Debra Pierson
About Debra Pierson
Debra Pierson (age 57) has served as an independent director of LINKBANCORP, Inc. (LNKB) since 2018. She is President and CEO of Pierson Computing Connection, which she founded in 1993, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She serves on the national board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association; LNKB states that, aside from George Parmer (Amesite Inc.), none of its directors serve on other public-company boards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINKBANCORP, Inc. | Director (Independent) | Director since 2018; current term expires 2025 | Member, Compensation Committee (independent) and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (independent) |
| Pierson Computing Connection | President & CEO | Founded in 1993; current | Technology solutions leadership for state/local/education clients (East Coast) |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer’s Association | National Board Director | Current (not dated) | Non-profit; no LNKB-related transactions disclosed |
Board Governance
- Independence: LNKB deems all directors independent except CEO Andrew Samuel, John Breda, and Lloyd Harrison; Pierson is independent per Nasdaq rules .
- Committee memberships: Compensation Committee (Parmer, Chair; Pierson member) and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (Koppenhaver, Chair; Pierson member) .
- Attendance: LNKB’s board met 13 times in 2024; “other than Director Pierson, no member” attended fewer than 75% of aggregate board and committee meetings—a material red flag .
- Executive sessions and governance: Independent directors meet in executive session; LNKB has published governance guidelines and insider trading policy; board-led ERM oversight (separate Chair and CEO roles) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Policy | Debra Pierson (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non-employee directors who attend ≥75%) | $30,000; paid quarterly | $22,500 (reflects attendance below threshold) |
| Committee Chair fee | +$2,500 (Compensation, Risk, Nominating & Corporate Governance, Audit) | $0 (not chair) |
| Board Chair fee | +$5,000 (Chair of Board) | $0 (not Chair) |
| Meeting fees | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Vehicle | 2024 Grant Fair Value | Continuing Equity Holdings | Vesting/Policy Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | $13,160 (grant date fair value) | As of Dec 31, 2024, 2,000 shares of restricted stock; director options to purchase 5,000 shares held by Pierson | Equity plan requires ≥1-year vesting for ≥95% of awards; prohibits option repricing; double-trigger vesting on change in control; awards subject to clawbacks and anti-hedging/pledging restrictions |
No director-specific performance metrics (TSR/ROA/ESG) are disclosed for equity grants; RSUs/restricted stock appear time-based, consistent with LNKB’s plan terms .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Other public company boards: None for Pierson; only Parmer serves as a director of Amesite Inc (NASDAQ: AMST). LNKB states “otherwise, none” of its directors serve on other public company boards .
- Related-party transactions: LNKB discloses legacy subordinated note investments by entities owned by George Parmer and routine loans to directors under banking regulations; no transactions involving Pierson or her affiliates exceeding $120,000 since Jan 1, 2023 .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technology operations and project leadership: President/CEO of an IT solutions firm; PMP credential .
- Non-profit governance: National board role (Alzheimer’s Association) .
- Board qualification emphasis: LNKB cites her technology and business expertise as rationale for nomination .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (common) | 57,876 shares (includes options) | Less than 1% of outstanding shares |
| Shares owned directly/indirectly | 52,876 shares (excl. options) | Footnote breakdown below |
| Options/warrants exercisable within 60 days | 5,000 options | Director option holdings also noted in director comp table |
| Breakdown (footnote) | 24,992 shares in Pierson’s IRA; 22,857 shares owned by spouse; 1,600 unvested restricted stock; 666 RSUs vesting within 60 days | LNKB states no director/NEO shares pledged as collateral |
| Ownership guidelines | Not disclosed | Holding period may be required by award agreements |
Shareholder Voting Signal (2025 Annual Meeting)
| Director | For Votes | Against Votes | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Pierson | 18,775,123.30 | 9,430,124.00 | 49,327.08 | 3,612,323 |
Compared to peers, Pierson’s “Against” votes were notably high, signaling investor concern; other nominees generally received materially fewer “Against” votes .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independent director with relevant technology/operations background and non-profit governance experience .
- Member of two key independent committees (Compensation; Nominating & Corporate Governance), supporting board effectiveness .
- Equity component aligns interests; plan features double-trigger vesting, clawbacks, and anti-hedging/pledging restrictions enhancing shareholder protections .
-
Red Flags:
- Attendance shortfall: Pierson was the only director below 75% attendance in 2024; cash retainer reduced to $22,500 vs. $30,000 policy minimum for adequate attendance .
- Shareholder sentiment: Elevated “Against” votes in 2025 relative to peers suggest investor dissatisfaction, potentially linked to engagement/attendance .
-
Conflicts/Related Party Exposure:
- No disclosed related-party transactions involving Pierson; LNKB notes routine loans to directors under banking regs and separate investments by another director’s entities; none attributed to Pierson .
-
Alignment & Policies:
- No pledging of shares; company-wide anti-hedging policy applies to directors .
- Equity awards subject to clawbacks and potential holding periods; non-employee director annual grant limits ($50,000 fair value) under 2025 plan .
Overall: Pierson’s skills and committee roles support board effectiveness, but 2024 attendance and 2025 vote headwinds are material governance concerns that investors should monitor for remediation and improved engagement .