hospitality industries along the Grand Strand. The decade prior she was a hotel/casino executive in the center of the Las Vegas Strip, as well as being the first director of marketing for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She later opened the Mississippi Gulf Coast to Las Vegas-style gaming. She was an award-winning co-host of Backstage Live and was named an Outstanding Woman in Tourism. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and currently is a Silver Sneaker Ambassador & Member Services Representative for LifeQuest Swim & Fitness and a licensed realtor for New Way Properties in North Myrtle Beach
Virginia M. Werner
MS. SENIOR INTERCONTINENTAL 2016-17
Ms. Senior USA - East 2016 & 2017
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Virginia Werner is married and lives with her husband in Bellerose (Queens) New York. Virginia has worked in import/export, advertising and the garment industry. Virginia has varied interests including vintage cars, travel, sailing and shares her husbands interest in model trains. In 1980 Virginia began studying Middle Eastern Dance. For 25 years Virginia was the director of “Mystical Motion Dancers,” a company of volunteer Middle Eastern dancers. Her performances include the Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Cleveland Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was honored by Queens Newsday in January 2003 as an “Everyday Hero” for bringing dance to recreational therapy divisions at NYU Rusk Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital (Manhattan), Memorial Sloan Kettering, VA and many hospitals and senior citizen centers in NYC and Long Island. Virginia represented New York at the Ms Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City in 2013. Being a stroke survivor, Virginia's platform is Rene Marie's Language of Love Foundation for Stroke & Aphasia Awareness. She has been a guest speaker on Rene's annual telethons and internet Madhouse TV Stroke of Luck programs and continues to support Rene's efforts to provide information and aid to stroke victims. She is honored and excited to be a Founding Member of the Board of Governors. Her motto is “You CAN make it a better day for someone else.”
Mary McIntosh
MS. SENIOR NORTH AMERICA 2016 & 2017
Ms. Senior USA - Central 2016 & 2017
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Mary McIntosh attended Kansas State College in Pittsburg majoring in theater. She has studied piano for many years and is a trained vocalist and actress. She relished her time as a stay-at-home mother during the formative years of her three children and takes care of her younger grandchildren regularly. Mary mentors teens through the Miss Missouri Outstanding Teen Program, part of the Miss America Scholarship Program, to develop their self-confidence, talents and intelligence. In 1980 she started the first Aerobic Dance program in Franklin County, MO. She co-produced one of the first interactive internet shows and traveled extensively interviewing celebrities and politicians. She recently retired from retail management after 14 years. She volunteers and entertains at rehab centers, assisted living, senior centers, care facilities, veteran homes and community events. She passionately heralds the efforts of the Mid-Missouri Addiction Awareness group that educates parents to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug use in their children. A large number of members have lost their children to heroin overdose, as Mary did in the loss of her son in 2007.
Kathleen "Kat" Ray
FOUNDING MS. SENIOR USA
FOUNDING MS. SENIOR UNIVERSE
Member, Board of Governors
For over thirty years, Kathleen “Kat” Ray has been a national and internationally recognized business woman, community leader, and a single Mom while a top corporate Real Estate Broker and National Sales Trainer for developers across the country. Kat holds Gold awards and designations from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As a top singer/performer, she has been Ms. Senior Las Vegas 2013, Ms. Senior Nevada 2013-14, Ms. West Coast United States, and the Founding Ms. Senior USA. Kat is presently a volunteer with the Las Vegas Shriners Children’s Clinic, which has been responsible for treating more than 80,000 local children over the years, and the Shriners Hospitals for Children FedEx Cup PGA Golf Tournament. Kat Ray has received a Certificate of Recognition from Governor Sandoval, several Congressional Commendations, and was honored with a Proclamation by the City of Las Vegas. in 2018, Kat Ray was a finalist in four (4) International categories of the Global Beauty Awards and received a special award for her work in response to the #Route91 Las Vegas Shooting.
Carol Thomas
MS. SENIOR USA 2016
Ms. Senior USA - North
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Carol Thomas is a Founding member of the Board of Governors of Ms. Senior USA and Ms. Senior Universe. A member of the State Bar of Michigan, including the Estate and Probate Section, the Elder Law Section and Health Care Section, she is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, including the Health Care Section, and is accredited with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Carol was elected to the Board of Governors at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She was also elected valedictorian commencement speaker at her law school graduation. Carol was also named Mrs. Michigan in 1988 and competed for the title of Mrs. America. In July of 2014, Carol competed for the Ms. Senior Michigan Pageant and went on to compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City. A classical pianist, who as a survivor, champions the cause of breast cancer awareness, Carol is the Ms. Senior USA for 2016-2017.
Caren Mislinski
FOUNDING MS. SENIOR MICHIGAN
MS. SENIOR USA At-Large 2016
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Caren Mislinski is the Founding State Queen from the State of Michigan. Her unique skill set made her the obvious choice to Chair the Public Relations and Communications Committee along with Board Member Connie-Ross-Karl. Caren was born in Michigan, and currently lives in Harrison Township. Chrysler Headquarters in Detroit is where Caren’s career was fueled. She gained valuable experience in the Customer Relations Department. Caren authored and presented the “National Customer Relations Best Practices. Due to the trust and respect Caren earned, she often assisted in the CEO’s office. Caren received numerous awards and letters of accommodation. Caren went back to collage at age 50 to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baker Collage. Following her retirement from Chrysler, Caren worked another five years as Assistant to the CEO for the Heinz Prechter Company, America Sunroof Corporation. Currently, Caren and her husband are designing and building homes. Caren believes now is the time to give back and inspire others. Volunteer priorities for Caren are Veterans, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity.
Elizabeth Purtee
MS. SENIOR UN AMBASSADOR 2016
Ms. Senior USA - West 2016
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Elizabeth attended college at the University of Salamanca, Spain, allowing her to work on one of her five spoken languages. Elizabeth’s work includes presenting seminars nationwide to medical professionals and being a TV and radio spokesperson. Her interests include traveling, ballroom dancing, weight training, bicycling and Toastmasters, where she has become an award-winning speaker. While Elizabeth’s accomplishments have been many and varied, her greatestjoy is her family of 5 beautiful children and 8 adorable grandchildren. A Founding Member of the Board of Governors of Ms. Senior USA and Ms. Senior Universe, her natural gifts of persuasion and influence, have resulted in Elizabeth becoming the first Ms. Senior UN Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Connie Ross-Karl
MS. SENIOR WORLD AMBASSADOR 2016
Ms. Senior USA - South 2016
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Connie is a summa cum laude graduate of Washburn University and the proud founding Director for the South region of Ms. Senior USA. Connie represented South Carolina in the Ms. Senior America Pageant in 2007, she was first runner-up to Ms. Senior America at the National Pageant in Las Vegas. Connie is a certified SC Miss America judge. She has lived in North Myrtle Beach since 2005, where she is a community leader, successfully working in sales, marketing, real estate and the hospitality industries along the Grand Strand. The decade prior she was a hotel/casino executive in the center of the Las Vegas Strip, as well as being the first director of marketing for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She later opened the Mississippi Gulf Coast to Las Vegas-style gaming. She was an award-winning co-host of Backstage Live and was named an Outstanding Woman in Tourism. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and currently is a Silver Sneaker Ambassador & Member Services Representative for LifeQuest Swim & Fitness and a licensed realtor for New Way Properties in North Myrtle Beach
Virginia M. Werner
MS. SENIOR INTERCONTINENTAL 2016-17
Ms. Senior USA - East 2016 & 2017
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Virginia Werner is married and lives with her husband in Bellerose (Queens) New York. Virginia has worked in import/export, advertising and the garment industry. Virginia has varied interests including vintage cars, travel, sailing and shares her husbands interest in model trains. In 1980 Virginia began studying Middle Eastern Dance. For 25 years Virginia was the director of “Mystical Motion Dancers,” a company of volunteer Middle Eastern dancers. Her performances include the Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Cleveland Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was honored by Queens Newsday in January 2003 as an “Everyday Hero” for bringing dance to recreational therapy divisions at NYU Rusk Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital (Manhattan), Memorial Sloan Kettering, VA and many hospitals and senior citizen centers in NYC and Long Island. Virginia represented New York at the Ms Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City in 2013. Being a stroke survivor, Virginia's platform is Rene Marie's Language of Love Foundation for Stroke & Aphasia Awareness. She has been a guest speaker on Rene's annual telethons and internet Madhouse TV Stroke of Luck programs and continues to support Rene's efforts to provide information and aid to stroke victims. She is honored and excited to be a Founding Member of the Board of Governors. Her motto is “You CAN make it a better day for someone else.”
Mary McIntosh
MS. SENIOR NORTH AMERICA 2016 & 2017
Ms. Senior USA - Central 2016 & 2017
Founding Member, Board of Governors
Mary McIntosh attended Kansas State College in Pittsburg majoring in theater. She has studied piano for many years and is a trained vocalist and actress. She relished her time as a stay-at-home mother during the formative years of her three children and takes care of her younger grandchildren regularly. Mary mentors teens through the Miss Missouri Outstanding Teen Program, part of the Miss America Scholarship Program, to develop their self-confidence, talents and intelligence. In 1980 she started the first Aerobic Dance program in Franklin County, MO. She co-produced one of the first interactive internet shows and traveled extensively interviewing celebrities and politicians. She recently retired from retail management after 14 years. She volunteers and entertains at rehab centers, assisted living, senior centers, care facilities, veteran homes and community events. She passionately heralds the efforts of the Mid-Missouri Addiction Awareness group that educates parents to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug use in their children. A large number of members have lost their children to heroin overdose, as Mary did in the loss of her son in 2007.