First Community names two directors

What happened

First Community Corporation (NASDAQ: FCCO) named Shell Knox Berry and Terrance Ford to its board of directors on October 1, 2026. The company is based in Lexington, South Carolina, and is the holding company of First Community Bank. First Community Bank is a local community bank in the Midlands of South Carolina. Berry is president and CEO of the Community Foundations for the Central Savannah River Area, where she has worked since 2015.

Under her leadership, the organization grew from more than $60 million in assets to over $215 million. It also made more than $180 million in grants for charitable needs.

Berry has also held investment banking roles in Chicago and Atlanta. She owned a retail franchise business and worked in nonprofit development. She serves on the boards of HUB Augusta Collaborative, Augusta Economic Development Authority, Augusta Tomorrow and Union Presbyterian Seminary. She recently served as co-chair of the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance.

Ford is vice president of AT&T South Carolina. He leads statewide strategy, legislative affairs, public policy, philanthropy and external engagement. The filing says he has nearly three decades of experience in network operations, broadband services, economic development and community affairs. He has served on boards including Central Carolina Community Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, Columbia Urban League and Midlands Business Leadership Group.

Key numbers

Metric	Latest	Change	Source
Community Foundations for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) assets under Shell Knox Berry's leadership	over $215 million		SEC 8-K, Exhibit 99.2
Community Foundations for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) assets at the start of Shell Knox Berry's leadership	more than $60 million		SEC 8-K, Exhibit 99.2
Grants made under Shell Knox Berry's leadership	more than $180 million		SEC 8-K, Exhibit 99.2
Asset growth under Shell Knox Berry's leadership	more than $155 million		Calculated from SEC 8-K

Read more: First Community (FCCO) stock analysis and investment case

Why it matters

OptimistFi's case is that FCCO can create value if First Community Bank keeps turning South Carolina relationship banking into profitable, well-capitalized balance-sheet growth. This filing is mixed for that case. The new directors bring investment banking, philanthropy and telecommunications experience. Berry's record also shows more than $155 million of asset growth, from more than $60 million to over $215 million.

That background may help a community bank board, but it is not evidence of bank operating results. Ford adds another outside perspective, yet the release still shows a governance update, not lending or funding performance.

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What's next

Berry and Ford now join the board at First Community Corporation. If their service is followed by better execution, that would support OptimistFi's case. If not, this filing will remain a governance update.

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