Board of Directors

Audrey Findlen, Executive Director

In June 2006, Audrey Findlen retired after thirty years as a public educator most of which was with the South Portland School system where she served on a number of district-wide committees, facilitated the middle school math curriculum and was grade 7 team leader. She graduated cum laude from the University of Southern Maine completing her bachelor’s degree in three years and received her master’s degree from the University of New England. Audrey began her pageant experience in 1976 when she was crowned Miss Greater Portland and was named first runner-up to Miss Maine. Since then Audrey has served in a number of capacities and now is the Executive Director. Having studied both dance and voice, she has performed around the state in local and regional theaters, with the Maine State Ballet Company, and with Maine State Music Theater. Audrey lives in Pownal with her husband Frederick and two golden retrievers, Mulligan and Reilly. Audrey and Fred enjoy travel, theater, and the company of family and friends as well as decorating and landscaping their home. 

Valerie Crooker, President and NAMASP President '04 - '05

Our own native of Brunswick, Valerie Crooker Clemens held the title of Miss Maine 1980. She has stayed active and served throughout the years in all levels of the Miss Maine Scholarship Program. She is currently the President of the Miss Maine Board of Directors and President of the National Association of the Miss America State Pageants, where she represents over 20,000 volunteers throughout the country. During her years as a Miss America volunteer, she has judged pageants in more than 28 states in the country including Texas, Hawaii and California. She started the program called "Make A Difference Day" in which she directs talent shows produced by students. This program is designed to entertain children with learning disabilities and the elderly. Valerie resides in Radnor, Pennsylvania with her husband Al, and their children AJ and CoCo. She and her family are active volunteers in the Pennsylvania community. They enjoy traveling worldwide and divide their time between their Pennsylvania and Maine homes.

Patricia Crooker, Treasurer and Vice President, Communications

Pati has been the owner and President of Thomas Point Beach, Inc. sine 1986. She earned her degree in Business Administration from the University of Maine. In 1984 and 1985 she served as Executive Director of the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant and has volunteered for the program for 23 years. Her local involvements include the Midcoast Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, is a Hyde School "HAPA" Alumni Parent and a member of the Advisory Board of Gardiner Savings Institution, Brunswick. Pati joined the board in January 2005 as Treasurer and chairs the Pre-Pageant Workshop and Springtime Gala and co-chaired the Tea Social with Miss America and Fashion Show in 2005. Pati resides in Brunswick with her greatest joy in life, her son, Michael, a student at the New England School of Communications in Bangor, Maine, and their two shitz su pups, Emmi and Ruben.

Wilma “Billi” Bridges,Recording Secretary

Billi is the newest member to the board, having begun as recording secretary in February 2008, and new to the world of scholarship pageants. She retired in June 2007 after thirty-five years as a teacher of English/language arts at Memorial Middle School in South Portland. Billi grew up on Matinicus Island, twenty miles off the coast of Rockland in Penobscot Bay. She is a graduate of Gould Academy, the University of Pittsburg (B. A. in English and philosophy), and Boston State College (Ed. M. in secondary education). An Anglophile who is intrigued by old houses and their histories, Billi’s destination of choice is Great Britain, though she has traveled all over the United States as well. Billi and her husband Bill live with their golden retriever Molly in Yarmouth. Their son Scott lives in Dublin, Ohio. Her “giving back” activities include knitting hats and scarves for a women’s shelter in Boston, and volunteering at the Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick.

John Hatcher, Vice President

John has been a realtor for over 20 years in the Greater Portland area. He is with The Hatcher Group of Keller Williams Realty. John serves on the Portland Board of Realtors Board of Directors and has also served on the state level. He has been coaching figure skating at the professional level for over 20 years and competed at the national level in both Pairs and Ice Dance. John has been affiliated with the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant since 1985, serving in many capacities and currently is serving as Vice President. He attends the Miss America Pageant annually.

Gene Gagne, Vice President

Gene graduated from Auburn Maine School of Commerce in 1964 with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. In 1974 he went to work for the Brunswick School Department as a school bus driver for Special Education students. He added many other duties over the years and in 1991 was promoted to Assistant Director of Buildings, Grounds and Transportation. In 1995 he was named Director. Gene retired in November 2003 with 29 years of service. In 1964 Gene and the Brunswick Jaycees started the Miss Brunswick Scholarship Pageant and has been involved in pageantry ever since. In 1977 Gene became a member of the Board of Directors of the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant and has served in many capacities including Co-Producer and Field Director. He has attended the Miss America Pageant for over 35 years.

Rebecca Witham, Director of Contestant Development and Preparation

For over 30 years Rebecca has spent most of her time on stage performing in plays, murder mysteries and musicals around Maine. Most of that time has been at City Theater in Biddeford as a performer, board member, volunteer coordinator and stage manager to name a few. She has appeared in the movie, Thinner by Stephen King and has modeled for fashion shows in Freeport and Portland. An accomplished dancer, she has choreographed many musicals including Grease and has studied tap for 8 years with Michelle Lessard at City Dance.

After winning the title of Mrs. Maine America 2002, she has judged pageants, talent contests and singing competitions in Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut. She has volunteered for the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant since 2003 in which she was Southern Maine Regional Director and committee chair for Make the Most of Your Best.

A graduate from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Business Administration, Rebecca is currently enjoying retirement at her residence in Biddeford.