Cotton Council International Elects 2026 Officers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - During the National Cotton Council (NCC) 2026 Annual Meeting, John C. King, III, a merchant official from Richardson, TX, will serve as Cotton Council International’s (CCI) president for 2026. CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotion arm and carries out programs in 50-plus countries under the COTTON USA trademark. Carlo Bocardo, a cooperative official from Bakersfield, CA, will serve as CCI chairman. 

King brings over 35 years of dedicated experience in the cotton industry to his new leadership role. He is a Senior Vice President with Olam Agri. King has served as past president of the Southern Cotton Association and holds director positions with the American Cotton Shippers Association (ASCA), NCC and CCI.

Other CCI officers elected were first vice president Richard Gaona, a producer from Texas; second vice president Wayne Boseman, a cooperative official from North Carolina; secretary Gary Adams, Tennessee; and assistant secretary Liz Hershfield, Florida. Newly elected as CCI treasurer was H. Thomas Hayden, Jr., a merchant from Tennessee. 

Newly elected CCI directors were Amy Hopper, cottonseed official from KS; Tom Pires, ginner from CA; Ryan Cucci, merchant from TN; Michael Morawski, merchant from LA; Clint Webb, producer from GA; and Brent Nelson, producer from TX. 

Re-elected as 2026 CCI directors were: 

Producers – 
•    Paul Ollerton, AZ 
•    Mark Nichols, OK 
•    Matthew Hyneman, AR 
•    John Lindamood, TN 
•    Phillip Edwards, VA 
•    Vance Shoaf, TN

Ginner –
•    Brad Williams, TN 

Cooperatives – 
•    Kevin Brinkley, TX 
•    Paul Bush, AZ
•    Frederick Barrier, MS 

Warehouse – 
•    Vance Shoaf, TN 

Merchants – 
•    Neeraj Rana, TN 
•    Wesley Rentz, SC 
•    Beau Stephenson, TX 

Manufacturers – 
•    James Martin, NC
•    Michael Quinn, NC