Regina Hopper

Regina Hopper (formerly Blakely) is an American business executive, attorney and former news anchor. Hopper was Miss Arkansas in 1983 and served as the CEO of the Miss America Organization from May 2018-January 2020. She is the daughter of former director of the Arkansas Highway Commission Bobby Hopper.

Corporate career

Regina Hopper was the President & CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America from July 2015 until her resignation in July 2017. Prior to this, she was President and CEO of America's Natural Gas Alliance, where she resigned under pressure from the board. POLITICO reported frustrations within the organization about Hopper's leadership style. Before her work at ANGA she was the executive vice president of the United States Telecom Association. Hopper was a correspondent for CBS News prior to her work at associations, where she covered the White House, anchored the network's overnight broadcast and reported on breaking news from the New York and Washington, D.C. bureaus. She was awarded an Emmy for investigative reporting on 48 Hours. Hopper is an attorney who practiced securities and bankruptcy law.

Miss America Organization

Hopper was named CEO of the Miss America Organization in May 2018 as part of the effort to rebrand the organization after a 2017 email scandal involving the organizations board. In the era of #Metoo,Hopper and Miss America Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson retooled the competition, removing both the swimsuit and evening gown portions.

Hopper resigned from the organization in 2020, following 22 states holding a vote of no confidence in the leadership of both Hopper and Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson, demanding their resignations, citing a lack of transparency and adherence to best practices. On August 10, 2018, 11 former Miss Americas released a statement calling for both Carlson and Hopper to resign. Just several days later, Miss America 2018 Cara Mund wrote a letter to her fellow Miss America titleholders alleging that Carlson and Hopper “silenced me, reduced me, marginalized me, and essentially erased me in my role as Miss America.”

Recognition

In 2019, Hopper was named as one of the Top 100 Women in Cyber & Mobility by Next Education. Hopper was awarded the Gayle Pettus Pontz legal award in 2018. In 2012, CEO Update selected Hopper as one of the nation's top association CEOs. In that same year, The Hill named her to its annual list of top lobbyists. She was named a Johnson Fellow at the University of Arkansas in 2011.

Controversy

Upon her resignation from the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, POLITICO reported that much "of the trade group’s staff quit or was laid off during her time there due to frustrations with her leadership style." As CEO of America's Natural Gas Alliance, Hopper resigned under pressure from the board with Natural Gas Insight reporting "The ANGA board was extremely disappointed with her performance."