Meet our friendly Gravatt staff! You can click each profile to read more.
2024 Board of Trustees
Heath Stewart- Chair
Meredith Blocker – Vice Chair
The Rev. Robert Byrne, Emeritus
Jenny Buck
Rev. Mary Balfour Dunlap
Jason Edens
Whitney Evans, Treasurer
Starke Farley
The Rev. Jimmy Hartley
Charlotte Hodge, Secretary
Chris How
The Rt. Rev. Daniel Richards, Ex Officio
Thomas Coleman was a camper and is a longtime staff member at Gravatt, beginning in 1997 as a junior counselor. He has served as a counselor, assistant ropes director, and ropes director for the camp. He also served as the full time Program Director at Gravatt.
Thomas graduated from Appalachian State University in 2004 with a degree in Recreation Management and a concentration in Outdoor Experiential Education. He is an Eagle Scout, SC Certified Landscape Professional, SC Certified Prescribed Fire Manager, and Aiken Land Conservancy Past Board Member. Thomas enjoys fishing and hunting. Thomas lives in Columbia with his beautiful wife Rebecca and children Mary Mac and Frances. Thomas and his family are active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia.
Evan Mikula was a camper and longtime summer camp staff member, serving as Counselor, Head Counselor, Art Director, GEEP Director, and Ropes Director. After graduating from Clemson University in 2017 with a BS in Conservation Management, Evan went to teach Outdoor Education in Southern California, but he couldn’t stay away from Gravatt for too long and shortly returned to Intern under Thomas Coleman for two years. When his internship with Gravatt was up, Evan traveled once again out west to work Maintenance in Central Oregon and then traveled to Utah to join the Utah Conservation Corps to serve the country in bettering the environment. Once again Evan couldn’t stay away and found himself back home at Gravatt, this time to stay. Gravatt is home and Evan could not be more thrilled to lead groups on the ropes course or out in the woods at his favorite place.
Wendi is a camper parent and has attended retreats and events at Gravatt over the years. Wendi has an extensive background working in the development offices of non-profits. We are thrilled she will be sharing her time and expertise with Gravatt.
Gravatt found a place in the heart of Christine Tibshrany Koutrakos a long time ago. She has many ties to Gravatt. Gravatt helped shape Christine as she was a camper, counselor in training, junior counselor, counselor, and head counselor at summer camp. She was honored to receive the Outstanding Staffer of the Year Award in 1992. Christine also served at events on the conference side, including Happening Staff, Rector of #22, and Diocesan Youth Council.
Christine graduated from Presbyterian College in 1996 with a degree in Special Education. She taught Special Education at the elementary and high school levels, being named 2001-2002 Teacher of the Year at Airport High School, before she chose to be full-time mother to her three sons, Phillip, Alexander, and Timothy. Christine is married to Jim Koutrakos, who has come to love Gravatt – enjoying adult events and watching his sons experience summer camp and events of their own.
Christine served on the Board of Trustees, was the volunteer chair of Under the Tent, and is always eager to support Gravatt. She is excited about her role at Gravatt, which allows her to share Gravatt with others and work to grow and improve all that Gravatt already is – the place in the woods that finds a place in your heart.
Scott’s journey with Gravatt began in 1990 when he attended as a camper. He later served as a counselor during his college years and was lucky enough to take on a variety of roles at camp, including Head Counselor, Assistant Ropes Director and Director of Leadership. From 2011 to 2016, he served as Gravatt’s first year-round Summer Camp Director, then as Director of Operations from 2015 to 2017, and finally as Executive Director from July 2017 to today.
A 2005 graduate of Clemson University with a BA in Psychology, Scott is originally from Tirzah, SC. He now lives in Columbia with his wife, Meredith, and their daughter, Mary Byrd. Outside of work, Scott enjoys spending time at the gym, reading detective novels, and watching as many sporting events as possible.
Pat joined the Gravatt team in January 2016 after many years in food service with other organizations. She likes the family atmosphere at Gravatt. She loves making Italian dishes. A native of Rhode Island, Pat is married to Peter, has a daughter and a son, and loves her beautiful grandchild.
Emily grew up in Memphis, TN and graduated from St. Mary’s Episcopal School. She attended the University of Tennessee, majoring in Child and Family Studies. While she lived in East Tennessee she met Jason. They moved to Columbia, SC in 2015. They have two children Becca and Mateo. Emily is a member of Columbia Presbyterian Church. She worked in accounts payable of Hilton Hotel Headquarters and then was account manager for the timeshare division of Hilton Hotels.
She has volunteered and worked for several non-profit organizations. Emily enjoys baking, reading, walking and time with friends. Her first visit to Gravatt was attending Under the Tent 2022 – of course she shared her amazing homemade desserts on the dessert bar. “Gravatt reminded me of the ‘old school’ camps I went to as a child.”
Fletch grew up coming to Camp Gravatt as a camper in the 1990’s. He spent time as a camper, junior counselor, counselor, Head Counselor, Program Director, and served previously as our Camp Director in the summer of 2006. A 20-year veteran educator, Fletch spent sixteen years in Richland Two serving in the roles of classroom teacher, head soccer coach, Lead Teacher, and Student Activities Director at Blythewood High School. He then served for four years in Richland One as an Assistant Principal at AC Flora High School.
Fletch met his beautiful wife Michelle, a Biology teacher at Spring Valley High School, at Camp Gravatt in the summer of 2000 when they were both on staff as counselors. They have three children who attend Camp Gravatt and go to Crayton Middle School in Columbia. Fletch and his family are active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia.
Andy began working at Gravatt the summer of 2017. He served three summers as a counselor, three as handyman, and one as Assistant Ropes and GEEP Director. Andy is a native of Charlotte, North carolina. He attended the University of South Carolina then finished his schooling at Clemson University, graduating with a degree in Conservation Area Management. Andy still wears garnet and pulls for the Gamecocks.
As Director of Landscaping and Grounds, Andy works hard daily making sure our property is ready for guests. He hopes to help Gravatt capture its purest beauty so all can enjoy this little paradise.