John Cooper, Managing Member

E-mail:  jcooper@compassnc.com

John Cooper has over 38 years of experience working as a corporate CEO and government agency administrator.  John's areas of expertise include working with federal, state and local governments on a wide range of issues including agriculture, marketing, economic development, infrastructure, community facilities and energy.

John served in the administrations of three United States Presidents.  He served as State Executive Director of the North Carolina Farm Service Agency from 1981 to 1992, under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.  In April 2001, John was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the State Director of USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Rural Development for North Carolina.  In this role, John administered programs that increased economic opportunity and improved the quality of life for rural citizens throughout the state.  In 2004 he was awarded the Department of Agriculture Plow Award, the USDA's highest honor. 

From 1994 to 2001, John served as President of Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative and was a member of the National Cotton Council Board of Directors.  He was instrumental in maximizing the Cooperative’s profitability through effective and efficient marketing.

In 2008, John received the Old North State Award from Governor Mike Easley for "leadership and devotion to the State that has resulted in over $5 billion of Federal investment in our rural communities." The Old North State Award is presented "for dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the Great State of North Carolina."

After retiring from the federal government in March 2009, John joined CompassNC as Managing Member. 

John Cooper is a native of Sampson County, North Carolina, where he grew up on his family's farm.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from East Carolina University and resides in Raleigh with his wife, Carol.  John and Carol Cooper have three children and two grandchildren.