Cotton Council International (CCI) has elected new officers for 2022. Carlos C. Garcia, a cooperative official from Lubbock, Texas, was elected as president of CCI for the said year. Garcia and other CCI officers were elected at CCI’s board meeting held as part of the NCC’s 2022 Annual Meeting that convened in Houston.
CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotion arm and carries out programs in more than 50 countries globally under the COTTON USA™ trademark.
“Despite the global pandemic, CCI held 35 events – both virtually and in person – in 12 of the biggest cotton importing countries of the world in 2021,” Garcia said. “I was proud to represent the U.S. industry during a COTTON USA event last year and saw firsthand how CCI’s business-building programs resonate with our customers overseas. I will continue to communicate U.S. cotton’s competitive advantages with CCI in 2022 with a focus on the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® and COTTON USA SOLUTIONS™.”
Other 2022 CCI officers elected include:
• Ted D. Sheely as Chairman
• Steve Dyer as Vice President
• Gary Adams as Secretary
• Bruce Atherley as Assistant Secretary
• Carlo Bocardo as CCI Treasurer
Garcia is the export sales manager at Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA), a marketing cooperative owned by farmers in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico dedicated to supplying sustainably-grown, high-quality cotton fiber around the world.
Originally from Van Horn, Texas, Garcia attended Texas Tech University. While pursuing his degree, he worked as a marketing intern in PCCA’s Traffic and Invoicing Department. In 2000 after earning a degree in multidisciplinary studies from Texas Tech, Garcia joined PCCA’s export department. He became the export sales manager in 2004 and has worked at PCCA for 22 years.
Garcia is past president of the Lubbock Cotton Exchange and current board member. He is also a member of the International Cotton Association and has served on the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards. A NCC Cotton Leadership Program graduate, he currently serves on the NCC’s Public Relations and International Market Development Committee.
Garcia is involved with several community organizations as well, currently serving on the Board of Managers of Lubbock County Hospital District, and as chairman in 2021. He is currently a UMC Foundation Board Member and past director as well as having served on the Slaton Independent School District Board of Trustees.
Bruce Atherley (Executive Director. CCI) also congratulated Carlos C. Garcia on being elected as the President of Cotton Council International (CCI) for 2022. Bruce said, “No other cotton has our long history of innovation, transparency, and high quality. Our mission is to make U.S. cotton the preferred fiber for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. COTTON USA has become the cotton the world trusts because of years of transparent partnership. We value quality and with a new team will also keep focusing on the efficiency for our customers.”
William Bettendorf (Director, Supply Chain Marketing, South & Southeast Asia. CCI) expressed his appreciation for the newly elected CCI team. William said, “COTTON USA is committed to bringing you the latest in cotton innovation, and it has built a worldwide trust regarding its quality, sustainability, and traceability. COTTON USA is committed to increasing customer satisfaction, and the newly elected team will further enhance the trust the brands and stakeholders have in COTTON USA.”
COTTON USA has become the cotton the world trusts because of years of transparent partnership. CCI stands behind the tested bales—so if something goes wrong, CCI is here to make it right. CCI is the first organization in the world to test 100% of bales for sustainability, transparency, and other aspects.
In a period of ever-greater supply chain scrutiny and growing demand for transparency and traceability, The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. Participating brands and retailers will gain access to U.S. cotton backed by year-over-year data to help them demonstrate their environmental credentials. By joining the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®, members can be sure that they are sourcing responsibly produced, quality fiber, and reducing environmental and social risk in their field-to-mill supply chain.
Re-elected as 2022 CCI directors were:
PRODUCERS – Philip F. Edwards, III, a Smithfield, Va.; Barry W. Evans, Kress, Texas; John F. Lindamood, Tiptonville, Tenn.; Richard Gaona, Roby, Texas; Matthew R. (Matt) Hyneman, Jonesboro, Ark.; Neal Isbell, Muscle Shoals, Ala.; and Paul (Paco) Ollerton, Casa Grande, Ariz.
GINNERS – George G. LaCour, Jr., Morganza, La., and Curtis H. Stewart, Spade, Texas.
MERCHANTS – John C. King, III, Memphis, Tenn.; Tim G. North, Dallas, Texas; Ernst D. (Ernie) Schroeder, Jr., Bakersfield, California; and William A. Barksdale, Cordova, Tenn.
COOPERATIVES – Frederick Barrier, Greenwood, Miss.; and Donald A. Robinson, Garner, N.C.
COTTONSEED – James (Jim) C. Massey, Harlingen, Texas.
WAREHOUSEMAN – Vance C. Shoaf, Milan, Tenn.
MANUFACTURERS – Robin Perkins, Sanford, North Carolina.
