CCI Elects 2024 Officers

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 16, 2024) – Lee Cromley, a Brooklet, Ga., producer, will serve as Cotton Council International’s (CCI) president for 2024. CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotion arm and carries out programs in 50 plus countries under the COTTON USA™ trademark. Cromley and other CCI officers were elected at CCI’s board meeting held as part of the NCC’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. Steve Dyer, a Cordova, Tenn., merchant, will serve as CCI chairman. 

“As CCI President, I’m excited to see firsthand how CCI promotes the export of our U.S. cotton crop to important overseas markets and builds lasting relationships with our customers,” Cromley said. “As ‘The Cotton the World Trusts,’ we want to become the cotton that commands the highest premium of any cotton in the world, and I’m confident that CCI will get us there through their innovative programs such as COTTON USA SOLUTIONS® and our industry’s U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®.”

Cromley was the 2022 Farm Press/Cotton Foundation High Cotton Award winner for the Southeastern States. He is a sixth-generation farmer from Brooklet, Ga., and operates Cromley Farms with his brother, Charley. He farms 2,500 acres of cotton and peanuts and has harvested more than 40 crops. Cromley has served as chairman of the Southern Cotton Growers; a board member for the American Cotton Producers; and a director on the NCC and CCI boards. He has also served on the board of the Georgia Cotton Commission.  

Other CCI officers elected were first vice president Carlo Bocardo, a cooperative official from Bakersfield, Calif.; second vice president John C. King, III, a merchant from Helena, Ark.; secretary Gary Adams, Cordova, Tenn.; and assistant secretary Bruce Atherley, Washington, D.C. Newly elected as CCI treasurer was Richard Gaona, a producer from Roby, Texas.

Elected as CCI directors were Richard J. Lindsey, a Centre, Ala., ginner; Larry Black, a Roscoe, Texas, ginner; Mike Quinn, a Sanford, N.C., manufacturer; Donny Lassiter, a Conway, N.C., producer; and Mark Nichols, an Altus, Okla., producer.

Re-elected as 2024 CCI directors were: PRODUCERS – Philip F. Edwards, Smithfield, Va.; Barry W. Evans, Kress, Texas; John F. Lindamood, Tiptonville, Tenn.; Matthew R. (Matt) Hyneman, Jonesboro, Ark.; and Paul (Paco) Ollerton, Casa Grande, Ariz.; COTTONSEED HANDLER  – Aaron Pena, Harlingen, Texas; MERCHANTS – Matt Dunbar, Memphis, Tenn.; Nick Kastle, Corcoran, Calif.; Neeraj Rana, Cordova, Tenn.; Wesley Rentz, Greenville, S.C.; and Beau Stephenson, Richardson, Texas; COOPERATIVES – Frederick Barrier, Greenwood, Miss.; Donald Robinson, Garner, N.C.; and Kevin Brinkley, Lubbock, Texas; WAREHOUSE – Vance C. Shoaf, Milan, Tenn.; and MANUFACTURER – James (Jim) Martin, Gastonia, N.C.