Meet the Beginnings SC Team!

Preston Trippe is a South Carolina native, he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management before going on to work for an Anheuser Busch wholesaler for over ten years as the Sales Execution Coordinator, Accounts Payable, IT, and High End & Craft Brand Manager (most of that was all at once).

Preston then transitioned into a 5-year career in residential real estate with Coldwell Banker and then ERA Wilder. 

Preston was first introduced to Beginnings SC as a parent of a D/HH child. He and his wife really valued that Beginnings SC provided them with guidance and access to a wealth of resources - IEP assistance, community resources, social gatherings, and even ASL classes. Looking to get more involved in the organization, he began serving as a board member. That same willingness to serve and desire to give back is why he accepted the Executive Director position when it became available. Though he has only been a part of the Beginnings family for a short time, he cannot imagine his family's life without the guidance, support, teachings, and love the whole organization provides them.



When he is not working, he enjoys running and spending time with his family in the mountains of North Carolina.

Email: preston@beginningssc.org

After 11 years of whole-hearted dedication to Beginnings SC, Mary made the decision to step down from her role as Director of Programs. Her heart is still with BSC and she will continue to advise and support however she can. Read her blog post about this decision here.

Mary Reaves is a Rehabilitation Counselor by training who worked in Deaf Mental Health for nearly 10 years before co-founding Beginnings SC - a statewide nonprofit that aims to help families who have deaf or hard of hearing children find belonging. Their programs include parent counseling, services for child care providers, advocacy and policy, training and technical assistance, and awareness and education to support the families and professionals who serve deaf and hard of hearing children. She received her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from UofSC School of Medicine in 2009 with a Certificate in Deaf Studies and through this program learned American Sign Language and found a home in advocating alongside deaf and hard of hearing adults and children. Mary received a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from William & Mary Law School in 2021 and has gone on to support families (including her own) as they navigate the educational needs of children with disabilities. 



Mary has served on the board of directors for community organizations including Girls Rock Columbia and is currently a member of the Advisory Board the The Hive. Mary's goal is to help remove the barriers put into place when language access is not provided so that all deaf and hard of hearing children can reach their fullest potential.

Cara is a National Board Certified Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has taught students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing for 20 years in a variety of educational settings, as well as serving as an administrator at the district level for a Midlands’ D/HOH program.

Unable to accept the status quo with regard to intervention and education of students with a hearing loss, she co-founded Beginnings SC to focus on proactive intervention and parent education and empowerment.

After 12 years of leading Beginnings SC, Cara made the decision to retire. Her dedication to Beginnings SC paved the way forward for the organization and her support continues to bolster the organization.

Kelli Graham is a lifelong Southerner passionate about learning and travel. With a former career as a flight attendant at Delta Air Lines, she quickly learned to assess customers’ safety & needs and served on Delta’s Emergency Response Care Team. She holds a B.A. in Sign Language Interpreting and has worked in community and educational settings for 20+ years. She also serves as an education advocate, assisting families and their IEP/504 teams. Additionally, as the parent of a teenager who is Deaf, she consistently seeks ways to bridge the communication gap and increase access between the Deaf and Hearing worlds.

As a family initially served by Beginnings SC in 2015, Kelli is excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm to Beginnings SC as a Parent Education Specialist promoting early hearing detection and intervention to families in South Carolina. You can find her working on her farm, reading, and enjoying time together with her husband and five teens/young adults in her spare time

Megan has over 20 years of experience in operations management, administration, and customer service; Megan brings a wealth of knowledge to our programs. She has previously served on the advisory board for The Children's Cochlear Implant Center at UNC, where she also volunteered as their social media coordinator and was a member of the Content and Marketing Committee for The National CMV Foundation. 

As a dedicated wife and mom of three, Megan has a personal connection to our mission. Her daughter is profoundly deaf due to congenital CMV and has bilateral cochlear implants, which has fueled Megan's passion for supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is enthusiastic about all the programs we offer and looks forward to continuing to raise awareness and provide education about the vital services available through Beginnings SC.



When she is not working, Megan loves spending time with family and friends and reading.