Melissa Phillips Had Big-City Dreams But No Regrets After 37 Years at USCOG

Melissa Phillips arrived at Upper Savannah Council of Governments (USCOG) in 1988 with fresh accounting credentials, big-city ambitions and a five-year exit plan firmly in mind. New York City was the dream, and one of the Big Eight accounting firms would be the destination. More than 37 years later until her retirement in March, Phillips is thankful that she never left USCOG.

The Greenwood native graduated from Piedmont Technical College in May 1988 with an Associate degree in Business Administration with an accounting emphasis. USCOG hired her as Accounting Specialist on Nov. 28, 1988.

“My favorite accounting professor, Dr. Kenneth Shull, had recommended me for the position (at USCOG),” Phillips said. “I was nervous because there was no emphasis on governmental accounting at the associate degree level.

“I shed a lot of tears the first couple of weeks and swore to my parents that I would not be there more than five years,” she said, looking back with a smile. “After all, my goals were to get my bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting emphasis and move to New York to work for one of the Big Eight accounting firms.

“Time flies, people change and goals change. I have 37 years under my belt as proof of that. The thing that I’m most proud of is that coming on board when I did allowed me to be a part of shaping what the (USCOG) Finance division is today.”

Phillips said some of the biggest changes since 1988 included implementing two software changes (Synergy Systems then to Grants Managements Systems accounting software), building the finance division from a one-woman show to a three-person well-oiled machine, and learning to do more with less (increased reporting requirements by grantors, but no additional funds to handle the increased work).

Phillips assumed the role of finance director in July 2000, coinciding with accounting specialist Elaine Bridges’ retirement that year. “It was the beginning of the finance division,” Phillips said.

Meanwhile, Phillips would add to her credentials, graduating from Clemson University with a master’s in business administration in 2002. By that point, USCOG was home.

“A few opportunities came my way over the years, especially with the degree progression,” she said. “What grounded me with Upper Savannah was the great people I got to work for and/or alongside. There was a mutual respect. Management encouraged personal and professional growth. You felt like part of a family. All of this made me think twice about leaving.”

USCOG would become a true home away from home, where she arrived at the office before anyone else and often stayed late. And some weekends too.

“Folks would say, ‘Melissa, you live at the COG,’” she said, with a laugh. “I can’t speak for other professions, but accounting is not a 9-to-5 job. People are counting on you to provide accurate and timely financial data so that they can make sound financial decisions.

“To truly shine and gain the respect of those waiting to use that financial information, you may find yourself coming in early, staying late, working weekends or even working on vacation. To be honest, I did all of these.

“Whatever it takes to ensure the growth and longevity of the COG. Twenty years from now when Upper Savannah is still going strong, I will smile and say with confidence, ‘Because of what I brought to the table, I helped pave the way to the success of Upper Savannah and made it possible for finance staff who came after me to do the same.’

“If it feels like home, you do what’s necessary to keep the house standing,” she said.

One of the biggest challenges for Phillips and the rest of the “COGGERS” is to explain to family, friends and colleagues what USCOG actually does.

“I tell them we are like a bunch of little businesses combined under one roof,” Phillips said. “We are quasi-governmental in that we serve as the go-between for the six counties that we serve. If a senior needs services, our Area Agency on Aging department can help. If an individual needs help finding a job after a plant closure, our workforce development department can help. There’s no fast and easy way to describe what we do.”

But there have been much bigger challenges for Phillips.

“COVID was the biggest challenge of my career at Upper Savannah,” she said. “Working from home and Zoom calls became the new normal for conducting business. It made doing business impersonal. We are a service organization which, to me, requires face-to-face interaction. This was lost during COVID. I still don’t believe the business world has fully recovered.

“Budget cuts over the past few years and decreased admin dollars have also created challenges,” she added. “Combined with the increase in reporting requirements, there were days I felt ready to throw in the towel.”

Instead, she kept plugging away and achieved many accomplishments such as “implementing the software changes,” she said. “Making sure the agency remained financially compliant. I can proudly say, Upper Savannah has never been audited by the IRS. We’ve passed, with relative ease, all financial monitoring for the grant programs. Growing the finance division into what it is today. Garnering the respect of management, staff, peers, legislators and people in the towns we serve.”

All the accomplishments required teamwork.

“Relationships are crucial to the success of the finance division,” she said. “The finance staff must be able to work with all the different internal divisions (of USCOG), the external auditors and program monitors, and the local governments in the counties in which Upper Savannah serves.

“The connection with finance staff at the other nine councils of government in South Carolina has proved invaluable,” Phillips added. “We all face similar situations and serve as a system of support through the ups and downs of the business.”

While she closed this chapter in March, including a retirement lunch with fellow USCOG staff and family on March 23, Phillips is not slowing down.

“My retirement plans include traveling as often as possible while I’m still able mentally and physically,” said Phillips, who is dedicated to her physical fitness. “Life is short. I intend to live my best life going forward.

“But, I also need to get my new venture as an entrepreneur up and running. Phillips Bookkeeping Solutions LLC was founded by me in December 2025. I’m now able to give full attention to providing my services to small businesses locally and beyond. And, thanks to technology, I can do this virtually from anywhere in the world. I’ll get to travel and work at the same time.”

Assistant Finance Director Christy Cannon has been elevated to finance director. Ashley Fenner joined USCOG this month as a staff accountant. Phillips and former staff accountant/Aging Programs Director Linda McAllister are also assisting with the transition.

Looking back, Phillips has no regrets — only gratitude.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot, gained a lot of forever friends. I’m glad I didn’t let my newbie doubts take control when I came to Upper Savannah in 1988. If I had stayed with my original goal of working in New York for one of the Big Eight accounting firms, I may have ended up unemployed. Last I checked, there were only four still doing business.

“For 37 years, Upper Savannah has felt like home,” she said. “I made the right decision. I leave with no regrets.”