Editor’s note: The NCA Next Generation group is a growing initiative to support young professionals who are passionate about coffee, and develop future leaders across the industry.

Ready to get involved? We’re now accepting applications for three non-officer positions on the NCA Next Gen Council. (While NCA Next Gen is open to everyone, NCA membership is required for Council positions.)

Learn more about NCA Next Gen, or join now. The NCA Next Gen Council will be presenting a breakout session at the NCA 2018 Convention in New Orleans – hope to see you there!

In this new and fast-paced world, keeping current with industry news and events can be demanding.

The NCA Next Generation Council is proud to announce our new series of newsletters to help keep you, the next generation of leaders in the coffee industry, up to date on all things going on in the coffee world. (Check out the inaugural issue here.)

The Next Generation Council’s mission is to identify, recruit, and engage the next generation of leaders in the US coffee industry. It will encourage the under-40 coffee community to participate in the National Coffee Association (NCA) by increasing activity and input into events, providing ongoing education, and promoting leadership and development amongst its constituents. Doing so will provide the National Coffee Association with a steady stream of new voices and future leaders across the spectrum of the industry.

The inaugural edition of our newsletter is highlighted by a Spotlight Q&A with Brandon Jackson, the Chair of the Next Gen Council. We ask Brandon how the council is structured, what the group’s goals are, what the benefits are of joining are, and what NCA Next Gen members can expect in the future.

The remainder of the newsletter will focus on industry news and NCA publications, announcements pertinent to the Next Gen membership, and a social media spotlight.  Instagram has become an important platform of communication, and the NCA is regularly engaging with the online community. As you post your coffee photos, tag the NCA (@nationalcoffeeusa; #NCAUSA), and we’ll feature the best post each month (plus send the winner a prize!)

We’ve also created a short survey so we can learn more about what YOU want from the Next Gen Council.  As we roll out programming and content, we’d love to get your feedback.

We are extremely excited to bring to you, the next generation of coffee, what we hope to be a stimulating and valuable resource. And as always, we want to hear from you!

– The NCA Next Gen Council