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Our Organization

Providing strategic guidance and input for the Trust Protocol, our multi-stakeholder Board of Directors is comprised of 22 representatives from the entire supply chain, academia, and NGOs.

The Board helps shape the Trust Protocol’s mission and improve the resiliency of U.S. cotton production with the goal of driving value for all members.

The Trust Protocol advisors include sustainability and cotton growing experts.

Grower Board Members

Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Sam Whitaker

Partner
Whitaker Farms

Sam Whitaker

Partner, Whitaker Farms

Sam Whitaker is a partner in Whitaker Farms, where he helps oversee a diverse, family-led cotton, rice, corn and soybean operation. Whitaker Farms incorporates many practices at the forefront of sustainability and conservation, such as cover crops, precision water management, and variable rate fertilizer application, into their farming operation. Additionally, roughly half of the farm is rainfall-flooded each winter, providing crucial wintering habitat for tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl.

Sam serves as the President of McGehee Producers Gin in McGehee, Arkansas, the President of the Cotton Foundation, and is a board member of the Arkansas Agriculture Council, the USA Rice Council, and the Arkansas Rice Council.

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Aaron Barcellos

Aaron Barcellos

Partner
A-Bar Ag Enterprises

Aaron Barcellos

Partner, A-Bar Ag Enterprises

Aaron Barcellos is a partner in A-Bar Ag Enterprises, which consists of 7,500 acres of pima cotton, almonds, asparagus, olives, pistachios, pomegranates, processing tomatoes and wheat in California. Seeking to build a multi-generational farming operation, the family partnership utilizes socially responsible and sustainable farming practices including drip irrigation, reduced tillage, satellite imagery and solar energy.

Aaron has previously been a director of multiple organizations including the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International, and the Central Delta Mendota Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

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Julie Davis Holladay Partner, H2H Farms

Julie Davis Holladay

Partner
H2H Farms

Julie Davis Holladay

Partner, H2H Farms

Julie Davis Holladay is a partner in H2H Farms, a family-owned operation producing cotton in Texas. Currently, she serves as a member of The Cotton Board and of the Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. cotton improvement committee which reviews and funds research projects to support cotton production practices in the Plains region. Julie also serves on the Board of Directors of the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority (Reese Technology Center).

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William H. Bull, Jr., W.H. Bull Farms

William H. Bull, Jr.

Owner
W.H. Bull Farms

William H. Bull, Jr.

Owner, W. H. Bull Farms

William H. Bull, Jr. is the owner and operator of W. H. Bull Farms, a cotton and peanut farming operation, located in the midlands of South Carolina. William, a second-generation farmer, also has 25 years experience in agricultural sales.

William serves on the executive board of Southern Cotton Growers, is a delegate to The National Cotton Council, and previously represented South Carolina as a member of the American Cotton Producers of the NCC. In addition, William is currently serving on the Clemson University Board of Visitors.

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Gin & Cottonseed Board Members

Larry Black, General Manager, Central Rolling Plains Co-op

Larry Black

General Manager
Central Rolling Plains Co-op

Larry Black

General Manager, Central Rolling Plains Co-op

Larry Black is the General Manager at Central Rolling Plains Co-op in Roscoe, Texas, a position he has held since May of 2002. Central Rolling Plains Co-op is farm-owned cotton gin, which works to separate the cotton fiber from the seed, cleaning the cotton when bales arrive. In his role as General Manager, Larry oversees all operations at the Co-op.

Prior to joining Central Rolling Plains Co-op, Larry worked at Quanah Farmers Co-op where he served in the office and on the scales, eventually becoming the Assistant General Manager and then General Manager. Larry is a past President of Texas Cotton Ginners and Texas Agriculture Cooperative Council. He is currently serving on the Texas Cotton Ginner’s Trust, National Cotton Council (NCC), National Cotton Ginners Association, Nolan County Groundwater District, and Roscoe Collegiate High School STEM Advisory Board.

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Brad Williams

Vice-President,
Burlison Gin Company, Inc General Manager, Kelcot Warehouses, LLC

Brad Williams

Vice-President, Burlison Gin Company, Inc General Manager, Kelcot Warehouses, LLC

Brad Williams is the Vice President of Burlison Gin Co, Inc and General Manager of Kelcot Warehouses, LLC in Burlison, Tennessee. Burlison Gin Company/Kelcot Warehouses LLC are a family-owned cotton ginning operation where the cotton lint is cleaned, and the fiber is separated from the seed.

Brad is also a partner in the family farm operation that produces cotton, corn, and soybeans in Tennessee. He has served as President of Southern Cotton Ginners and is currently serving as a director for the National Cotton Ginners Association, Southern Cotton Ginners Association, National Cotton Council (NCC), Staplcotn, Cotton Growers Warehouse Association, and Agricenter International.

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Fred Serven

General Manager of Cotton
Archer Daniels Midland

Fred Serven

General Manager of Cotton, Archer Daniels Midland

Fred Serven is the General Manager of Cotton at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), which is an American multinational food processing and commodities trading corporation. In his role, Fred is responsible for commercial teams of ADM’s cotton crush plants in Lubbock, Richmond, Memphis, and Valdosta. He is additionally responsible for ADM’s Southern Cellulose Products, Inc. facility in Chattanooga.

Fred has served in various commercial management positions in ADM’s Grain and Oilseeds units and has experience in soy crush, canola crush, cotton crush, corn processing, grain origination, and export. He is currently a member of the National Cotton Council’s Public Relations & International Market Development Committee.

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Cooperative & Merchant Board Members

Carlos Garcia, Director of Sales, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association

Carlos Garcia

Director of Sales
Plains Cotton Cooperative Association

Carlos Garcia

Director of Sales, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association

Carlos Garcia is the Director of Sales at Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA). PCCA is a marketing cooperative owned by farmers in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico that is dedicated to supplying sustainably grown, high-quality cotton fiber around the world. He has worked at PCCA for over 25 years, having started as a marketing intern whilst pursuing his degree. In his role, Carlos works to ensure that customers are supported throughout their purchase of PCCA cotton, assisting them with procurement strategies that integrate with a company’s risk management objectives.

Previously, Carlos has served as President and Chairman of Cotton Council International (CCI). He is also a member of the International Cotton Association and a past board member for the Lubbock Cotton Exchange where he served as President as well as on multiple committees for the organization. Carlos is currently an alternate delegate to the National Cotton Council (NCC) and serves on the Public Relations and International Market Development Committee. Additionally, he was recently appointed to serve on the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards.

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Henry "Hank" Reichle, President and CEO, Staplcotn

Henry "Hank" Reichle

President and CEO
Staplcotn

Henry "Hank" Reichle

President and CEO, Staplcotn

Henry N. “Hank” Reichle, Jr., is President and CEO of Staplcotn, which is the oldest and one of the largest cotton marketing cooperatives in the United States. In his role, Hank oversees all operations at the Mississippi-based operations. Prior to joining Staplcotn in 2004, he served as Chief Financial Officer with the internet-based cotton exchange, The Seam.

Hank currently is a director of The Seam and AMCOT. He is currently the National Cotton Council (NCC) cooperative Vice President and is a past President of Cotton Council International (CCI). He is also active on several boards serving regional economic interests including the Memphis Branch of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.

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William "Buddy" Allen

William H. “Buddy” Allen

President and CEO
American Cotton Shippers Association

William H. “Buddy” Allen

President and CEO, American Cotton Shippers Association

William H. “Buddy” Allen is President and CEO of American Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA), a position he has held since 2019. ACSA is a trade association primarily made up of cotton merchants founded in 1924. Collectively, ACSA members handle the vast majority of U.S. cotton production and foreign growths traded globally. ACSA members’ services consist of merchandising, delivery logistics, and risk management. Buddy is a partner in A&J Planting Company, a vertically integrated agribusiness in Mississippi, encompassing row crop production, ground and areal application services, seed and crop protection retail, an extensive grain storage, drying, and shipping operation, and agricultural real estate holdings.

Previously, Buddy gained Capitol Hill experience from both the Office of United States Senator Thad Cochran and his involvement in The Macon Edwards Company, where he provided service to ACSA. He also serves as the Chairman of the Committee for International Co-operation Between Cotton Associations, on the Agricultural Advisory Board of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and is a contributor to Delta Strategy Group, a Washington-based government affairs firm.

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Krista Rickman, Commercial Strategic Lead, Cargill Cotton

Krista Rickman

Commercial Strategic Lead
Cargill Cotton

Krista Rickman

Commercial Strategic Lead, Cargill Cotton

Krista Rickman is the Commercial Strategic Lead for Cargill Cotton, where she is responsible for the company’s cotton sustainability portfolio including engagement with brands and retailers. Cargill is a global food corporation with key businesses in trading, purchasing and distributing grain and other agricultural products. Krista has held several roles within Cargill during her 30-year tenure including her position as the Global Operations Leader and North America Controller.

Krista currently serves as a board member for American Cotton Shippers Association, International Cotton Association, National Cotton Council (NCC), and EWR. She is also the current President of the Southern Cotton Association.

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Mill & Manufacturer Board Members

Jim Martin Executive Vice President of Cotton Operations, Parkdale Mills

Jim Martin

Executive Vice President of Cotton Operations
Parkdale Mills

Jim Martin

Executive Vice President of Cotton Operations, Parkdale Mills

Jim Martin is Executive Vice President of Cotton Operations for Parkdale Mills, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of spun yarns. In this role, he is responsible for cotton purchasing, distribution and risk management. Jim oversees a team of eight people and directs the company’s commodity and financial price risk management. Additionally, he develops and executes hedging strategies for cotton, currency, and energy.

Previously, Jim served as Director of Markets and Finance at Auscott Limited and Market Analyst at J G Boswell Company. In both roles, he worked to analyze the cotton market as well as develop and execute hedging strategies. Jim is a National Cotton Council (NCC) Director.

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Adolfo Kalach, Vice President, Kaltex Group

Adolfo Kalach

Vice President
Kaltex Group

Adolfo Kalach

Vice President, Kaltex Group

Adolfo Kalach is the Vice President of Kaltex Group, a leading vertically integrated company and producer of acrylic fibers, yarns, woven fabrics, garments, and home textiles. He has been engaged in the purchase of U.S. cotton fiber for more than 30 years, forging a strong relationship with cotton merchants that has allowed Kaltex to maintain its position as the first textile mill consumer of U.S. cotton in Mexico.

Adolfo has also led the textile manufacturer division of Kaltex Group for the last decade. As part of this role, he has made achieving the best sustainable practices to protect the environment a key priority. Adolfo also has focused on promoting the development of human resources, participating in diverse sectorial initiatives to measure environmental impact, and giving full traceability to cotton supply chain transactions.

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Saima Chowdhury

Saima Chowdhury

Founder and CEO
Noi Solutions, LLC

Saima Chowdhury

Founder and CEO, Noi Solutions, LLC

Saima Chowdhury is the Founder and CEO of Noi Solutions LLC, a global apparel sourcing company, and Grey State, a sustainable and ethical women’s fashion brand. Saima is also a Director of the Malek Spinning Mills, Knit Asia Limited and affiliated companies, which is a vertically integrated textile and apparel manufacturer in Bangladesh, supplying to leading retailers in the EU and the U.S. 

Prior to founding Noi Solutions, Saima worked with the Victoria’s Secret Strategy group focusing on customer and market insights. She has also worked with the Supply Chain Strategy group at Nike, where she evaluated the benefits and challenges of upstream supply chain partnership to recommend strategies for apparel source base alignment.

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Michael Quinn

Michael Quinn

Vice President of Cotton Operations
Gildan Yarns, LLC

Michael Quinn

Vice President of Cotton Operations, Gildan Yarns, LLC

Michael Quinn is Vice President of Cotton Operations for Gildan Yarns, LLC where he is responsible for cotton purchasing, distribution and market analysis. Gildan is a one of the world’s largest vertically integrated manufacturers of apparel, socks, and hosiery, leading the way in ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices. Gildan owns and operates 7 spinning mills located in North Carolina that consume approximately 1 million bales of U.S. cotton annually.

Prior to working for Gildan, he was Vice President of Cotton Operations for Frontier Yarns Inc., which was acquired by Gildan in 2021. Before his career in textile manufacturing, he worked for Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative for 21 years, serving as its President for 17. Michael has been active in cotton industry organizations for 25 years and currently serves as a Vice President of the National Cotton Council, Executive Committee member of Cotton Council International, National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Cotton Committee member, and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures U.S. Cotton Committee member.

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NGO & Academia Board Members

Tyson Raper, Pettigrew Cotton Specialist, University of Tennessee

Tyson Raper

Pettigrew Cotton Specialist
University of Tennessee

Tyson Raper

Pettigrew Cotton Specialist, University of Tennessee

Tyson Raper serves as the Pettigrew Cotton Specialist with the University of Tennessee. In this role, he manages an agronomic research program centered in Jackson, TN and extends the information from these trials through publications, meetings and field days throughout Tennessee and the Mid-South, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee. Additionally, he manages the University of Tennessee’s MicroGin, which processes research samples from public and private parties throughout the U.S. Cotton Belt.

Tyson was selected as the Cotton Specialist of the year in 2019, the Tom Cothren Young Cotton Physiologist of the Year in 2018, and completed his term as President of the Extension Cotton Specialist Working Group in 2021.

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Kris Johnson, Director of the North America Agriculture Program, The Nature Conservancy

Kris Johnson

Director of the North America Agriculture Program
The Nature Conservancy

Kris Johnson

Director of the North America Agriculture Program, The Nature Conservancy

Kris Johnson is the Director of the North America Agriculture Program of The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization that works with public and private partners to ensure lands and waters are protected for future generations. In this position, he leads national strategies working with public and private partners to increase adoption of regenerative agricultural practices in crop systems and grazing lands.

In prior roles with the Nature Conservancy, Kris provided strategic leadership and scientific expertise for conservation work in agriculture and freshwater, most recently as deputy director of agriculture in North America. He currently serves as vice chair of the board for the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium.

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Brand & Retailer Board Members

Agata Smeets

Agata Smeets

Head of Environment and Product Sustainability
Gap Inc.

Agata Smeets

Head of Environment and Product Sustainability, Gap Inc.

Agata Smeets is the Head of Environment and Product Sustainability at Gap Inc. where she works with numerous cross-functional stakeholders to advance sustainability strategy in key impact areas. These include climate, water, chemistry, circularity, waste, fibers, product claims, and product traceability across Gap Inc.’s iconic brands- Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta. Agata brings experience working at the company’s Hong Kong headquarters, where she was responsible for setting the environmental sustainability strategy for the company’s sourcing organization.

Previously, Agata was part of Deloitte Consulting’s Strategy and Operations practice focusing on sustainable supply chains. She also helped found the Sustainability Forum research effort at the Washington D.C.-based Corporate Executive Board, which brought together 800 cross-functional executives with an interest in sustainability.

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Virginie Cayzeele, Head of Raw Materials, Kiabi

Virginie Cayzeele

Head of Raw Materials
Kiabi

Virginie Cayzeele

Head of Raw Materials, Kiabi

Virginie Cayzeele is the head of Raw Materials at Kiabi, a France-based apparel brand. In this role, she drives the brand’s materials strategy to include more sustainable alternatives, covering a scope starting at farm-level and extending to fabric finishing, in addition to wash processes on finished garments. Virginie plays a key role in the transformation of the company to improve its environmental impact.

Virginie has been working to build a direct connection between farmers and manufacturers throughout her time at Kiabi. Some of her efforts include having Kiabi partner with the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) as well as the French-based NGO Reforest Action. Aiming to foster Kiabi’s transparency, she also introduced a cotton origin verification program in partnership with Oritain. Previously, Virginie has served as a buyer for over 16 years, enabling her to travel across the world and acquire a deep knowledge of suppliers’ relationship management.

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Hitesh Sharma, Senior Lead, Sustainable Sourcing and Traceability, Levi Strauss & Company

Hitesh Sharma

Senior Lead, Sustainable Sourcing and Traceability
Levi Strauss & Company

Hitesh Sharma

Senior Lead, Sustainable Sourcing and Traceability (Global Sustainability), Levi Strauss & Company

Hitesh Sharma is the Senior Lead, Sustainable Sourcing and Traceability (Global Sustainability) at Levi Strauss & Company. In this role, he is actively engaged in developing sustainable sourcing models for the brand. Additionally, he is keeping Levi Strauss on track to achieving 100% sustainably sourced cotton by 2025 and the 2030 ambition of sourcing third party preferred or certified more sustainable primary materials for its products.

Previously, Hitesh has worked at H&M Group as Material Program Manager Cotton within Global Material Innovation and Strategy team. He strongly believes that industry collaboration is the key to achieving supply chain transparency and deliver impact.

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Katherine "Katie" O'Hare

Vice President of Sustainability
J.Crew Group

Katherine "Katie" O'Hare

Vice President of Sustainability, J.Crew Group

Katherine “Katie” O’Hare serves as Vice President of Sustainability at J.Crew Group. Since joining J.Crew in October 2018, Katie has spearheaded the brands’ “Re-imagined” strategy, including setting four public goals around Sustainable Materials, Packaging, Greenhouse Gases and Fair Trade. As part of these goals, J.Crew is committed to having 100% of their key fibers, including cotton, sustainably sourced.

Katie also focuses on J.Crew’s efforts to drive transparency across the supply chain, including launching a supply chain mapping platform to achieve full transparency to the origin of the fiber. She also leads the piloting of new technologies and partners to support risk management & fiber origin traceability. Prior to joining J.Crew, Katie drove sustainability strategy and programs at PVH and ANN INC.

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Our Advisors

Marty Matlock, Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Marty Matlock

Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
University of Arkansas

Marty Matlock

Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas

Marty Matlock is executive director of the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center/Professor of Ecological Engineering. A professor in the university’s Bio-logical and Agricultural Engineering Department, he coordinates academic, research, outreach, and facilities efforts in sustainable and resilient systems across campus. His interdisciplinary work has been recognized by agriculture, engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, and sustainable design organizations.

Marty serves on EPA’s Science Advisory Committee for Agriculture and as sustainability science advisor for 12 food and agricultural product companies. Matlock, who received his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from Oklahoma State University, is a registered professional engineer, a board-certified environmental engineer, and a certified ecosystem designer.

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Marc Lewkowitz, Supima

Marc Lewkowitz

President and CEO
Supima

Marc Lewkowitz

President and CEO, Supima

Marc Lewkowitz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tempe, Ariz.-based promotional and marketing organization for the American Pima cotton growers, and has been since 2016. He began his career at a family-owned gin in Paraguay and has worked as a trader and manager for firms including ContiCotton, Merrill Lynch, Itochu Cotton and Anderson Clayton/Queensland Cotton. The business has taken him from posts in Paraguay to Australia, Mexico and the United States.

Marc has served as an advisor to the National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International. A Toronto, Canada native, he is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and the Memphis Cotton Exchange International Cotton School.

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Liz Hershfield

Executive Director
Cotton Council International

Liz Hershfield

Executive Director, Cotton Council International

Liz Hershfield is the Executive Director of Cotton Council International (CCI), the export and promotion arm of the National Cotton Council of America (NCC). A fashion industry veteran and sustainability expert, she brings over two decades of leadership to the role.

Hershfield has specialized expertise in sustainability, global sourcing, product development and end-to-end supply chain strategy, alongside extensive experience with U.S. cotton. Throughout her distinguished career, Hershfield has spearheaded supply chain and sustainability initiatives for globally established brands such as J.Crew, Madewell, Bonobos and Old Navy. She also founded Green-ish, a consultancy that helps businesses navigate the complexities of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and supply chain management.

Her contributions to sustainable fashion have earned her widespread recognition, including the prestigious Textile Exchange Ryan Young Climate+ Award for her pioneering regenerative cotton program supporting U.S. cotton farmers. Hershfield was also honored with The Lead's "The Direct 60" award and named to the Rivet 50 Index for her leadership in the denim industry.

At CCI, Hershfield oversees efforts to promote U.S. cotton fiber, yarn and manufactured products under the COTTON USA brand. With operations in more than 50 countries and nearly 70 years of global trade expertise, CCI promotes U.S. cotton as the preferred fiber for mills, manufacturers, brands, retailers and consumers around the world.

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Dr. Jesse Daystar, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, Cotton Incorporated

Dr. Jesse Daystar

VP and Chief Sustainability Officer
Cotton Incorporated

Dr. Jesse Daystar

Cotton Incorporated, Cary, North Carolina

Jesse is Cotton Incorporated’s vice president and chief sustainability officer. Previously, he was the assistant director at the Center for Sustain-ability at Duke University, where he collaborated on research projects spanning many of the university’s divisions. Jesse holds a Ph.D. in Forest Biomaterials from North Carolina State University and has established himself as a leader in cellulosic fiber sustainability. He has led research and consulting in aspects of product sustainability, biomaterials, biochemicals, and bioenergy. His research has produced numerous publications, sustainability and chemical and engineering tools; and certifications for clients including the USDA and the Department of Energy.

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Bill Gillon, President and CEO, The Cotton Board

Bill Gillon

President and CEO
The Cotton Board

William A. "Bill" Gillon

President & CEO, Cotton Board

The Cotton Board is the oversight and administrative arm of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program for Upland cotton. It is a quasi-governmental organization responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the economic resources devoted to the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. The Board has between 75-80 volunteer members, alternates and advisors. Bill has been active in agricultural law and policy for over 35 years. His work experience includes the USDA Office of General Counsel, Senior Counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee, General Counsel of the National Cotton Council of America, and private law practice focusing on agricultural law and policy, the promotion of entrepreneurship, and non-profit organizations. Throughout his career, Bill has been heavily involved in agriculture, international trade, conservation and environmental issues, and public policy in general.

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Joël Mertens

Director, Higg Product Tools
Cascale

Joël Mertens

Director, Higg Product Tools, Cascale

Joël Mertens is the Director of Higg Product Tools at Cascale. He is responsible for managing the Higg Product Tools, including the Higg Product Module, Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI), and MSI Contributor. He is based in British Columbia, Canada.

Before joining Cascale team, Joël was the Manager of Product Engineering and Compliance at Mountain Equipment Co-op where he worked on embedding product sustainability and product safety compliance into the development process. Among these responsibilities, he developed Preferred Fiber Strategy and Supplier Environmental Assurance programs for the MEC label. Joël holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia.

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