J. Ted Nissen earns leadership award

The Independent Banks of South Carolina (IBSC) met for their 59th Annual Convention in Savannah, Georgia recently.

During the annual meeting banquet July 28, J. Ted Nissen, President of First Community Bank, was named the 2023 recipient of the IBSC Leadership Award. The award is given to individuals with outstanding contributions to community education, community and economic development and volunteerism. Nissen was chosen by his peers to receive this award for his steadfast commitments to leadership in his own community and beyond.

He is active in his community and serves as Chairman of the Lexington Medical Foundation. He is a past board member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Midlands Technical College Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, Harvest Hope Food Bank and is a former graduate of Leadership Columbia.

Nissen is an ambassador for the community banking industry; supporting and promoting the industry at speaking engagements, specifically focused on small business financial opportunities. Currently, he is chairman-elect for the board of EngenuitySC, a non-profit organization that connects Columbia, with top businesses and development opportunities to economically grow our state. Additionally, Nissen serves on the Board at the SCBA in the Community Bankers Division. He is also on the Loan Committee for the Business Development Corporation (BDC).

He is one of the original founding members of the First Community Bank Executive Leadership team and over the 26 years since the bank has opened, he’s been instrumental in connecting local and national businesses with community banking; improving the quality of life in many of South Carolina’s communities.

Ted attended Presbyterian College and is married to Janet Nissen. They have a son named J, daughter-in-law, Shannon, and granddaughter, Ryleigh. He is a native of Marion and currently lives in Lexington.