February 7, 2011
Contact:
Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030
MEMPHIS, TN - John D. Mitchell, a Cordova, Tenn., merchant, will serve as the 2011 president of Cotton Council International (CCI). CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotions arm and carries out programs in more than 50 countries globally under the COTTON USA trademark.
Mitchell was elected in San Antonio at CCI’s board meeting, one of several sessions convening at the NCC’s 73rd Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country on February 4-6. He succeeds Wallace L. (Wally) Darneille, a Lubbock, Tex., cooperative official, who becomes CCI board chairman.
Mitchell began his cotton career in 1975 as a sales broker to U.S. cotton mills. From there he owned and managed a cotton gin, warehouse and merchandising business in north Alabama. In 1979, Mitchell joined Cargill Cotton and after managing offices in Louisiana and Alabama, he assumed the position of Southeast Region Merchant Manager in 1990. As a vice president of Cargill Cotton, he served as senior merchant manager for the Mid-South and Southeast from 2000 to 2008. Currently, Mitchell is on temporary assignment with Cargill India Pvt. Ltd. in Gurgaon, India.
Mitchell is a National Cotton Council director and is chairman of the Committee for International Cooperation between Cotton Associations. Past experience includes a term as president of the American Cotton Shippers Association, chairman of the Private Sector Advisory Panel of the International Cotton Advisory Committee and a U.S. delegate to the Triennial Universal Cotton Standards Conferences.
Other CCI officers elected for 2011 are: first vice president, James L. (Jimmy) Webb, producer, Leary, Ga.; second vice president, John Burch, cooperative, Bakersfield, Calif.; and treasurer, T. Jordan Lea, merchant, Greenville, SC. Mark D. Lange of Cordova, Tenn., was re-elected secretary and Allen A. Terhaar of Washington, DC, was re-elected assistant secretary.
R. Steven Dyer, a merchant from Cordova, Tenn., was newly elected as a CCI director for 2011. Re-elected 2011 CCI directors include: Producers – Rickey L. Bearden, Plains, Tex; Donald J. (Don) Cameron, Helm, Calif.; Dahlen K. Hancock, Ropesville, Tex.; Richard Kelley, Burlison, Tenn.; Cliett A. Lowman, III, Kingsville, Tex.; K. Michael (Mike) Tate, Huntsville, Ala.; and W. Stewart Weaver, Edmondson, Ark.; Ginners - Thomas S. (Sid) Brough, Edroy, Tex.; and Kent D. Fountain, Surrency, Ga.; Merchants – Philip R. (Phil) Bogel, Dallas, Tex.; Eduardo L. (Eddy) Esteve, Dallas, Tex.; Manfred Schiefer, Lubbock, Tex.; and G. William (Bill) Winburne, Peoria, Ariz.; Cooperative Officials - Keith T. Lucas, Garner, NC; Hank Reichle, Greenwood, Miss.; and Lonnie D. Winters, Lubbock, Tex.; Cottonseed Handler – Gail Kring, Lubbock, Tex.; Warehouser - Vance C. Shoaf, Milan, Tenn.; and Manufacturers – Werner Bieri, Jefferson, Ga.; and Malloy Evans, Cheraw, SC.