A Kern County, Calif., native, Bush holds a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, graduating in 1989. Post-graduate work included a six-month graduate assistantship at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Bush has remained active in University of Arizona (U of A) alumni affairs, having served on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Alumni Council and was recently appointed to the newly formed CALS Career Center Advisory Board. He was awarded in 2012 the U of A’s “Bear Down Award” by the school’s Alumni Association, recognizing service to the institution. Bush and wife Nancy currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona.

Professional background: Bush has worked for Calcot, Ltd., the Bakersfield, Calif.-based cotton marketing cooperative for 25 years. He started as a field representative for areas in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and served in this role for eight years (1999-2007). Bush was named vice president January 1, 2007. As vice president of Calcot’s Southwest U.S. operations, Bush was responsible for all operations of the Glendale, AZ, office, including inbound traffic, warehouse operations and providing Calcot members and gin managers with information critical to their marketing needs. He oversaw recruiting memberships and complete operations in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Bush assumed his new post as CEO on September 1, 2018, succeeding Jarral T. Neeper, who exited after a nine-year term as the co-op’s president. Bush is the eighth chief executive in Calcot’s 97-year-history. In his new role, Bush answers directly to Calcot’s board and is responsible for guiding the grower-owned cooperative association in its efforts to maximize returns on producers’ cotton, as well as other business endeavors.

Prior to Calcot, Bush managed Bluebonnet Warehouse for four years for King Ranch, Inc., in Galveston, Texas, was accounting manager for King Ranch’s Arizona operations for three years and served as gin manager of 11 – Mile Corner Gin for Chickasha Cotton Oil Co. in Arizona.

Involved in cotton industry affairs, Bush was a board member with the Cotton Warehouse Association of America in 1996-97 and is currently serving as a board member to the National Cotton Council and Amcot, the organization representing America’s cotton marketing cooperatives. Bush is also a graduate of the Council’s 1999-2000 Cotton Leadership Program.