Mark graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior and is also a graduate of Murdoch’s International Cotton School in Memphis, Tennessee. Being the son of a cotton grower, he wanted to use his schooling in the industry he was already familiar with, and so he joined the sales department of Calcot, Ltd. in 1976. Success came quickly and after a short time he assumed the role of assistant export sales manager, a position he held until his departure in1983. It was then that he accepted the position of Vice President with another Bakersfield cotton merchandising firm where he ultimately assumed responsibility for all U.S. domestic sales. Continuing his upward climb, he later served as president of the same firm until his departure in 2002. Since February of that year, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of White Gold Association Inc., now White Gold Cotton Marketing LLC, where his duties include oversight of all cotton trading and merchandising functions. His outside activities keep him in touch with the industry where Mr. Costa has served as a member of the board of directors for the Western Cotton Shippers Association from 1988 to 1991 and from 1996 to 2002. He also served as President of the Bakersfield Transportation Club from 1991 to 1992. Mark also owns Costa Land Company L.L.C. which is involved in almond orchard farming and is co-owner of Golden Empire Shelling L.L.C. which provides almond hulling and shelling services in Bakersfield, California.
Keith graduated from the California State University of Fresno with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy. In 1986 he joined Ernst and Whinney Accountancy Corporation’s audit department. His clients included a wide variety of clients in the agricultural industry and well as a number of banks and hospitals. In 1988 he obtained his Certified Public Accountant license. In 1989, he joined one of his clients, Volkart Houchin Inc., as controller. In 1991, he became Chief Financial officer of Colly Houchin Cotton Company, a partnership between the Houchin family of Buttonwillow and Colly Farms of Australia. During the partnership’s 10 year run, in addition to being responsible for all finance and accounting functions of the company, he became actively involved in the industry, serving on the board of directors of the Fresno Cotton Exchange and various committees and chairmanships of the Western Cotton Shippers Association. From 2001 to 2007, he served as Chief Financial officer to Houchin Cotton Company LLC, which operated offices in California, North Carolina and Singapore. In 2007 he joined White Gold Cotton Marketing LLC as Executive Vice President.
In addition to being the Grower Relations Manager since 2006, David has expanded his footprint within the grower community. In 2011 he purchased Transition Farming Company. Transition Farming helped many growers in the Central Valley by setting up strategic fertilizer and amendment programs for row crops and permanent crops. Serving the Tulare, Kings, Kern, as well as Fresno counties. Some years later, as demands for services changed, Transition Farming Company was acquired By Transition Ag Service. Transition Ag service services growers with all soil fertility and amendment needs as well as spraying applications. Specializing in all row crops primarily corn, cotton, wheat and alfalfa. David is also a farmer himself growing wheat, corn, and alfalfa. David lives in Visalia with his wife and 3 children.
Born and raised in South Africa, Yuleen worked for an International Freight Forwarder for eight years before coming to the United States in 1980. Here, she spent eighteen and a half years in the employ of another Bakersfield cotton merchandising firm as Traffic Manager. During this period she also spent time serving as Transportation Committee Chairman for the Western Cotton Shippers Association. In 2002 Yuleen brought her 26 years of transportation experience to White Gold Cotton Marketing LLC where she oversees all of White Gold’s domestic and international shipping plus its related documentation, as well as letters of credit. Yuleen has worked together with Mark for over 41 years in the cotton industry and her extensive background in transportation and cotton are a valuable resource to WGCM and its partners around the world.