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: brandy@travelersrestsc.com
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 (Mayor Pro Tem)
Email: grant@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2027
Committees: Ways & Means (Chair), Planning & Development, 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: kelly@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2027
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: shaniece@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2027
Committees: Personnel (Chair), Planning & Development, Public Safety
Shaniece Criss is dedicated to serving Travelers Rest, preserving its community connection, and fostering future leaders. She founded the Travelers Rest Youth Council Academy, the town’s first program engaging middle schoolers in local government. On City Council, she chairs the Personnel Committee, is Vice Chair of Public Safety, and has served on the Public Works, Planning & Development, and Ways & Means Committees.
Dr. Criss is a health science associate professor, public health researcher, and director of the Advocacy and Social Policy master’s program at Furman University. Along with serving on the board of directors for Prisma Health, she has contributed to her community through organizations such as the South Carolina Hospital Association, Public Education Partners, YMCA Teen Services, and Greenville County Human Relations Commission. Her contributions have earned her recognition as one of “The Top 50 Women Leaders of South Carolina,” the “Women Vision SC” Award from ETV, and induction into the Greenville County Schools Hall of Fame.
A graduate of Southside High School and the Fine Arts Center, she holds a B.A. in Communication from Oglethorpe University, an MPH from Emory University, a Doctor of Science degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School. Previously, she worked at ICF International, the CDC, and CNN and served in the Peace Corps as the producer and host of a national TV show for the Ministry of Health in Guyana. She has been married for over 20 years to her supportive husband and is a proud mom to their compassionate middle schooler.
Catherine James
Email: Catherine@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2025
Committees: Public Works
Catherine James was elected to City Council in the November 2023 Special Election. As Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Catherine oversees the Marketing and Business Development teams for Greenville Federal Credit Union, a $430 million federally chartered credit union based in Greenville, SC. Additionally, Catherine serves on the Board of Directors for the Roper Mountain Science Center Association and Greenville County Schools Foundation, as a Teacher of the Year Judge for Greenville County Schools, and as a clerk for the Greenville County Elections Board. She is a member of Leadership Greenville, Class 49 and was included among Talk Magazine’s 25 Most Beautiful People 2023 for her service and leadership.
Catherine grew up in Greenville and graduated from Furman University. She and her husband John have lived in Travelers Rest since 2004. They have one daughter who is currently a student at the University of South Carolina Honors College.
Lisa Lane, Council Member
Email:
lisa@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2025
Committees: Public Works (Chair), Ways and Means,
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: sherry@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2027
Committees: Planning and Development, Public Safety, Public Works
Sherry Marrah is grateful to serve on the Travelers Rest City Council. She has loved living in Travelers Rest since 2005 while raising her family & nine years prior in Greenville. Sherry studied at Tidewater Virginia College and Bob Jones University in Art & Communications.
Councilmember Marrah is an active community volunteer and supports numerous nonprofit organizations. She previously served with Travelers Rest Artists Alliance, SWITCH (Non-Profit to end Human Trafficking), and organizer of food drives for local food banks. She currently serves on the board of the Foothills Family Resources and is a Moderator with My Neighbors Voice. She is a keen observer, avid listener, critical thinker, and readily prepared to serve all in Travelers Rest.
Wayne McCall, Council Member
Email: wayne@travelersrestsc.com
Appointed thru 2025
Committees: Public Safety, Ways and Means, Personnel
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.