Mississippi warehouseman Shane Stephens was elected National Cotton Council (NCC) chairman for 2016. The NCC’s annual meeting was held in Dallas Feb. 5-7.
Stephens is an active industry leader, serving as the vice president of Staplcotn’s cotton services and warehouse divisions. He was also a member of the NCC’s 1994-95 Cotton Leadership Program and served as president of the program’s alumni association. He has served on numerous NCC committees and was chairman of its Packaging and Distribution and Membership and Credentials committees.
Stephens holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee at Martin. He and his wife, Janet, live in Greenwood and have two daughters and one son.
Cotton farmer Ronnie Lee of Bronwood, Georgia was elected the NCC’s vice chairman for 2016. Barry Evans of Kress, Texas was elected as the NCC’s secretary-treasurer.
Robert Lacy, a cottonseed processor of Lubbock, Texas; Mike Quinn, a cooperative official of Garner, N.C.; and Kent Fountain, a ginner of Surrency, Georgia were elected as NCC vice presidents. Re-elected NCC vice presidents are: Coalter Paxton, III, warehouseman of Wilson, N.C.; Joe Nicosia, merchant of Cordova, Tenn.; and David Hastings, textile manufacturer of Mauldin, S.C.
Other elected NCC staff officers include: Dr. Gary Adams, NCC president and chief executive officer; Reece Langley, vice president, Washington Operations; Craig Brown, vice president, Producer Affairs; Dr. Jody Campiche, vice president, Economics and Policy Analysis; Dr. Bill Norman, vice president, Technical Services; Harrison Ashley, vice president, Ginner Services; and Fred Johnson, vice president, Administration and Program Coordination.
North Alabama cotton farmer Michael Tate was elected chairman of the American Cotton Producers (ACP) of the NCC. Tate has served on various ACP and NCC committees and task forces and is currently a NCC director.
John Lindamood of Tiptonville, Tenn. and Cannon Michael of Los Banos, Calif. were elected as ACP vice chairman. Doyle Schniers of San Angelo, Texas was re-elected vice chairman of ACP.
NCC producer directors elected include: Kendall Wannamaker of St. Matthews, S.C., representing the Southeast region; Nathan Reed of Marianna, Ark., representing the Mid-South; and Dan Thelander of Maricopa, Ariz., representing the Far West.
Shawn Holladay of Lubbock, Texas was re-elected as a producer director representing the Southwest. Tate will serve as at-large director.
Other ACP state producer chairmen serving in 2016 include: Alabama–Nick McMichen, Centre, and Ricky Wiggins, Andalusia; Arizona–Paul Ollerton and Gregory Wuertz, both from Casa Grande; Arkansas–Terry Pollard, Greenway; California–Mark McKean, Riverdale; Florida–B. E. “Sonny” Davis, Jr., Cottondale; Georgia–Tim Crosby, Pavo, and Chad Mathis Jr., Arlington; Kansas–Kent Goyen, Pratt; Louisiana–Jason Condrey, Lake Providence; and Benjamin Guthrie, Newellton; Mississippi –Patrick Johnson Jr., Tunica; Missouri/Illinois–Steven Droke, Hornersville, Mo.; New Mexico–Nathan Jurva, Carlsbad; North Carolina–Andrew Burleson, New London, and Joseph Martin, II, Conway; Oklahoma–Dan Robbins, Altus; South Carolina–William Bull, Cameron, and Gill Rogers, Hartsville; Tennessee/Kentucky–Don Pearson, Jackson, Tenn.; Texas–Keith Corzine, Stamford, Craig Heinrich, Lubbock, and Toby Robertson, Corpus Christi; and Virginia–James Jones Jr., Windsor.