Meet Your Elected Officials
The City Council is comprised of a mayor and eight council members who are elected at-large for four-year, staggered terms. The mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over City Council meetings and serves as the ceremonial head of government. The Travelers Rest City Council establishes the city’s policies, laws, and budgets, ensuring the entire community is being served.
Our Pledge to the Citizens of Travelers Rest
We pledge to build a stronger and more prosperous community by advocating for civil engagement, respecting others and their viewpoints, and finding solutions for the betterment of our city.
If you’d like to learn more about the MASC-sponsored Civility Pledge that municipalities across South Carolina are taking, click here.
Brandy Amidon, Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2025
Brandy is the first female to be elected to the Mayoral office, and she is the youngest Mayor in town’s history. She’s served on the Travelers Rest City Council since 2010. Brandy’s a founding member of Let’s Keep TR Beautiful, a local group dedicated to positive promotion and beautification of Travelers Rest and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for SC Appalachian Council of Governments. Brandy has also served on the board for Travelers Rest Historical Society and the Greater Chamber of Commerce of Travelers Rest. She is Co-President and CFO for Brains on Fire, Inc., a creative agency focused on branding, identity and community building. She’s been married for sixteen years to Steven Amidon and Mom to their five-year-old daughter, Annabelle Grace Amidon. Read the latest articles and excerpts from the Mayor’s desk here.
Grant Bumgarner, Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2023
Committees: Ways & Means (Chair), Planning & Development, Public Safety, Personnel
Grant is a licensed funeral director serving families around the upstate area of South Carolina since 1993 . He has lived in Travelers Rest since 1994 and is past president and longtime board member of the Travelers Rest Area Business Association (now the Greater Travelers Rest Chamber). He started his tenure on Travelers Rest City Council in 2004 and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the residents of the city since then.
Kelly Byers, Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2023
Committees: Public Safety (Chair), Planning & Development, Personnel, Ways & Means
Kelly Byers loves Travelers Rest and is honored to serve on City Council. Kelly is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive and is the Director of Individual Giving at the Peace Center, and previously worked in Community Engagement roles at Roper Mountain Science Center and The Family Effect.
Meaningful community involvement is incredibly important to Kelly. She currently serves on the boards of Travelers Rest Farmers Market, Foothills Family Resources, Greenville First Steps, Euphoria, and is the President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Piedmont Chapter. Additionally, Kelly served in previous volunteer leadership roles with United Way’s Jobs to Careers and Women in Science and Engineering; Greenville Chamber’s Greenville Young Professionals, Greenville Women @ Work, and Leadership Greenville Alumni; Serenity Village, Read Greenville, Gardening for Good, Momentum Bike Club, and Upstate South Carolina Association of Volunteer Administrators (President),
Kelly earned her Bachelor’s degree at Presbyterian College and her Master’s at the University of Georgia. She is a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class 41, was awarded Best and Brightest 35 under 35 in 2017, and was the recipient of the AFP Piedmont Chapter’s Young Philanthropist Award in 2017. Kelly enjoys the outdoors, yoga, running, reading, writing, gardening, farmer’s markets, travel, and doing improv with Alchemy Comedy Theatre. Kelly and Tom live in Travelers Rest with their three goats, two dogs, one cat, and a handful of goldfish.
Shaniece Criss, Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2023
Committees: Public Works (Chair), Planning & Development, Public Safety, Personnel, Ways & Means
Shaniece Criss loves serving Travelers Rest though her commitment to maintaining the town’s community connection and charming character. Often, you will see Councilmember Criss at town events with her friends and family, as well as, constantly communicating with residents in-person and on social media. She is committed to advocating for proactive, community-engaged development. She supports local businesses and attends the Greater Travelers Rest Chamber of Commerce meetings to stay informed. Public safety and public works are really important to her.
Dr. Criss is a health science faculty member at Furman University and public health researcher. She is committed to community involvement and serves on the board for Prisma Health, Public Education Partners, Dining for Women, SC YMCA Youth in Government, and Reconcile Community Church. In the past, she served on the Greenville County Human Relations Commission and Travelers Rest Municipal Election Commission. Recently, she has been named a “ChangeMaker” by the Jefferson Awards Foundation and a Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame Inductee.
Councilmember Criss graduated from Southside High School and the Fine Arts Center. She received her undergraduate degree in communications from Oglethorpe University and a Master of Public Health from Emory University. In addition, Dr. Criss earned her Doctor of Science degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Previously, she held positions at ICF International, Centers for Disease Control, CNN, and the Peace Corps as the producer and host of a national television show for the Ministry of Health in Guyana, South America.
Lisa Lane, Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2025
Committees: Public Works
Lisa Lane has an accounting degree from Furman University and has worked as a corporate and non-profit accountant. Ms. Lane has lived in Travelers Rest for 17 years with her family. Her vision is to keep TR quaint while allowing opportunities for growth.
Sherry Marrah
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2023
Committees: Public Works
Sherry Marrah is grateful to serve on the Travelers Rest City Council. She has loved living in Travelers Rest and raising her family in this thriving community. Sherry attended Bob Jones University & Tidewater College with a background in Art & Communications. She is a keen observer, avid listener and critical thinker.
Councilmember Marrah is an active community volunteer and supports numerous nonprofit organizations, including Travelers Rest Artists Alliance, SWITCH (Non-Profit to end Human Trafficking) and organizing food drives for local food banks. She is readily prepared to serve all of Travelers Rest.
Wayne McCall, Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2025
Committees: Planning & Development, Public Safety,
Wayne McCall has a 34-year career with the US Government and 16 years’ experience in Municipal Government. He held the Mayor’s seat in Travelers Rest for eight years and served as a council member for eight years. Wayne is the former President of the Greenville County Mayor’s Association, former board member of the Association of SC Mayors, and former board member Appalachian Council of Governments.
Brantly Vest, Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Appointed thru 2025
Committees: Planning & Development (Chair), Public Safety, Personnel, Ways & Means
Brantly is proud to call Travelers Rest his hometown. He was elected to Travelers Rest City Council in January 2018. Brantly has worked with Duke Energy for over 10 years, currently as a Business Energy Advisor. He is a graduate of Travelers Rest High School and Clemson University. Community involvement is very important to Brantly. He is a former member of the Travelers Rest Farmers Market Board of Directors and is currently an active member at Grace Church in Travelers Rest. Brantly has been married to his wife, Logan since 2014. They welcomed their daughters, Rollins in 2019 and Bennett in 2022.