Board Members
PULSE is an initiative of the Greenville Chamber but is run by a volunteer group of PULSE members. The PULSE Board nominates and approves new board members annually. Read more about our current PULSE Board members:
» Young Professionals Group Business Case
Tiffany Santagati-Simpson Chair
Tiffany Santagati-Simpson moved to Greenville from Beaufort in 2003 shortly before marrying a Greenville native. Tiffany is the Financial Center Leader of the BB&T on Haywood Road, helping individuals and small businesses to achieve economic success and financial security. She has worked with BB&T for over 6 years. Tiffany received her Bachelors of Arts from the University of South Carolina-Upstate and a Masters of Business Administration from Webster University. She has been involved with Pulse since August 2005 and is the Chair in 2008.
Brock Koonce Chair Elect / Membership Chair
Brock was born and raised, partly, in Greenville. Brock is the program director for Greenville Forward, whose mission is to champion Greenville’s Vision 2025 goals and develop emerging leaders throughout the region. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Brock is active in the young professional community of Greenville, including serving on the board for PUSLE since its inception. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Hands On Greenville, YWCA and Greenville Chamber - Board of Regents. For fun, Brock spends his time acting with the area theatres and walking his dog, Connolly.
Nicole P. Ream Immediate Past Chair
Nicole is a graduate of Furman University and works as a residential REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Caine. In addition to PULSE, she serves on the Boards of Artisphere - the International Arts Festival of Greenville and the Warehouse Theatre, and is an active member of the Junior League of Greenville.
O’Zandra Smith Treasurer
O’Zandra is originally from Dublin, Georgia, but has lived in Greenville for the last 22 years. She is the president of On the Go, LLC. She is very active in the Greenville Chamber of Commerce were she serves as an Ambassador. She is on the YWCA board. She is a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and other non profit charities. Outside of work and volunteering she loves spending time with her husband, son and Labrador, Rexie.
Anne VandenBerghe Secretary / Communications
A native of Greenville, she is the editor of Link, a young reader publication in the Upstate. She is an English/communications graduate for Clemson University. She can be seen taking photographs at many of the PULSE events. For fun, she likes to read, play with her cat, listen to live music and garden.
April Staggs Social Vice Chair
A native of Greer, April is the Business Development Manager for Venturi Staffing Partners in Greenville, SC. After graduating from Greer High School she attended the University of South Carolina Upstate, graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. April lives in Taylors, S.C., with her husband and is actively involved with several local charities including her local church in Greer. She has joined the Pulse Board after becoming involved with the group as an active member in 2006.
Amy G. Browning Leadership Vice Chair
A native of the Greenville area, Amy graduated from Clemson University in 1995 with a marketing degree and then joined the insurance industry here in her home town. Amy is currently an Assistant Vice President and Client Advisor with Marsh USA Inc. in Greenville. During the past few years, Amy has had the opportunity to work with several local charities including serving as a Loaned Executive for United Way, serving as a volunteer with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and is an active member with her local church. Amy currently lives in the Mauldin area with her husband and two young children. Prior to joining the PULSE board this year, Amy became involved with PULSE as a member of the Leadership Enrichment Committee in 2006.
Saskia Birkle
Saskia is 27 years old, born and raced in Freiburg/Germany, where she also successfully completed her bachelor degree in Business Administration/Tourism/Hotel Management in 2003. She then moved to New Orleans and worked for the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for almost 3 years (before and after Hurricane Katrina) before joining her fiance in Greenville in July 2006. She is now a Sales Manager for the Hilton Greenville. Her husband, who is also German, and Saskia got married in Germany in June 2006, but are planning on staying here in the US for as long as they keep the couple here ;o) Our cat “Wunderfitz” is their baby. She volunteered for the Humane Society and Hands on Greenville before, loves playing volleyball, going wakeboarding out on the lakes and snowboarding in the winter time, as well as painting and photography. Traveling is not only a big part of her job, but also her personal life. Throughout the years she has traveled all over Europe and the U.S., as well as lived in Nice/France and Washington State for several months. She is trying to speak fluently in German, English, French and a little Spanish.
Elizabeth Garrison
Elizabeth is a project manager for the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC). Prior to working in economic development, she worked as a television news reporter and pharmaceutical sales representative. She is president of Ever-Green Recycling Company. Elizabeth is the 2008-2009 Chair of Corporate Funds for the Greenville Junior League and is on the board for the Downtown Symphony Club. Elizabeth graduated from Clemson University in 1995. Elizabeth enjoys running for exercise and working on her family’s farm in Anderson.
Stephanie Grover
Born in Chicago, Stephanie and her family moved to Greenville in the early the 1990’s. After graduating from Christ Church Episcopal School, she attended Wofford College. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in both Business Economics and Spanish. Stephanie began her career in the hospitality industry by working as a Sales Manager for two large hotel chains. After 7 years in the hotel industry, she took a Sales Manager position for Table 301 Restaurants. Her responsibilities include booking events, socials and meetings for Soby’s, Restaurant O, Devereaux’s & The Lazy Goat and Table 301 Catering.
Tripp James
Originally from Spartanburg, Tripp is a partner with James & James Benefit Brokers, an insurance agency in Greenville. He’s also a principal member of The Pearls Group, a financial consulting company for physicians. Tripp holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration from Clemson University. While an undergraduate student, he was a member of the Clemson Golf Team that won two ACC Championships. He is actively involved in the Downtown Greenville Kiwanis Club and the SC Junior Golf Association.
Adam Landrum
Adam Landrum, a former Arthur Andersen consultant, founded Merge in 2002. Landrum is a Clemson University graduate, graduating Cum Laude in Accounting. He is currently involved with the Greenville Chamber as a panel member of The Small Business Advisory Forum, a member of the Leadership Enrichment Committee of PULSE. In addition, Landrum is a member of NEXT, a forum for CEO’s of high tech, high growth firms in Greenville. He resides in Mauldin, is married to his wonderful wife, Shely, and is the proud father of two boys and two girls.
Jonathan Williams
Jonathan is originally from Pendleton, S.C., and graduated from Erskine College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He currently resides in Simpsonville. Jonathan is involved with a number of entrepreneurial endeavors in addition to his occupation as Sr. Sterilization Supervisor at Bausch & Lomb in Greenville. Jonathan has been an active member of PULSE since mid 2007 and was recently selected to serve on the Board.