Posted February 8, 2016
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Shane Stephens, a Greenwood, Miss., warehouseman, was elected National Cotton Council chairman for 2016.
Named during the NCC’s annual meeting held in Dallas, Texas on February 5-7, he succeeds Sledge Taylor, a Como, Miss., producer and ginner.
Stephens is vice president of Staplcotn’s cotton services and warehouse divisions. With 11 offices throughout the Mid-South and Southeast, the cotton services division is responsible for recruiting and servicing the cooperative’s grower/members. The warehouse division is responsible for 14 warehouse locations in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
An active industry leader, Stephens was a member of the NCC’s 1994-95 Cotton Leadership Program and has served as president of the Program’s alumni association. He previously served as the NCC’s vice president representing the warehouse segment from 2007-12 and served on the NCC’s Board of Directors from 2001-05 and 2013-14. He has served on numerous NCC committees having chaired its Packaging and Distribution and Membership and Credentials committees. Currently the vice president of the Cotton Growers Warehouse Association, Stephens served previously as that organization’s chairman.
Stephens holds a B.S. degree with honors in agricultural economics from the University of Tennessee at Martin. He and his wife, Janet, live in Greenwood, and they have two daughters and one son.
NCC Annual Meeting
Mississippi warehouseman elected NCC chairman
Rep. Mike Conaway (L) and outgoing NCC Chairman Sledge Taylor. Conaway addressed the delegates on Saturday.
The NCC’s vice chairman for 2016 is Ronnie Lee, a Bronwood, Ga., producer. Elected as the NCC’s secretary-treasurer was Barry Evans, a producer from Kress, Texas.
Elected as NCC vice presidents are: Robert Lacy, a cottonseed processor, Lubbock, Texas; Mike Quinn, a cooperative official, Garner, N.C.; and Kent Fountain, a ginner, Surrency, Georgia. Re-elected NCC vice presidents are: Coalter Paxton III, warehouseman, Wilson, N.C., Joe Nicosia, merchant, Cordova, Tenn.; and David Hastings, textile manufacturer, Mauldin, South Carolina.
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.
Source: National Cotton Council
Shane Stephens