What is your position in the coffee industry?
barista, barista trainer, industry professional
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Where are you located? ( City and Country )
Chicago, USA
How many years have you been in the industry?
13
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?
no
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?
Coffee-producing countries
About Me:
I started in the coffee industry in 1999 as a barista in the original Intelligentsia store on Broadway in Chicago. After a few years, I started designing Intelligentsia's training program, adding more trainers over the years and growing the program to be a multi-faceted Training Department offering educational programs for wholesale customers, staff, the public, and the barista competitions. In 2007 after moving to Los Angeles, I left Intelligentsia to join Coffee Solutions as a partner in charge of the training division, which meant spending most of my days working with coffee companies of all shapes and sizes to develop unique training programs for them. In February 2010 I accepted a full-time position at the Specialty Coffee Association of America as the first-ever Director of Professional Development for any coffee trade association as far as I know. I would love to talk to you about SCAA's educational programs and what is available for professional development for baristas and retailers. Before joining SCAA Staff, I had wonderful opportunities to participate in the industry as a volunteer, including as a 2-time USBC finalist and Great Lakes Regional Barista Champion, SCAA Board of Directors and Chair of the SCAA Training Committee and Professional Development Committee, and Barista Guild Executive Council Director, including a year as Chair. I've had a lot of wonderful and rewarding opportunities to teach workshops and give educational presentations including Coffee Corps assignments in Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador. My focus, as my title suggests, is to provide and connect YOU with the best professional development opportunities in coffee! Please let me know how I can help you develop your own custom education track.
About My Company:
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) is the world's largest coffee trade association.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?
opportunity to make the world a better place
