coffee career

Meet the NCA Next Generation: Amber Gray, Starbucks

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The following Q&A is from the NCA Next Generation Group, a National Coffee Association initiative to engage and support young professionals and emerging leaders across the coffee industry. 

Join the NCA Next Generation Council for young professionals in the coffee industry at the NCA 2019 Convention in Atlanta on Friday, March 8.

Amber Gray
Mgr Sr Coffee Operations, Starbucks
NCA Next Gen Council Member

How and when did you get involved with the coffee industry?

I got involved in coffee in 2013 when I joined Atlas Coffee Importers in north Seattle.

Having a culinary degree, I was trying to find an opportunity that would allow me to stay connected to the food and beverage industry, but still utilized my analytical background.

I worked in their Logistics department, managing and coordinating orders from green coffee warehouses to various customers across the US.

What interested you in joining the NCA Next Generation group, and then becoming part of the council?

I found out about the Next Gen council opportunity while on an origin trip in Costa Rica. Experiencing the first 10 feet of coffee inspired me to find a way to contribute more to the larger conversation.

I hope to help inspire the next generation, especially women, to get involved in coffee and supply chain.

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Building a Legacy of Leadership: NCA Chair on Family Values and Coffee’s Next Generation

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Join the NCA Next Generation council for a professional development breakout session and networking event at the NCA Convention in Atlanta, GA

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Michael Gaviña delivering his General Session remarks at the 2018 NCA Convention

Exclusive Q&A: Michael Gaviña, F. Gaviña & Sons

“We really have something special, we have a very collegial industry that is passionate about a product that our customers hold dearly.”

Michael Gaviña is the current of the National Coffee Association. He is a fourth-generation executive at F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc. (FGS), responsible for pricing raw materials and managing inventory. A Coffee Quality Institute Q grader, he joined FGS in 2002 as a buyer. He is has served as CFO of DF Roasters since 2015.

Here, talks to Next Generation Council Communications subcommittee member Kyle Bawot about what he’s learned over his career, the challenges ahead for coffee businesses, and his hope for next generation of industry leaders.

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Meet the Real Bill Murray

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Bill Murray speaking at the 2018 NCA Convention in Atlanta

Behind the scenes with the President & CEO of the National Coffee Association USA

William (Bill) Murray has served as President and CEO of the National Coffee Association (NCA) since 2014, following leadership positions at the Public Relations Society of America and the Motion Picture Association.

And clearly he’s kept caffeinated. In a few short years, the NCA has evolved as an organization to provide enhanced member benefits and educational opportunities, while also serving as a critical advocate on key industry issues like the Prop. 65 labeling case in California.

Here, he talks to Zach Olsen, Regional Sales Manager at Bunn USA and incoming Chair of the NCA Next Generation Council, about his career, the coffee industry, and Caddyshack.

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Meet the NCA Next Generation: Shelby Westfeldt Mills

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Mardi Gras World at the NCA 2018 Convention

The following Q&A is from the NCA Next Generation Group, a National Coffee Association initiative to engage and support young professionals and emerging leaders across the coffee industry. 

 

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Shelby Westfeldt Mills
President, Coffee/Tea Trader
Westfeldt Brothers, Inc.
NCA Next Gen Council

Interviewed by Janet Colley Morse

How and when did you get involved with the coffee industry?

It was right after Katrina in 2005 and I was living in New York City interviewing for jobs in advertising. My dad had to relocate Westfeldt Brothers to North Carolina, and asked if I would work on the New York Board of Trade (now the ICE) as a clerk and assist WBI.

I put everything on hold and started immediately. I fell in love with it!

If you ask how I ended up at Westfeldt Brothers, that was probably because my mom made my dad give me a job.

What interested you in joining the NCA Next Gen group and then becoming part of the council?

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Coffee Career Center: Jobs of the Week

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From baristas to boardrooms, the Coffee Career Center connects companies to top talent across the industry.

Check out this week’s featured job listings – and visit the Coffee Career Center for more. (Please note that you will need to set up a free account to view the full post.)

Premium Post
Senior Traffic Coordinator | Rothfos Corporation
NY

Premium Post
Financial Analyst, Central & South America | Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
VA

Premium Post
VP, Coffee | Fair Trade USA
CA

Packaging Assistant | Confluence Coffee Company
VA

Sales Representative | Red Diamond, Inc.
MN

Social Media Strategist | Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
VA

Parts Manager | Espresso Plus Inc
MA

Visit the Coffee Career Center to view more listings, share your resume, or post a job. 

 

How to Be a Better Boss: Leadership in Coffee Operations

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By Andrew Russo
The following post is an excerpt from Fresh Cup Magazine

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In 2005 I stood in front of thirty soldiers, all with more experience than me, and was introduced as their leader. I was barely twenty-one years old, standing in front of a wide range of people of different ages, education levels, and socio-demographic backgrounds. Soon we would jump out of airplanes together, deploy together—and they expected me to lead them through it all. Sound intimidating? It is.

In coffee, taking charge of experienced baristas, roasters, and buyers is equally intimidating. How a team is led can make or break the experience.

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Coffee Career Center: Jobs of the Week

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Whether you’re an industry veteran or looking to make a change, there’s never been a more exciting time to pursue a career in coffee.

Check out this week’s featured job listings – and visit the Coffee Career Center for more. (Please note that you will need to set up a free account to view the full post.)

Premium Post
Financial Analyst, Central & South America | Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
VA

Premium Post
VP, Coffee | Fair Trade USA
CA

Education Manager | Toddy, LLC
CO

Food Safety Quality Manager | Toddy, LLC
CO

Machine Technician | La Colombe
NY

Barista | Cafe Grumpy
NY

All positions | Urth Caffe
CA

Branch Quality and Technical Manager | illycaffe
FL

Visit the Coffee Career Center to view more listings, share your resume, or post a job. 

Coffee Career Center: Jobs of the Week

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Stuck in a rut? Start 2017 with an exciting new job in the coffee industry.

Check out this week’s featured listings – and visit the Coffee Career Center for more. (Please note that you will need to set up a free account to view the full post.)

Premium Post
VP, Coffee / Fair Trade USA
CA

Social Media Strategist / Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
VA

Total Office and Logistics Manager / Coffeetec
CA

International Marketing Manager / Coffeetec
CA

Store Manager / Mercurys Coffee Co.
WA

Barista / Blue Donkey Coffee
GA

Coffee Career Center: Jobs of the Week

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The Coffee Career Center job board is intended to be the first career stop for employers and job seekers across the coffee industry. 

To help connect top talent with new opportunities, we’ll be highlighting a selection of job and internship listings here each week. And if you’re looking to hire, it’s easier than ever to post a job – discounts available for NCA members.

Without further ado, here are the Coffee Career Center featured jobs of the week (please note that you will need to set up a free account to view the full listing):

Barista / Cafe Grumpy
NYC

Internship / CNY Roasters Guild
NYC

Assistant Roaster / Ebru Coffee Company
PA

Plant Manager / Philz Coffee
CA

Brewer / Confluence Coffee Co.
VA

Check out the latest listings, post a job, and find more resources at the Coffee Career Center. 

19 Signs of Executive-Level Leadership

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By Bill Murray, NCA, CEO

See the full post on LinkedIn or visit the Coffee Career Center resource page for more leadership tips. 

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With thanks to Laura Freebairn-Smith of the Organizational Performance Group, for permission to cite her findings. 

Ensuring that the right organizational leadership is in place is a task that is so challenging that it has spawned an entire industry.

Whether you search the web or pop into an old-school brick-and-mortar bookstore, the amount of advice on offer about “being a leader” is staggering.

One of the reasons that leadership can be a challenging subject is because it pertains to human behavior. A second difficulty relates to things like stylistic differences, gaps between what is said vs. what is done, and self-promotion.

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