Executive Team
Kathi Herrmann
Kathi Herrmann is the Marketing Director for Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. She creates and implements marketing programs for the 500,000+ square foot outdoor mixed-use shopping center, including events such as Lights Up, Fall Festival, Play Dayz, Live Under The Oaks, Pink Promenade and Pup Bowl. Previously she was the Director of Marketing for four regional shopping centers on Long Island, New York for Simon Property Group, including Roosevelt Field, the 9th largest shopping center in the United States. Kathi has been in the shopping center marketing industry for more than 20 years.
Kathi Herrmann majored in Marketing and received a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT.
Kathi and her husband Danny, relocated to Mount Pleasant in February, 2016 and spend their time with their incredibly cute rescue shepherd mutt Herbie.
Tammy Becker
Hailing from the Jersey Shore, Tammy Becker began her career in property management in New Jersey (NJ) working for some of the largest self-storage companies in the nation quickly advancing as a regional trainer. After 23 great years in NJ, and following opportunities for advancement, Tammy was led to Philadelphia, PA where she evolved as a Senior Manager and Marketing Director for a self-storage company in Northeast PA (oh, and her LOVE of the Pittsburgh Steelers began!)
Tammy made a cross country move to Southern California (CA) to continue her career as a Regional Manager and Marketing Director while venturing out to develop and launch her own Organic Spray Tan company, Golden State Tans. Clearly not being a fan of standing still, Tammy’s advancements in her career, life and love brought her to Connecticut (CT) where she managed her first Elements Massage studio, and she loved the business so much that she and her business partner are opening two locations in West Ashley and Summerville. Tammy is also the C.E.O. of Pigtails and Crewcuts with four locations and a fifth store opening in Summerville, SC 2023.
Since 2000, Tammy has been heavily involved in multiple Chamber of Commerce’s throughout the United States serving as Secretary, chairing multiple committees including several non-Profit Committees and Membership committees, and as a Board Member. She has also worked for the Parsippany and Shoreline Chamber of Commerce both in Connecticut (CT).
Tammy’s other nonprofit work includes leading the Relay for Life Committee in Camarillo CA and Shoreline, CT. She has also been a volunteer for several nonprofits over the past 20 years including the Charleston Animal Society. Tammy, the proud mother of Kaitlin and Brandon, lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband and two precious kitties, is excited and ready to lend a helping hand where and whenever possible!
Karina Garrison
Karina Garrison is a senior vice president and office leader for Pinnacle Financial Partners. She leads an amazing team of experienced financial services professionals at Pinnacle’s North Mount Pleasant office. Karina has been supporting her community by delivering distinctive service and effective advice to her personal and business clients for 20 years.
As part of Pinnacle’s commitment to help grow and support local economies, Karina offers financial education classes to community partners and businesses, supports underserved communities with opportunities for financial independence through entrepreneurship, and advocates for affordable housing and homeownership in partnership with community and mortgage programs.
Karina is passionate about supporting small businesses and hosts an annual Mastermind forum to create community and synergy among local small business owners. She works in partnership with local schools to promote childhood and adolescent financial literacy.
Originally hailing from Cambridge, England, Karina moved to the United States in 2001 and began her career in banking after graduating from Mildenhall College of Technology. She enjoys traveling with her husband and two young daughters.
JENNIFER MAXWELL
Jennifer Maxwell is a Regional Director of Sales for Raines Company. She oversees the sales and marketing for hotels in the Charleston, Greenville and Augusta markets. She has been in the hospitality industry for 19 years.
Jennifer’s most recent accomplishments include winning the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 and the William Brian Moody Leader Award by Charleston Leaders in 2023. She has also previously won the Best and Brightest award by Charleston Business Journal for 35 and Under in 2021. During her tenure at Hilton Garden Inn Charleston/Mount Pleasant, she was recognized by Hotelplanner.com and Meetings.com as one of 2015’s top 50 group sales managers. In 2016, Jennifer Maxwell was awarded one of four Director of Sales Merit Awards for all Hilton Garden Inns in North America. In 2017, Jennifer was awarded the Director of Sales Award for Hilton Garden Inns in North America.
Jennifer is currently serving on the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee for the Town of Mount Pleasant. She has volunteered with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce since joining in 2015; She has served as the Marketing Committee Chair, Secretary, Vice President, and President-Elect. Jennifer also graduated from the 2017 Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Charleston program.
CHRIS STAUBES
Chris Staubes is the owner of the Staubes Law Firm and the Harbor Group business brokerage, where he assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, corporate start-ups, contract review and negotiation, franchise rights, and general corporate matters.
Chris currently leads the Coastal Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America as President of the Council's Executive Board. In addition to his service as President Emeritus of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, Chris has served as an elected member of the Charleston County School Board, President of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, President of the Mount Pleasant Chamber Foundation and President of the Mount Pleasant Business Association. In 2012, Chris participated in The Riley Institute® at Furman University, and was named a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow. Chris was the General Counsel and a member of the Board of Directors for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce from 2000–2003, and he is a 1998 graduate of the Leadership Charleston. In 2001, Chris was named to the Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for his public and community service. Chris has an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2010 in the field of Corporate Law. Charleston Business Magazine has named Chris to their 2017 Legal Elite of the Lowcountry for his work in Corporate law and Mergers and Acquisitions. Chris was awarded the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award in 2019 for his contributions at the local, state, and regional level.
Chris is a graduate of Wofford College and the University of South Carolina School of Law, and resides in Mt. Pleasant with his wife Tanya.
Ben Nesvold
Benjamin Nesvold is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments in Mount Pleasant. Ben helps business owners and individuals with their complex investment and financial planning needs. He has successfully grown his practice by becoming deeply involved in the community and working to understand his client's personal goals and needs before developing their financial strategies.
Louis Tyson
Louis Tyson is the founder/operator of Tyson Accounting Services LLC in Mt. Pleasant, SC. As an IRS licensed Enrolled Agent with over 25 years of experience, Louis provides a variety of income tax services to small businesses and individuals: tax planning, return preparation, and IRS correspondence evaluation and response. While helping individuals, families and small businesses navigate the complex U. S. Tax Code, Louis stays abreast of the ever-changing laws and focuses his attention on the firm’s developing role in the tax field and its expanding clientele who require tax help.
Louis is also the co-founder of Hanahan Community Cats (a 501(c)3 non-profit) dedicated to reducing cat overpopulation in Hanahan, SC through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return. He volunteers with Berkeley Animal Center and Charleston Animal Society.
Louis is a graduate of the University of Georgia and moved to Charleston, SC in 1992. Louis resides in Hanahan with his wife, Taylar, two sons, and multiple pets.
Edward L. Phipps
Edward L. Phipps is the founder and managing member of the Phipps Law Firm. A serial entrepreneur, he is the owner of a vodka brand named KandE Vodka, a lifestyle clothing line called Live Not Guilty and a one of a kind fishing strike indicator called EZ-ON Bobber. Dependability, Leadership, Diligence, Generosity, Common Sense, and taking Innovative Action/Risks to solve simple and complex problems is what defines his success and nature to win. – Live Not Guilty
Edward completed public and parochial schools in the Charleston Area. He graduated from Bishop England High School in Charleston, SC in 1990, Charleston Southern University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice in 1997, and from Florida Coastal School of Law (JD) in 2001. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar the same year. He is a former police officer for the Town of Mount Pleasant Police Department from 1993-1999, where he specialized in Driving Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement and traffic fatality accident reconstruction.
Edward is committed and devoted to lead his Firm’s lawyers and staff to serving his clients. He creates an atmosphere of success and comfort for those he represents and around him. He is well-trusted and available to his clients, colleagues, and friends around the clock. He has a vast experience of problem solving skills with a history of successful resolutions and outcomes. The majority of his business comes through referrals for many areas of law including a focus on litigation in the following areas of law: automobile accidents/personal injury, criminal law/DUI, and small business law/corporate law.
John Carroll
John Carroll is a national award-winning columnist, author, consultant, executive coach and serial entrepreneur. He helps executives and organizations be more productive and more profitable and have more fun. John is one of only 20 professionals worldwide recognized by peers for his work in consulting with emerging growth companies. John has worked with executives and entrepreneurs in businesses, trade groups and charitable organizations.
An accomplished and engaging speaker, he has been internationally recognized for Sales and Facilitation Excellence. His approaches have attracted attention globally, including articles appearing in Chief Executive China magazine.
A national award-winning columnist, John is also the author of Sales Illustrated: 68 Sales Lessons from Everyday Life (available in three languages) and The Great Big Book of Goal Setting and Getting. His columns have appeared regularly in The Charleston Regional Business Journal and The Catholic Miscellany.
With firsthand experience in manufacturing, distribution and service industries, he works well in start-up situations, having launched or helped to launch six organizations. John is the first layperson to serve on the Clergy Personnel Advisory Board of the Diocese of Charleston.
A founding board member of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, he is also the founding board chair and a current board member of Camp Rise Above, providing summer camp experiences for children with life-threatening illness and serious life challenges. He is a founding board member of Lowcountry Local First and has served as board president of the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center and president of what is now the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. He is the father of two grown daughters and grandfather of one and lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Lori.
Rick Geicek
Rick Geicek is the owner and operator of Nothing Bundt Cakes. Rick oversees a close team of twenty employees who work hard to help our community celebrate their special occasions and make each day a little sweeter. While operating the day-to-day activities of the bakery, Rick also likes to stay active philanthropically in the greater Charleston area by maintaining a presence in education, athletics, and healthcare, among other sectors. Rick worked in development for 29 years, for a variety of nonprofit organizations prior to moving to Mount Pleasant in November of 2020.
Rick was born and raised outside of Detroit, Michigan and he spent most of his former years in the state of Michigan. His later years, Rick has lived mostly in the south - Tennessee and South Carolina – completely appreciating the southern hospitality.
Rick is a very big family man with a daughter who is 29 years old and twin boys who are 27. He is the son of Polish immigrants who came to America soon after the end of World War II and states his inherent work ethic and desire to help his community are borne from his father’s true understanding of what it means to help others.
In the end, Rick believes it is faith, family, and fortitude to carry forward in life, and he hopes it is the example he can set for his family.
JOE HINSKE
Joe Hinske is a CPA and Managing partner of Legare + Bailey + Hinske LLC in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Joe manages the account firm of 9 CPAs and 3 staff. LBH combines professional accounting, tax, audit and business consulting expertise with collaboration, passion and a genuine personal commitment that builds enduring relationships and successful results for clients, employees, and the community. LBH serves a variety of individuals, business and industries. Joe specifically focuses on individuals, professional service firms, hospitality, and estate and trust taxation.
Joe is a graduate of Charleston Southern University with a degree in business and has a Masters in Accountancy from the University of Charleston, SC. He has taught taxation at both schools at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He was awarded “40 Under 40” by the Charleston Regional Business Journal and is the inaugural winner of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year (2018). He is past president of the Estate Planning Council of Charleston and is currently on the Board of Directors of Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful.
Joe resides on Daniel Island with his wife, Nikki, and 2 boys.