Meet the Beginnings SC Team!

Preston Trippe

Executive Director

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

Megan Goodbar

Director of Programs

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.


Email: megan@beginningssc.org


Kelli Graham

Parent Education Specialist

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


Email: kelli@beginningssc.org

Gaia Colafrancesco

 DSS Programs Manager

Gaia graduated from the University of South Carolina in May of 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and aspires to work in the field of Speech Pathology. Her diverse experiences have helped shape a strong foundation and thoughtful approach to her work. Initially starting with Beginnings SC as a Hearing Screener, Gaia quickly gained valuable insight and understanding about hearing loss that she had not been able to achieve without Beginnings. The knowledge she gained sparked a passion for providing education and resources to serve children with hearing loss. Gaia quickly found purpose in her work first as a hearing screener, and then as DSS Programs Manager. 


When she isn’t working, Gaia enjoys playing with her dogs, spending time outdoors, and reading.