Essence Pageant Women’s Advancement Connection Corporation prides itself in making every pageant experience one to never forget for its contestants. This could not be accomplished with a dedicated, experienced and passionate staff. Our team is what makes this pageant unique and more successful year after year. All staff members have been with us since our inception. No one staff members makes a salary all monies derived from the entry fees and sponsorships are transferred back to the winners prize package and the pageant weekend experience. No other pageant does the pageant experience like us… with so much heart!
“When you take a group of corporate America professionals and you let them run a pageant. What do you get? You get a professionally ran pageant system called Essence Pageant.” -Sue D.
Board of Directors
Sue Drakeford, Executive Director & Founder ( Banker, Prince Georges County, Maryland)
Cindie Watts, Assistant Director & Director of Judging (Educator, Omaha Nebraska)
Dr. Jana Murrell, Director of Operations, Quality Control & Emcee (Physical Therapist, Dallas, Texas)
Kevin Wade, Director of Production & Contestant Relations (Higher Education Administration, Prince Georges County, Maryland)
Wayne Watts, Assistant Director of Judging (IT Professional, Omaha, Nebraska)
TyJuan Garrett, Esq., Legal Counsel (Lawyer, Indianapolis, Indiana)
Eric K. Banks, Esq., Legal Counsel (Lawyer, Saint Louis, Missouri)
Brandi L. Nash, Mrs. Essence International 2011-2012, Queen Advisor (Make up Artist, Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Esther Ortiz, Volunteer (Retail Sales Manager, Temple, Texas)
Hyon Ju Ortiz, Volunteer (Real Estate Management, Killeen, Texas)
Amber Dowdell, Volunteer (Federal Government, Washington, D.C.)
Dexter Mallory, Volunteer (Human Relations Director, Silver Spring, Maryland)