Daren Abney Email & Phone Number

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a voluntary, farm level science-based sustainability program that is setting a new standard for delivering value to all stakeholders across the entire supply chain from farms to finished products. It is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency to all members.As Executive Director, I'm responsible for guiding the strategic vision and operation of the Trust Protocol, with focus on supporting farmers in combating climate change through evolving agricultural innovation, textile brands and retailers in their drive to deliver more sustainably produced garments, as well as NGOs and other sustainability initiatives to determine areas of potential collaboration.

- Responsible for leading the New York office in executing regional business development strategies and marketing across five segments; reinforcing commercial excellence to deliver customer intimacy and growth. - Cross functional coordination with Lenzing global offices on USA market and retail programs. - Collaborate regularly with Austrian and regional teams to manage global partnerships with key NGOs / associations.

Work with leading North American brands and their suppliers in the procurement of Lenzing’s sustainably innovative fibers, with a segment focus on the denim market. - Develop and implement the global business strategy for denim market segment.- Grow use, education and brand awareness for TENCEL(TM) fibers.- Determine measurable key performance indicators to monitor denim market segment progression.- Collaborate with global team to develop value chain including mills and retailers/brands.- Seek new global business opportunities for Lenzing fibers in denim applications.- Coordinate marketing efforts, including trade shows and mass communication.- Interface with Lenzing fiber production, sales/marketing, marketing, and technical service groups in meeting the needs of the customers and facilitating product placements.

Expanded leadership responsibility in managing the global Membership Team to deliver the income for funding BCI’s operation and global field-level programs.Continued expansion of a global BCI member engagement strategy, including member-led communications, new systems, and coordination of new approaches to connect BCI’s global multi-stakeholders.

Expanded role included hosting technical trainings for implementation of a Better Cotton sourcing strategy with executives at recruited retailer and brand members. Created and led a membership marketing strategy, focused on internal structure and creation of new materials for use by global Membership & Supply Chain Team, including a global event strategy.

As part of this role, I was responsible for delivery of BCI income targets based on strategic membership expansion and increase in Better Cotton procurement. During this period, I tripled North American brand membership and helped to drive global procurement by retailers from approximately 5% of production in 2014 to 17% in 2017.Shifted several high value retailer and brand members into Better Cotton procurement for the first time.Introduced sponsorship system for the global Annual Member Meeting, creating a new income stream. Led the strategic shift of the BCI Annual Member Meeting to become the Global Cotton Sustainability Conference in 2017, including full content design and logistics management. Successfully lead the design and delivery of over two dozen global events, including the facilitation of focused workshops, recruitment events and regional member meetings.

In this role I expanded financial contributions by working with top management from over 50 international brands, while forging long-term relationships to enable collaboration on content creation. Successfully led annual global conference sponsorship fundraising to surpass event financial goals for five consecutive years, while supporting the event execution. Key in implementing the organization’s strategic shift from Organic Exchange to Textile Exchange, expanding the focus to include all ‘more sustainable’ materials. Managed task force of board volunteers and Textile Exchange senior staff to research, organize and implement a new membership structure. Stabilizing annual income by shifting member focus from a quantity to quality approach, during a global recession.

Lubbock, Texas Area

Prospect, market, sell and service online advertising for three websites; negotiate business based on industry ratings and consistently surpass revenue goals; develop new advertisers and service clients to maintain positive working relationships; conceive and execute written proposals; prepare sales and production requests in a timely manner; write creative and successful scripts and online content; provide call sheets, itineraries, new prospect lists, forecasts and competition analysis.

Lubbock, Texas Area And Midland/Odessa, Texas Area

Prospected, marketed, sold and serviced advertising air time; duties are very similar to Ramar Communications experience above, assigned to six radio stations. Sales leader within six months in the Midland/Odessa market.

Lubbock, Texas Area

Served as on-air personality for local CHR radio morning show; set up and executed live location broadcasts weekly; executed events to raise money for charity; managed intern schedules and assigned intern tasks.

Orlando, Florida Area

Attended College Program to learn from the industry leaders in exceptional customer service, while operating attractions and event audience control at the Magic Kingdom theme park; attended accredited Disney marketing classes.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

In an effort to expand my professional development, I completed the MBA Program at West Texas A&M University, earning a professional.

Completed Textiles Fundamentals Course

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Advertising And Marketing