PCSC Board of Trustees

Katherine R. Ligon, President and CEO, has served in her current position since February 2007. Her professional career within the Presbyterian Church began at Trinity Presbytery where she worked for three years before joining PCSC in 1987. Prior to her election as president she served as the Director of Development (fundraising and church relations) and Vice President for PCSC. Kathy is well-known in the industry for serving in positions on the national Board of Presbyterian Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (PAHSA), serving as the national convener for the Chief Executive Officers of Multi-site Organizations (CEMO) for LeadingAge National and as a board member of the not-for-profit state association, LeadingAge South Carolina. Currently, she is serving as a coach for the Leadership Academy for LeadingAge National. Kathy is a graduate of Columbia College in Columbia, SC.

Tony Fountain, Chief Operating Officer (COO) joined PCSC in September 2015. Prior to PCSC, Tony served 12 years as President/CEO of a not-for-profit faith-based senior living organization in South Carolina and has served in the long-term care industry since 1988. Prior to his role as CEO, he served as Vice-President of Operations for a state-wide multi-site not-for-profit in South Carolina. He is licensed through the SC Board of Long-term Heath Care Administrators and is a graduate of Charleston Southern University, where he currently serves as a member of the Board of Visitors. In 2008, he became certified in Advanced Leadership from Duke University. Tony is a former Board Chair with LeadingAge South Carolina and is an appointed member of the National Commission of Ethics in Aging Services in Washington, DC. He has served on numerous other boards, has been formally recognized for his leadership and service to the senior living industry, and is a frequent speaker and presenter in various state and national venues.

Chad Melven, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for planning, implementing, managing and controlling all financial related activities of Presbyterian Communities of SC, including Accounting and Information Technology. Previously, he was PCSC's Controller who assisted in implementing, managing and controlling financial-related activities and systems of the organization, and also the annual budget process. He directed the general accounting, payroll, payables, and reimbursement and revenue cycle areas of the organization, including monthly close and financial statement preparation and related financial, cost and tax reporting. His responsibilities also included coordinating the annual external financial audit, and implementing and monitoring internal control policies and procedures. Before joining PCSC, Chad was a senior audit manager for regional public accounting firm from 1991 to 1998. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Accounting from the University of South Carolina, and is an active licensed certified public accountant.  Mr. Melven joined Presbyterian Communities in August 1998.

Melvyn Adkerson, Director of Information Technology – joined PCSC in 2011 as senior network engineer and was promoted to Director of IT in 2015. He has been working in the computer and telecommunications field since 1994 and supports all aspects of the organization’s computer and network infrastructure, as well as daily IT operations. At PCSC, Melvyn has been instrumental in implementing Electronic Health Records and adding state-of-the-art wireless networking for increased staff mobility in services to residents. Melvyn studied Electrical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University before completing his studies in Computer Science at Middle Tennessee State University.

Elizabeth Beutel, Director of Sales and Marketing – joined PCSC in July 2012. She supports the organization in all areas of sales and marketing while contributing to product management and development. Elizabeth has a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana University (majoring in Marketing and minoring in Finance) and a B.S. in Human Resources and Family Studies from the University of Illinois (majoring in Dietetics). Elizabeth is licensed in South Carolina as an assisted living administrator (CRCFA) and maintains her registration as a dietitian. She has served in several management positions in the long-term care industry since 1999 including for-profit and not-for-profit sectors of senior living and has been in health care since 1991.

Rev. Dr. Franklin Fant, Director of Foundation Services and Church Relations – joined PCSC in March 2015 after completing nine years of service on the PCSC Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, he served on and chaired the Board’s Finance and Audit Committees. Prior to joining PCSC, he was the Pastor of Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC for nearly 11 years. He continues to supply pulpits across the state. Prior to entering the ministry, Franklin worked in accounting and consulting for Arthur Andersen & Co. in Columbia and KPMG, LLP in Washington, DC. He also served as Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of New Hampshire and was a Visiting Scholar at the Securities and Exchange Commission where he worked in the Division of Economic Analysis. Franklin holds a B.S. in Financial Management from Clemson University, a Ph. D. in Finance from Florida State University, and an M. Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary, as well as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Ellen Imperial, Director of Clinical Services – joined PCSC in September 2016 and is responsible for providing a range of clinical consulting services to assist PCSC leadership in enhancing the quality of care and ensuring compliance. She has been a Registered Nurse since 1988 and has served in the long-term care field in various leadership capacities since 1995. Prior to PCSC, she served as the Vice-President of Clinical Services and Reimbursement for the Maxwell Group, the management company for Senior Living Communities. She is dually licensed in South Carolina as a nursing home administrator (NHA) and an assisted living administrator (CRCFA). Ellen is a speaker and educator with the senior living industry, promoting program management and development for clinical, reimbursement, and system structure; while noting the importance of performance measurement. She is a graduate from Lorma College with a BSN in Nursing.

Laura Shirer, Director of Employee Relations – joined PCSC in September 2011 and was promoted to her current position in January 2014. She has experience working in human resources, payroll, employee benefits, employee personnel issues, as well as expertise in human resource laws and regulations. Laura has worked in the long-term care industry in Human Resources and Employee Relations since 2001. She is a graduate of University South Carolina Aiken with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication and a Minor in Business and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Laura also participates in the LeadingAge of South Carolina’s Human Resources Forum as well as the South Carolina Healthcare Human Resources Association (SCHHRA) where she serves on the board advising on Long Term Care.

Mandy Stamper, Director of Program Advancement – joined PCSC in January 2016. She supports the advancement of quality programming and services across the continuum with a special emphasis in Assisted Living and Campus Home Services. Prior to PCSC, she served as Vice-President of Operations for Westminster Towers, a not-for-profit faith-based senior living organization in Rock Hill, South Carolina. While there, she also served as Campus Administrator during her 14-year tenure. She is a graduate of Winthrop University and has been working in the senior living industry since 1996, both in the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors. Mandy is a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) and also dually licensed in South Carolina as a nursing home administrator (NHA) and an assisted living administrator (CRCFA). She serves as a board member and continues to be very involved with LeadingAge South Carolina.

Jason Basile, Executive Director/Administrator, The Columbia Presbyterian Community – joined PCSC in January 2017. Jason has both his Nursing Home Administrator and Assisted Living Licenses from the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators. His undergraduate degree is in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University and he has a Masters in Health Administration and Policy from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. His prior roles in senior living consisted of Administrator and Director of Business Development.

Ben Prince, Executive Director/Administrator, The Florence Presbyterian Community – joined PCSC in 2019. Ben recently served as a Senior Living Consultant with the Health Dimensions Group, who provides managerial assistance and/or oversight with senior communities as contracted.  He has a long career in senior living services, having served in related positions for the past 30+ years. During his career, Ben has served as single site Nursing Home Administrators, as well as an Executive Director of a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community), not-for-profit community in Texas.  With this important daily on-site experience, Ben has also served in the role of Regional Director of Operations for 10+ years, as well as a prior role of Owner/Operator with two Assisted Living communities. Ben is licensed by the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators.  His undergraduate degree is in Behavioral Science from the University of Northern Iowa. 

Tim Barresi, Executive Director, The Village at Summerville joined PCSC in July 2018.  Tim most recently served as the Regional Director of Operations of Harmony Senior Services, where he manages a portfolio of 6 senior living communities in SC and VA. In his current role, he has opened 3 new communities, from construction to state licensure. He has a long career in senior living services, having served in related positions for the past 23 years.
During his career, Tim has served as a single site Executive Director/Administrator, as well as 10 years as a regional operations specialist. His passion for serving seniors is evident in his choice of career path, but more importantly in his daily interactions with those served and in working intentionally to develop a team of employees where the mission and values are represented in action. Tim has both his Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) and Assisted Living Licenses (CRCFA) from the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators. His undergraduate degree is in Sociology from the University of Akron, OH and he has a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of South Carolina.

Karen Nichols, Executive Director/Administrator, Foothills Retirement Community – joined PCSC in 2014. Since 1998 she has been in the senior living industry serving as a Nurse, Director of Nursing, Administrator and Executive Director. Her experience includes serving as Executive Director at Cascades Verdae and helping to design, build and operate the Cottages at Brushy Creek. Prior to PCSC, she served as the director of the geripsych unit at Mary Black Hospital. She has also served as Statewide coordinator of the Culture Change Coalition of SC, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Long-term Care and has worked on the state and national level in the industry helping to promote person-centered care. She is dually licensed in South Carolina as a nursing home administrator (NHA) and an assisted living administrator (CRCFA). She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lander University.

Paul Pridmore, Executive Director/Administrator, The Clinton Presbyterian Community – joined PCSC in January 2016. Prior to PCSC, he most recently served as Executive Director/Administrator of Rice Estate, a continuing care retirement community in Columbia, South Carolina. He has also worked as a Chief Financial Officer and as a Healthcare Administrator with other South Carolina not-for-profit senior living organizations since joining the retirement industry in 2004. He is dually licensed in South Carolina as a nursing home administrator (NHA) and an assisted living administrator (CRCFA) and holds an MBA from Clemson, and a B.A. in accounting from Lander University.