Meet The Staff

Marcy Simpson

Executive Director

Marcy Simpson, executive director since 2022, is a key advocate for Southwest Michigan, continuously enhancing the region's appeal to visitors with the support of staff and Visit Southwest Michigan members. She has significantly improved the website, creating a comprehensive guide to local attractions and thrives on connecting locals to address tourism challenges and foster growth.

Valued on the boards of the Box Factory for the Arts and St. Joseph Today, Marcy is also a dedicated policy advocate. She voices concerns and ideas at major tourism conferences and meetings, ensuring the vitality of Michigan tourism.

Top things to do during your visit

These two gems make Marcy’s recommendations every time!

Stargaze at Dr. T.K. Lawless International Dark Sky Park in Vandalia.
Bring your family to Lake Michigan’s Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor. It’s a less-crowded beach and gives you access to Harbor Shores trails.

After hours

As hard as she works, Marcy knows how to unwind. She loves gardening and houseplants, hunting for old treasures in antique and vintage shops and loves playing tourist on her travel adventures. But her favorite way to relax is spending time with her two sons, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Southwest Michigan.

How to connect

msimpson@swmichigan.org

REGIONAL MUST-SEES

When asked, I encourage visitors to go to our International Dark Sky Park in Vandalia and Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor. I also challenge visitors to visit each of our beaches. No two of them are alike, yet each one makes you feel happy while you are there.

LOCAL TOURISM’S FUTURE

Our region has so much potential to be one of the top visitor destinations in the Midwest. We offer such a breadth of things to see and do indoors and outdoors. One of our biggest strengths is our waterfronts and future opportunities to develop along Lake Michigan and our rivers.

MORE ABOUT MARCY

I was born and raised in Dowagiac. I love to travel, raise houseplants, garden and go antiquing and vintage shopping. The joys of my life are my two sons, two daughters-in-law, a grandson and two granddaughters.

Brandi Tucker

Office Manager

Brandi Tucker moved from membership and group services to office manager in 2022. She enthusiastically oversees Visit Southwest Michigan’s prize-earning challenges — the Makers Trail Passport, Creative Connections, Southwest Michigan Trails Challenge and any future contests.

Brandi grew up in Southwest Michigan and is a walking directory of what to see and do while here. Her year as Miss Bridgman during the 2012 Blossomtime Festival opened her eyes to so many more communities and what they offer. She will gladly show you how Southwest Michigan is for everyone.

Tips for families

As a mother of three daughters, she suggests:

Silver Beach Pizza, St. Joseph. The wait staff hands out cups of raw pizza dough for the kids to play with while waiting for their meals.
Whirlpool Compass Fountain, St. Joseph. Giant splash pad to cool off in and picnic nearby. Best of all, it is free.
Eden Springs Park, Benton Harbor. Ride the miniature trains on summer weekends; hop aboard holiday-themed rides in October and December.
Weko Beach, Bridgman. Ice cream, soft sand and water go perfectly together.
Berrien County Youth Fair, Berrien Springs. Brandi once showed pigs and goats at the August fair. It is wholesome family fun.
Corn mazes at Southwest Michigan farms in the fall. Often there are hayrides and apples and pumpkins to pick.
Warren Dunes State Park. Fun all year, she highly recommends tubing or sledding on the dunes in winter.

How to connect

btucker@swmichigan.org

TIPS FOR FAMILIES

As a mom, I suggest to families that they buy pizza from Silver Beach Pizza and picnic at Whirlpool Compass Fountain, ride the miniature trains at Eden Springs, eat ice cream at Weko Beach, do our corn mazes in the fall and go tubing at Warren Dunes in the winter.

WHAT EXCITES HER

It excites me that shops, restaurants and unique attractions continue to pick here to do business and that most of them are locally owned. I’m proud to let visitors know that Southwest Michigan is for everyone. We make their experiences wheelchair, sensory and pet friendly.

MORE ABOUT BRANDI

I was born and raised in Bridgman and earned my associate degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Lake Michigan College. After getting married, I moved to Greenville, SC with my husband for a short time. We moved back to Bridgman to be closer to family and raise our two daughters in a place we all love.

Morgan Poole

Content Creator and Communications Coordinator

When Morgan Poole, our new Content Creator and Communications Coordinator, enters a room, her bright smile lights up everything around her. But it’s her passion for Southwest Michigan that draws you in and makes you want to follow where she leads you next. Since joining us in May 2025, she’s been exploring the region with fresh eyes and boundless energy.

That energy shines across our social media: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok. Through collaborations with members and influencers, Morgan creates content that’s authentic, informative, educational and inspiring. She helps locals and visitors turn every experience into a lasting memory.

Plan your trip Morgan-style

Morgan has lived, studied and worked across the country — from Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Delaware, the West Coast and now Michigan. Wherever she goes, she uncovers the heart of a place. Her approach works for any Southwest Michigan visitor:

Start with the Explore Southwest Michigan Visitors Guide. It’s packed with ideas for all ages. There’s so much to do, you’ll want to return again and again.
Use our itineraries as your launchpad. Morgan, a foodie, loves trying new spots and sharing custom itineraries built around her favorites. She encourages you to do the same based on your passions.
Follow us on social media. Join Morgan and the team on Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram for fresh ideas and insider tips.

How to connect

mpoole@swmichigan.org

Plan your trip Morgan-style

Amy Jovanovic

Project Coordinator

Amy June Jovanovic is the newest member of the team, but she’s definitely not new to the Southwest Michigan hospitality scene. In her role as Project Coordinator, Amy brings a dynamic blend of corporate experience and hospitality expertise that directly supports Visit Southwest Michigan’s mission. With a background rooted in revenue-driven marketing, relationship-based sales and operational strategy, Amy understands how to translate big-picture goals into meaningful results for partners and visitors alike.

In her role, Amy focuses on promoting, developing and advocating for destination experiences across Southwest Michigan, with particular emphasis on weddings, group travel and driving off-season business. She approaches this work with a strong understanding of both the visitor journey and the partner perspective. Her unique career path — bridging corporate systems with hands-on hospitality grit — allows her a holistic 360 approach to projects and to turn relationships into lasting value for the region.

Explore Southwest Michigan Like A Local

Amy has spent years working in local hospitality, bartending and managing events. Here are her tips for “going out” and entertaining like a local.

From wineries, breweries, summer concert series, open mics at coffee shops to local venues, the music scene in Southwest Michigan is a year-round experience that brings people together. Find music that moves you.
Amy grew up near Hagar beach, one of her go-to spots for building sandcastles, rock hunting or watching a Lake Michigan sunset. She suggests you pack a beach blanket, snacks and a cooler to make a day of it.
Fishing is more than a pastime: it’s family tradition. From reeling in salmon on Lake Michigan to casting a line on inland lakes, Amy encourages visitors to experience the thrill (and maybe even catch dinner). Many local charters are available.
Autumn is Amy’s favorite season, made even more special by her annual Fall float tradition down the Dowagiac River with her partner and their dog, Stella Bells. “When you can close your eyes and let the river carry you, with your fingertips barely touching the calmness of the surface, the river's peace flows right into you.”

How to connect

amyj@swmichigan.org

Explore Southwest Michigan Like A Local

Mike NadolskiChair
Melanie OwenVice President
Anne VonkTreasurer
Kelly MolitorSecretary
Larry Wozniak
Brady Cohen
Jay Patel
Raj Bhardwaj
Tyler Whitwam
David Costas
Chris Newland
Molly Celmer
Enrique Martinez

Meet The Staff

Promote your business. It's free!Expand Your Reach

Read more in our Visitors Guide