February 9, 2015
Contact:
Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Dr. Gary Adams, who has served as the National Cotton Council's (NCC) vice president of Economics and Policy Analysis since 2002, was elected by the NCC's board of directors to be the organization's president and chief executive officer.
Adams, elected at the NCC's 2015 Annual Meeting held February 6-8 in Memphis, replaces retiring NCC President/CEO Dr. Mark Lange who served in that role since 2003.
In his new role, Adams will play a pivotal role in guiding the industry's seven segments to reach consensus on critical policies affecting U.S. cotton - with the overall mission of helping each of the U.S. cotton industry's seven segments compete effectively and profitably in global markets.
Previously, Adams had responsibilities that included producing an economic outlook for global cotton markets, as well as analyzing the impacts of farm and trade policies as they relate to the U.S. cotton industry. He represented the cotton industry on USDA's Advisory Committee on Trade from 2005 through 2011 and the National Agriculture Statistics Service Advisory Committee on Agricultural Statistics from 2003 through 2009.
Prior to joining the NCC, Adams was a research assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri. During his 13-year tenure at the university, his primary responsibilities included policy analysis and market outlook for the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.
Adams holds B.S. and M.A. degrees in Applied Mathematics from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri. He and his wife, Carol, have four children.
In addition, the NCC board re-elected Reece Langley as the NCC's vice president, Washington Operations. Langley, who has been serving in that post since last fall, will be responsible for coordinating the NCC's Washington activities, including working with Congress and the Administration. He replaces the retiring John Maguire, who served in that post since 1986 and who had worked for the NCC since 1979.
Prior to joining the NCC, Langley served for nearly a decade as vice president of Government Affairs for the USA Rice Federation, the trade association representing rice producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses. Before joining USA Rice, Langley was agricultural legislative assistant to Rep. Terry Everett (R-AL) from 2001 through 2003.
Langley was raised on his family's farm in Athens, Ala., where he remains involved. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics, followed by an MBA, both from Auburn University.
He and his wife Kerri have one son and reside in Alexandria, Virginia.