By Jordan Albus
True dedication to one’s work, industry, and people is rare. Fortunately, PCCA was the beneficiary of the dedication of Jay Cowart, Vice President of Warehouse Operations, who spent over 28 successful and impactful years serving the membership of PCCA. Cowart retired in June 2025, leaving a long-lasting legacy within the Warehouse Division.
Before working at PCCA, Cowart worked as the Office Manager for Humphreys Co-op Gin in Oklahoma. In December 1991, Cowart began a career as PCCA’s Oklahoma Area Field Representative. After a few years in that position, he was promoted to Director of Field Services. In January of 1997, Cowart returned to his former workplace as the General Manager of Humphreys Co-op Gin.
In January 2002, he returned to PCCA and began a position as Manager of PCCA’s OCCA Warehouse Division. In 2006, Cowart became Director of Warehouse Operations and was responsible for both warehouse divisions for PCCA. Later, the two divisions consolidated, and in December 2011, Cowart was elevated to his latest role as Vice President of Warehouse Operations.
Throughout his career, Cowart saw many significant changes in the Warehouse Division. He experienced the rise in cotton crop acreage in Kansas in the late 90s, which played a part in PCCA increasing its bale capacity in the warehouses. He has also seen an increase in the speed of cotton shipping, which increased warehouse demands.
Reflecting on his time at PCCA, Cowart says he is proud of his team’s ability to meet challenges like those they saw in 2017, when the warehouse received more bales than its capacity. Cowart said the warehouse received over 2 million bales, but its capacity was only 1,250,000. He led the team through the challenging time, encouraging them to innovate by utilizing different stacking techniques to fit more bales.
Though he is proud of this accomplishment, there is another that Cowart said he takes pride in.
“I am most proud of the warehouse team playing an instrumental role in developing the concept and ultimately the construction and operation of PCCA’s Private Intermodal Rail Facility,” Cowart said.
CCA’s Private Intermodal Rail Facility effectively shaped the direction of the cooperative by giving it more merchandising muscle. Cowart said that since its inception, the rail facility ha helped reduce costs in fuel and labor, significantly improved our growers’ supply chain to the West Coast ports, and has saved over 5 million truck miles on the road.
Along with cultivating a “can-do, never quit” team culture within the Warehouse Division, Cowart said he always worked to be a forward-thinking leader over the course of his career.
“I was not afraid of change and continuously challenged the status quo in pursuit of innovation and efficiency,” Cowart said.
“Jay is one of the most creative minds I’ve ever worked with,” said Kevin Brinkley, CEO of PCCA. “Any time I needed a fresh look at a problem, Jay was the first call I made. PCCA is forever a better company because of Jay.”
During his retirement, Cowart plans to maintain the many relationships and friendships he has accumulated at PCCA, but for this next chapter of his life, he said he looks forward to being with his family and returning to his cotton farming roots. As Cowart moves on from his time at PCCA, he leaves some advice for his successor, Randy Squires.
“Continue your push for innovation and continue to challenge the status quo,” Cowart said. “PCCA’s Warehouse Division’s future will be bright under your leadership, and I am very excited to see where you take it.”
