Page 40 - MVTA Book

OFFICIAL PANEL OF JUDGES
DR. MARK BEERE
Mark has been involved with the Miss America Organization for thirty years, starting with his local Jaycee Chapter. He has been a Field Director for the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization for twenty-fifive years, and has been a Board member and Judges’ Chairman for twenty years. He has served as Chairman of the Board for the organization, and as Executive Director. He has judged pageants in twenty-one states, and twenty state contests from Washington to Puerto Rico.
Dr. Beere received a B.S. in Animal Science from Penn State, and his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. He is owner of Kittanning Veterinary Hospital and Veterinary Clinic of Indiana, an eight
Leah began dancing at the age of two at her mother’s dance studio in Nashville, Tennessee. She was accepted into the Children’s Company at Nashville Ballet and completed her high school career as a dancer for Vanderbilt Dance Group. Leah trained all over the United States and studied with such legends as Gregory Hines, Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Savion Glover, Chris Judd, Liz Imperio, and Marcea Lane. Leah travelled the national convention circuit as an assistant to Sam Fiorello, Stephen Boyd and the great Frank Hatchett. Leah also holds National titles as a competition dancer from Showstopper Dance Competition and Dance Makers Inc.
Upon graduating from Franklin Road Academy, where she was the fifirst recipient of the Fine Arts Award in Dance Excellence, voted Most Talented as well as Homecoming Queen, Leah was accepted into the University of Tennessee as a Principal Dancer for the University of Tennessee Dance Company. While dancing with the company, Leah was chosen by the American College Dance Festival’s national board to
Galen Kovash resides in Atlanta, Georgia. He has been employed by Macy’s Inc. for the past 28 years and has held various roles from store manager to merchandise buyer and is currently in the legal department working on consumer data privacy legislation compliance for their Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury divisions. He is a recipient of the company’s “Best Of The Best” award for his contributions in leadership and innovation.
Galen holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Theatre
veterinarian mixed-animal practice. He is also the operating partner of a real estate development group. Mark is also an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Mark has been involved in many community and professional organizations. He was a Board member and Treasurer of the annual Fort Armstrong Folk Festival, a fifine arts event with over 200 artisans. He has been actively involved in Cooperative Extension, and established an endowed scholarship for 4-H and FFA students. His veterinary practice is involved in many events for local humane shelters and kennel clubs. Mark is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan. He resides in Ford City on a small crop farm.
represent collegiate dance in America and was showcased at the Kennedy Center in Washington
DC.
After graduating with a degree in
Fine Arts, Leah danced professionally with the Tennessee Dance Theater, as well as fifilmed and choreographed many country music videos and industrial shows. In 2002, Leah opened Nashville Dance Center where she resides as the Artistic Director. Leah has led her companies to 22 National Championships as well as personally earning over 50 choreography awards to date on both the regional and national levels.
Leah’s Nashville Dance Center alumni students have gone on to dance collegiately with NYU, University of Florida, University of South Carolina, University of Virginia, University of Tennessee, Texas Christian University, Emerson College, Pointe Park University, College of Charleston, Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, and Boston University.
Nashville Dance Center was named as one of the Top 50 studios in the United States by Dance Teacher Magazine.
and has also studied stage, fifilm, and television acting at the Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. No stranger to the stage, he has performed in several musicals and theatrical productions. He has also modeled professionally and appeared in several print and video campaigns. Galen has been involved with pageants for 30 plus years serving as a judge, emcee, contestant advisor, and was a member of the team that prepared Miss Georgia to compete at the national competition.
LEAH HARWELL
GALEN KOVASH