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 the Tourist Council. 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, daughters-in-law and grandson and two granddaughters in Southwest Michigan.

How to connect

msimpson@swmichigan.org

REGIONAL MUST-SEES

When asked, I encourage tourists 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 tourist 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.

Sarah Steffens

Marketing Coordinator and Group Sales

Planning a wedding, business meeting, or team event in Southwest Michigan? Contact Sarah Steffens for help with venues, activities, and accommodations. With over 15 years of experience working with tourists, Sarah excels at making visitors' experiences memorable and values their feedback, using it to enhance the region's appeal.

Active in her home community, she serves as president of South Haven’s Black River Lions Club and zone chairperson for the Lions of Michigan District 11-B2.

Favorite things to do while in Southwest Michigan

As a photographer and artist, Sarah always looks for beautiful places to recommend in the area. She encourages visitors to explore:

Anywhere you can walk or sit along Lake Michigan, especially at sunset. Southwest Michigan’s beaches and bluff overlooks offer stunning views.

Areas you can take time to appreciate the raw, natural beauty of Southwest Michigan. The simplicity of just being on our trails, beaches and preserves is something a lot of people crave. It takes away a lot of stress.

Fun fact

Drop by the Visitor Center to learn more about the area. The dog that greets you is Sarah’s.

How to connect

ssteffens@swmichigan.org

HER HAPPY PLACE

I feel incredibly fortunate to live with my family by Lake Michigan and witness the beautiful sunsets every day. Something I suggest to tourists is to take a moment to appreciate the raw, natural beauty of Southwest Michigan. Its simplicity is something a lot of us crave.

HER CRYSTAL BALL

It excites me to see the increasing interest in traveling sports and robotics teams coming to play and stay in our area. There are so many reasons for teams and families to extend their visits. My dream for the future is for our area to establish a full-fledged convention center.

MORE ABOUT SARAH

I was born on the east side of Michigan and spent my childhood moving with my family all over Michigan, to Florida and Ohio. I earned an Art Education degree from Central Michigan University and I love working on a variety of art projects outside of work. I have a high school daughter who is an amazing cello player and a dog who you often can see at the Visitor Center.

Brandi Tucker

Office Manager

Brandi Tucker moved from membership and group services to office manager in 2022. She enthusiastically oversees the Tourist Council’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 two 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 tourists 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.

Unlock a world of potential customers

Read more in our Visitors Guide