My application cover letter to the MOSP board

Here is a copy/paste of the letter I sent to the board, applying for one of their open positions. As a side note, I never received a reply or confirmation from either MAO or Steven directly.

August 3, 2009



Steven Oliveri
Executive Director, Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, Inc.
PO Box 1818
Mansfield, Ohio 44901



Mr. Oliveri:

In years past, I was involved on the local level of the Miss Ohio program. From my years as a competitor, as well as my time as a local Executive Director and Producer, I gained an immense love for the spirit and the mission of the Miss America Organization. To this day, I still maintain a keen interest in the system and its overall health. For the past few years, I have not been involved in the organization. Given the recent events and public discussion of the financial and operational challenges that the Miss Ohio program faces, I have found that I truly miss the rewarding experiences it had provided me, and I realized I want to become involved again.

Since I have worked with Miss Ohio last, I have been employed in the compliance sector of one of the top banks in the world, and have obtained an industry-leading certification from the Institute of Internal Auditors. In the interest of having more work-life balance (and carving out time for my passion, community service), I left JPMorganChase to work for a smaller and more grounded institution. Since April of 2008, I have been working for Huntington National Bank, one of the largest banks in the Midwest. Currently, I am an Assistant Vice President and Compliance Section Manager. My job entails coordination of all regulatory and operational risk / compliance for the Business and Commercial banking sectors of the company. I also coordinate with other groups to improve our processes and procedures, ensuring efficient and effective operations. Leveraging my certification in control self-assessment (CCSA) has brought a collaborative problem-solving process to Huntington, and I’d like to share my gifts with an organization that clearly needs some assistance.

I would like to propose the installation of an Audit and Risk Committee, which I will gladly volunteer to chair. The purpose and direction of this committee would be to bring operational and financial control to the Miss Ohio program, assist with solid debt elimination and expense reduction plans, document processes and procedures, and work toward the goal of making the Miss Ohio program’s operations efficient and transparent to the general public. Clearly, operational risk and control is my forte, therefore I would seek out volunteer financial auditors and accountants for assistance.

In the business and commercial banking world, my credentials and experience command a good salary. However, I am more than willing to chair this committee at no cost. I only want to save the program that gave me so many advantages from sure financial and operational ruin, if no action is taken. I have enclosed a copy of my professional resume for your review, and can gladly furnish a summary of my experience as a past small business owner, local executive director and producer for Miss Ohio, contestant on the local/state/national/international level of pageants other than Miss America, and board member for other non-profit (501c3) organizations.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.



Very Truly Yours,





Hilary L. Powers, CCSA



Cc: Doreen Gordon, Controller, MAO



enclosure