Professional Qualifications & Expertise

Ten years as Assistant Executive Director, with management responsibility for day-to-day operation of Cotton Council International (CCI), the corporate entity representing the international market development, marketing and promotion interests of the U.S. cotton/textile industry. Responsible for a staff of 30+ employees & consultants with an annual cash budget of over $15 million ($100+ million including partner contributions) and activities in over 70 countries. Regional Director for South Asia, responsible for development and management of market development and promotion programs in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Areas of expertise include:


Strategic Planning & Program Development & Management

Ø Development of strategic business plans, promotional strategies/activities and budgets for CCI’s worldwide market development and promotional program. Responsible for oversight of program implementation, market research, analysis and evaluation. Authored marketing plans and grant proposals generating maximum levels of funding from government / industry (MAP, FMD, EMP, Sec. 108, etc., exceeding $15 million in annual grants.)

Ø Coordination of a sophisticated program of activities in support of CCI’s Supply-Push/Demand-Pull strategy designed to build demand for U.S. cotton-rich products at the consumer level (via consumer advertising and promotions) while encouraging increased consumption of U.S. raw cotton fiber among the world’s textile trade.

Ø Key liaison with U.S. government and private sector program partners on program development, implementation and impact assessment resulting in ever-higher levels of support from stakeholders. Influential in development and nurture of close working relationship and positive reputation of CCI among government oversight bodies and peers in the industry. Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.

Ø Development of CCI’s beachhead effort in South Asia (Bangladesh, India & Pakistan) resulting in development of key strategic relationships contributing to a ten-fold increase in exports since 1994.

Ø Team leader in design, development and introduction of the Cotton Gold Alliance program in India, designed to promote cotton products generically in the local market ($2 million seed money, over three years with a design model to enable the program to be self-sustaining thereafter. Project began January 2002.)


Program Management

Ø Successful track record of project design and implementation over fifteen years service with CCI. Exceptional ability to identify needs, assess resources, develop action plans and follow-through with implementation and evaluation. Skilled at enlisting support of third party entities (government, private sector & trade organizations) to further leverage the CCI investment in terms of dollars and personnel.

Ø Project manager for COTTON USA Seminars /Conferences. International conferences (300+ participants each) for U.S. cotton and foreign textile industry leadership, each with a budget of over $500,000. (Held in Korea, Malaysia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Austria, and Singapore respectively.) Project manager for COTTON USA Executive Delegations and Trade Missions to/from more than 30 countries worldwide.

Ø Responsible for analysis and development of implementation plans for the introduction of new technology into the organization with a particular focus on communications and information management technology. Driving force (primary developer/editor) behind the development of Cotton Council International’s World Wide Web trade oriented home page (http://www.cottonusa.org).

Employment History

Dec. 1986 Cotton Council International / National Cotton Council of America (Washington DC)
to Trade organization representing the international interests of the U.S. cotton industry.
Present Current Title: Assistant Executive Director & Regional Director, South Asia
- Designer/Coordinator of innovative Cotton Gold Alliance program … June 2000 to present
- Responsibility for direct Oversight of European Program … January 1999 to present
- Responsibility as Director for South Asian Programs … January 1996 to present
- Assistant Executive Director ... January 1993 to Present
- Acting Assistant Director ... July 1992 to January 1993
- International Program Coordinator ... December 1986 to June 1992

Sept. 1986 National Peanut Council -- International Program Manager (Alexandria VA)
to Trade association representing the interests of the U.S. peanut industry. Hired away by
Dec. 1986 Cotton Council International with significant increase in salary and responsibility.

Oct. 1985 Nat'l. Commission on Ag. Trade and Export Policy - (Washington DC)
to Private Sector Liaison on a Congressionally mandated commission formed to study and
Sept. 1986 formulate recommendations to U.S. policy leaders on U.S. agricultural trade policy.

June 1982 Private Contractor -- Oil and Gas Exploration Business, Dallas/Austin TX
to Worked as independent contractor and employee as Landmanager, Controller, Project Evaluation
Aug. 1986 Manager, & Fundraiser. Drilled over 100 wells in Texas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

EDUCATION

The George Washington University (Washington, DC)
Elliot School of International Affairs -- Program in Science, Technology and Public Policy.
M.A., May 1991 Concentration: Industrial Competitiveness Policy

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
College of Liberal Arts, Political Science, B.A. 1982; Minor in Business.

OTHER INTERESTS

§ Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates 2001
- Candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates seat (Virginia State Legislature) in the 42nd District, which includes much
of Southern Fairfax County. Currently serve as Vice Chair-South for the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.

§ Other Local Civic Activities
- Founding Member – Coalition for Good Schools – citizens’ group advocating increased funding for public schools
- Member – Fairfax Alliance for Fair School Funding – citizens/business alliance advocating increased school funding
- Member – Hayfield Pyramid Solutions Group – community group working for funding/construction of a new school

§ Texas A&M University Related Activities
– Former National Representative - Texas A&M University Association of Former Students.
-- Past President - Nat'l. Capital Area Texas A&M Association of Former Students.

§ Professional Affiliations:
- U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC)
- International Agricultural Management Association (IAMA)
- American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
- Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE)
- The World Future Society
- Pakistani-American Business Association