2024 Nominating Committee Report

The Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union Nominating Committee, whose task is to make and accept nominations of qualified candidates to serve on the credit union's Board of Directors, met on September 23, 2024.

During this meeting, the Committee nominated three candidates to fill the expiring terms on the Palmetto Citizens Board of Directors. Following are brief biographical backgrounds of each candidate.

  • Allen R. Carter was born in Morgantown, WV. He spent his formative years in Virginia before moving to South Carolina in 1965. He now resides in Midland, North Carolina, married to Kathleen D. Carter. He has a daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters living in Indian Trail near Charlotte, NC. In addition, he has 5 stepchildren (with step spouses) and 10 step grandchildren. Family is his major interest and enjoys everyone at family gatherings and visits.
  • An architect by education and trade, Mr. Carter retired from the Office of State Engineer with the State of South Carolina and is now enjoying his retirement to the fullest. Professional memberships have included the American Institute of Architects and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Prior to joining the State of South Carolina, he was in private practice as a principal and partner in the architectural firm of Architects Boudreaux, Hultstand, and Carter (presently The Boudreaux Group).
  • He volunteers in civic and church activities, as well as professional and hobby organizations. He is an active member of his church and related organizations.
  • Mr. Carter has served on the Palmetto Citizens Board of Directors since 1994. He serves on the credit union's Supervisory Committee, holding the position of Chairman since 1994, and the Facilities and Planning Committee. He has achieved numerous certificate levels through the Volunteer Achievement Program offered by the Carolinas Credit Union League and the Credit Union National Association, including: Edward Filene, Friedrich Raiffeisen, Roy F. Bergengren, Aphonse Desjardins, Louise Herring and Dora Maxwell certificates. These achievements recognize the dedication and effort by Mr. Carter in continuing his education to best serve credit union members.
  • Steven Hamm was born in Los Angeles, CA. He is married to Dr. Debra W. Hamm and they have two daughters, Kristen who is a lawyer and Laura who is an architect. He is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara with a BA degree in Political Science and was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from School of Law at the University of South Carolina.
  • Prior to attending law school, Mr. Hamm served as a public school teacher with Sumter School District for three years. He started his legal career at the SC Department of Consumer Affairs as a law clerk while attending law school. Four years after graduating, Mr. Hamm was appointed by the Commission of Consumer Affairs to serve as the new Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs and as State Consumer Advocate. During his long career with the Department, Mr. Hamm represented the legal interests of consumers before state agencies, the General Assembly, Congress and before state and federal courts. Mr. Hamm argued state and federal regulatory cases totaling almost $3 billion dollars.
  • Mr. Hamm left the Department after serving for almost 18 years to join the law firm of Richardson, Plowden and Robinson in 1994. He started the regulatory and governmental practice group for the firm and developed a very successful consumer class action practice that returned multi-millions of dollars to his clients.
  • Mr. Hamm currently serves as Special Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to the Executive Director of the state Office of Regulatory Staff.
  • Mr. Hamm serves as the Chairman for the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for South Carolina and is a past Chairman of the USC Law School Alumni Association and the South Carolina Bar Consumer Law Section. During his governmental career, Mr. Hamm was elected by his peers to serve as the president of three different national consumer interest associations. In addition, the members of the Federal Reserve Board appointed Mr. Hamm to serve on its Nation Consumer Advisory Council. Following his appointment to the Council, the Federal Reserve Board named Mr. Hamm as the Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Council.
  • Mr. Hamm's volunteer interests include participation in civic projects as well as professional organizations. He and his wife are members of Downtown Church.
  • Mr. Hamm served as a member of the Palmetto Citizens Supervisory Committee from 1998 to 2003. He has served on the Board of Directors for the past 20 years, assuming the position of Chairman in 2021.
  • Thomas L. Jones moved to Columbia, SC in 1987. He is married to Cathy Young-Jones and has four adult children, and ten grandchildren.
  • Mr. Jones completed his formal education at New York University where he earned a Master of Science degree in History. His educational background and enthusiasm for life have afforded him opportunities to travel and gain a tremendous appreciation and respect for successful and carefully managed customer sensitive businesses.
  • His past professional experiences include work with the New York World's Fair, British West Indian Airways, MCA-Universal Studios, and two city transportation authorities in NC. Over the past 24 years, Mr. Jones has worked as Vice-President for East Coast Motor Freight, Inc. and President of his own consulting firm, Tom Jones & Company.
  • Mr. Jones served as a member of the Palmetto Citizens Supervisory Committee for 12 years prior to joining the Board of Directors in 2016. He has completed all available courses in the Credit Union National Association's Volunteer Achievement Program.

Any member, not included in the aforemen­tioned nominees, who wished to be consid­ered for a seat on the Board of Directors may seek nomination by petition.* A petition nomi­nation requires the signatures of no fewer than 500 members, as well as a brief summa­ry of the candidate's qualifications and biographical data. All petition nominations must be received by Palmetto Citizens no later than 5:00 PM on November 1, 2024.

The candidates listed in this report of the Nominating Committee will be elected by acclamation unless petition candidates are proposed for the upcoming election. Should there be petition candidates for consideration, voting ballots will be distributed to the mem­bership in January 2025 with their year-end statement.

The Annual Meeting of the membership of Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union will be held Thursday, February 20, 2025. No Board nominations will be accepted from the floor nor will there be ballot voting at the Annual Meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union Nominating Committee

  • Dr. Jason V. Wages, Ph.D., Chairman
  • Thomas Temple
  • Linda Austin

*Any member seeking nomination by petition must meet the following requirements: Over the age of 16; any and all accounts with PCFCU must be in good standing; must be current on any and all loans; must have a Prime Share account with a minimum balance of $25.00.