Some argue Rochester was the birthplace of the American revolt against the British – at least locally. If all goes well, it could be the hometown of the next Mrs. America.
Rochester native Amanda (Suprenant) Shute, 36, moved to Maine six years ago and this year was crowned Mrs. Maine after competing in a pageant last April. The pageant was only the second one she had ever competed in.
A 2004 graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School and a graduate of UMass Dartmouth, Shute received her Master’s Degree in Informatics from Northeastern University. She launched a career in finance, working 11 years at First Citizens Federal Credit Union in Fairhaven before moving to Maine. She now resides in Auburn, Maine, with her husband Andrew, whom she married three years ago.
The two work together on community-service endeavors in their community, according to a written release.
She now works at TD Bank as a chief product owner of cyber-fraud management. She says that her love of helping the community has played a major role in her platform and her success in claiming the Maine pageant crown. She wants to use her expertise to teach families the importance of online safety.
Shute received top placement for the Maine crown in all three categories – swimsuit, evening gown and interview.
Shute launched a nonprofit called Get Cyber Fit, which helps parents open a dialogue with their children about safer online experiences. According to a written release, Shute has provided more than $60,000 in services to the community by “creating original educational content, making appearances and engaging in community events where she speaks with families and creates digital footprint activities for kids and started a little library tour where she fills libraries with kids’ online safety books.”
Shute says that when she returns from the national pageant competition, she wants to continue to advocate for online education and safety. The competition starts on Friday, August 18, and runs through Saturday, August 26, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shute attributes her success to some local women who were mentors in her life.
“My greatest influences are a collection of women I have been surrounded by – from my childhood friend, Samantha (Grainger) Lawrence, who has always encouraged me in my pursuit of being in the field of technology, to my former coworkers and supervisors (Dawn Camille and Doreen Renaud) at First Citizens’ who helped shape my career trajectory,” Shute recently told The Wanderer.
Her mother, Laurie Suprenant, also has had a major impact.
“It is because of them I have the courage to be a leader by always being the first one to enter a room and roll up my sleeves to drive change and create solutions; this has allowed me to launch a nonprofit, study abroad, transform a school in an underdeveloped country, win Presidential awards for transformative international fraud-policy changes at work and be recognized in the state pageant as a catalyst for community service, which I received a special recognition for,” Shute said. “When others thought my ideas were outlandish, these women believed in me, it is to them I owe my sincerest gratitude.”
Growing up in the south coast also has had an impact. The area’s diversity inspired Shute to live abroad, where she lived with another family for six weeks before traveling solo in Europe. “Being surrounded by other cultures helped shape my values, beliefs and be an advocate for underrepresented groups – for this I’ve had the opportunity to be a co-op advisor to several international students,” she said.
In sum, Shute wants to use her current crown and perhaps the national one, to pay it forward and motivate others to do the same.
“I hope to inspire other people who have talent or skills to help those around them,” she said. “The way people can support the communities around them looks a little different for everyone, so it’s about stepping in when and where you can to make a difference.”
By Jeffrey D. Wagner