Meet the Judges for Miss Black Ohio 2009
This year judging will be conducted by persons from around the State of Ohio. We have selected a highly influential group of persons to assist us with finding the next Miss Black Ohio and future Miss Black America. We are exicted to be hosting our 27th pageant and look forward to many more. We are extremely pleased with this years selected panel of judges.
The judges will be looking for several key areas by which a final selection will be made on the same day as the pageant. We are conducting a one-stop pageant and our guests will have no need to return to find out who will be named Miss Black Ohio.
Representative W. Carlton Weddington
Most recently, Rep. Weddington served three years as a member of the Columbus City School Board, working as Chairman of the Audit and Accountability Committee, on the Board & City Standing Committee and the African American Advisory Committee. He was a Board Trustee to the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) and President of the OSBA’s Central Region. He also sat on the Council of Urban Boards of Education and the Auditor of State’s Regional Advisory Council. Rep. Weddington also worked as Liaison Officer for the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. Prior posts include Manager for the Franklin County Clerk of Courts, former Legislative Aide to Columbus City Council member Les Wright, and Caseworker/Staff Assistant for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee of Houston, Texas. Rep. Weddington, who lives in the historic Olde Towne East community on Columbus’ near east side, is a former Near East Area Commissioner and Co-Founder of The New Leaders-Columbus. In 2000, Ebony Magazine tabbed Rep. Weddington as one of its “30 Leaders of the Future Under 30, and in 2006, Columbus Business First placed him on its “Forty under 40” list. He is a board member of the non-profit “I Know I Can” and IMPACT Community Action. He is a member of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., St. Mark's #7, Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and The Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Boule..
The Reigning Ms. American Renaissance 2009: Charissa Payer
Charissa Payer has been active in pageants for many years as a contestant, a judge, an emcee, and a coach. She is the reigning National Ms. American Renaissance 2009. www.americanrenaissancepageants.com Her other National pageant accomplishments include Beauties of America’s 40’s 2006 and Ms. United America 2007. She competed in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program for several years, and held the title of Miss Eastern Ohio in 1989. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University, a Master’s degree from the Ohio State University, and her Law degree from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law. She has been a State Attorney for over a decade and is a former Assistant Prosecutor. She is licensed to practice law in two states and six federal jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of the United States. As an Assistant Prosecutor, she handled child abuse cases and violence against women. She has taught and lectured to hundreds of professionals on child abuse issues and sex offender issues in the Ohio Judicial College, at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, for the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and at the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement. Charissa is a mentor with the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program and enjoys doing pro bono legal work for the elderly through her office. Through her continued involvement with pageantry, Charissa hopes to expand her role as a mentor and a motivator who helps people of all ages believe in their dreams and develop their self-esteem. She volunteers for a number of organizations and charities on the state and national level. Among her various appearances in print and on television as a spokesperson for pageantry, she has been featured as the Cover Girl on the cover of “40 and Fabulous” magazine, in Supermodels Unlimited Magazine, and in a documentary called “Boot Camp for Beauty Queens” on the Travel Channel.
Kristi Winger Szudlo
Kristi has spent her career in the medical field in sales and marketing and is currently the Executive Area Business Manager and Regional Sales Marketing Manager with Biogen Idec Inc. in the Neurology division. She is also the Marketing Director for Miss Teen Ohio-World, Miss Teen Indiana-World, and Miss Teen Pennsylvania-World pageant systems.
Kristi has many years experience as a swimsuit and fitness model, and also was a previous competitor in the Miss Ohio pageant system and the Mrs. Ohio America pageant system. She is the current State title holder for Beauties of America 40’s division, with nationals being held August 15th.
Kristi is married and has two children-a son who is 3 ½ and a newborn girl who was born at the end of May this year. She is very involved in The March of Dimes, is the director of The Donna Fasone Memorial Fund for Aneurysm Research, and is an Advocate for the mentally ill.
Doreen Gentry-Davis, Vice President of the Columbus Chapter -National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Doreen is honored as the Alumni and is one of the Outstanding Young Women of America, Alumni of the Columbus Leadership Program, noted among Who’s Who in Black Columbus and Columbus CAPA Volunteer. In addition to many years of community and political service, conference planning, etiquette and image counseling, Doreen holds an Associates Degree in Biblical Studies from the New Life School of Theology in Columbus, Ohio and is founder and executive director of Call Her Covenant Ministries. Doreen is a renowned speaker, anointed to reveal the Word of God with easy understanding of the scriptures. Her style of writing allows us to find the better way for dealing with life's complexities that we might embrace biblical instruction. Her thirst for abundant living has published the highly acclaimed book, "The Better Way" which presents a compelling spiritual revelation both as the medicine and lifestyle in winning over stress. Doreen is a contributing writer for the Praise Reporter Newspaper of Columbus, Ohio and Cathedral Times Newspaper of Amityville, New York. Mother of one, Joshua Franklin Davis, a Graphic Design graduate of Central State University, both are members of New Beginning Empowerment Ministry. Doreen’s hobbies include Saturday morning yard sales, travel, and entertaining