Joel Cowley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to the Board of Directors for leading the organization.
Before taking on the role of CEO, Joel was most recently the president of Angus Genetics Incorporated, following 15 years with the internationally renowned Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
As president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Cowley oversaw 135 full time employees and 35,000 volunteers and brings considerable strengths in leadership, communication, administration and business to the Calgary Stampede.

Joel has had a longstanding relationship with the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary community through his involvement in the agriculture industry over the past 30 years. Joel holds an M.B.A. from Michigan State University, a M.Sc. in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and a B.Sc. in Animal Science from Colorado State University.