By Terri Bartlett, NCA

Hi, my name is Terri Bartlett, and I recently joined the National Coffee Association as the Director of Member Relations. I’m thrilled to be a part of this outstanding organization and to have the opportunity and privilege of serving our members.

It is certainly an exciting time at the NCA, from new member benefits and the upcoming Coffee Summit to soon-to-be-announced initiatives. The organization is evolving to meet the ever-changing demands of today’s coffee professionals.

Yet even as the NCA is changing, we remain true to our core mission, which is to help you grow your business and protect our common interests.

I want to thank our members for their commitment, involvement, and financial support. I look forward to getting to know you and assisting you in further leveraging the many benefits of membership.

For those who are not NCA members, now is the perfect time to join our vibrant and expanding community of coffee professionals and take advantage of new member benefits, initiatives, and networking opportunities.

Plus, if you join the NCA during the month of October, you’ll receive 15 months of member benefits for the price of a regular 12-month membership.

Here’s a sample of what’s new at the NCA – and if you are not a member, what you’re missing.

• Important information regarding roasting emissions and flavor safety. NCA is continuously monitoring and providing updates to members.

• An unprecedented, NCA-commissioned “Economic Impact Study,” which measures the full scope of the U.S. coffee economy, showing U.S. lawmakers and regulators the importance of our industry.
• Information about coffee and health for consumers, including our new Coffee and Me microsite. This is especially important as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to evaluate overall caffeine consumption and consider mandatory consumer advisories and revised labeling requirements.

• Critical compliance measures and factual information on the new S. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. The law revamps import rules in place for 85 years, and the NCA is working with U.S. government officials to develop industry protocols.

• Updates on the late-breaking Federal GMO labeling legislation – an example of the “intelligence and early warning” function the NCA provides, tailored specifically for coffee.

• Nearly two dozen Member Alert bulletins focused on recent developments with implications for both NCA members and the entire industry.

Learn how NCA membership benefits – including exclusive updates, targeted networking opportunities, educational programs, and essential market research – can help your business and your career.

I look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions. I can be reached at trbartlett@ncausa.org.

Terri Bartlett is the Director of Member Relations at the National Coffee Association