Advisors

Advisors include sustainability and cotton-growing experts.
Photo of Michael Quinn

J. Michael
Quinn

Frontier Spinning Mills
Sanford, North Carolina

Photo of Marc Lewkowitz

Marc
Lewkowitz

Supima
Tempe, Arizona

Tara
Luckman

Flourish CSR

Deepika
Mishra

Sustainability Consultant

Mark
Pryor

The Seam
Memphis, Tennessee

Photo of Jesse Daystar

Dr. Jesse
Daystar

Cotton Incorporated
Cary, North Carolina

Photo of Dr. Andrew Jordan

Dr. Andrew
Jordan

Jordan & Associates
Cordova, Tennessee

Photo of Gary Bell

Garry
Bell

Gildan
Quebec, Canada

Bill
Gillon

The Cotton Board
Memphis, Tennessee

Photo of Gary Bell

Garry
Bell

Gildan
Quebec, Canada

J. Michael Quinn

Frontier Spinning Mills, Sanford, North Carolina

Quinn is vice president of Cotton Operations and Risk Management for Frontier Spinning Mills, one of the world’s largest producers of spun yarns for the knitting and weaving industries. He previously served as Frontier’s President/CEO after working for 21 years with Carolinas Cotton Cooperative. He currently serves as a member of ICE Futures US’ Trading Member and Cotton Committee. A former participant in the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) Cotton Leadership Program, he is a former NCC vice president and serves on multiple NCC committees among them the Cotton Quality Task Force. Quinn holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from East Carolina University.

Marc Lewkowitz

Supima, Tempe, Arizona

Since 2016, Marc Lewkowitz has served as president and chief executive officer of the Tempe, Ariz.-based promotional and marketing organization for the American Pima cotton growers. 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. Lewkowitz 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.

Tara Luckman

Co-Founder & Director, Flourish CSR

Tara Luckman is the Co-Founder & Director of Flourish CSR and Special Advisor to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. Previously she was the Head of Sustainable Sourcing at ASOS and worked for TESCO. She has a background in Textile Science and Technology, having graduated from the University of Manchester.

Deepika Mishra

Sustainability Consultant

Deepika Mishra is a passionate, innovative, enthusiastic scientist with demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate worldwide in the development of novel life sciences technologies and techniques to enhance sustainable agriculture to have a true impact that addresses challenges of climate change. She works as a sustainability consultant for the National Cotton Council and Cotton Council International.  

Mark Pryor

The Seam, Memphis, Tennessee

Pryor leads the company’s strategic initiatives including blockchain, commodities trading, track-ing, clearing and software development solutions for the agriculture industry. The Seam’s cloud-based platforms have facilitated the trading and management of tens of millions of cotton bales, millions of tons of peanuts and billions of dollars in trade management and settlements. Mark has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and other global news outlets for spearheading such initiatives as agriculture sustainability, traceability and transparency. He is a Forbes Technology Council member, an Agricenter International director, and an advisor to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He also serves as a technology advisor for the American Cotton Shippers Association and the National Cotton Council.

Dr. Jesse Daystar

Cotton Incorporated, Cary, North Carolina

Daystar 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. Daystar 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.

Dr. Andrew Jordan

Jordan & Associates, Cordova, Tennessee

Jordan assists clients in developing agricultural research policy/priorities and in their assessment of sustainable agriculture and environmental and social responsibility plans. He is a charter member of the multi-stakeholder coalition–Field to Market-Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture Outcomes and a director for Agricenter International and Delta BioRenewables. He previously served as vice president, Technical Services for the National Cotton Council (NCC) and is an advisor to the NCC’s COTTON USA Sustainability Task Force. He earned a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Georgia, and both a M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering and a Ph.D. in Engineering from Clemson.

Garry Bell

Gildan Quebec, Canada

Bell is a 30+ year textile and apparel industry veteran who has overseen marketing, product development, innovation, business development and sustainability. He has 24 years in senior level positions at Gildan, one of the world’s largest vertically integrated manufacturers of textiles and apparel. The company’s vertical integration and entrepreneurial culture allowed Bell to develop a deep understanding of the U.S. cotton industry – from field to finished garments and the end-consumer. Having served as a special member of the National Cotton Council’s COTTON USA Sustainability Task Force, Bell has presented at several international conferences on subjects ranging from digitization and sustainability to U.S. cotton’s environmental efforts.

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.