The Specialty Coffee Association of America
Appoints Emily Oak to World Barista Championship Board


Long Beach, CA. U.S.A. (July 22 2008) —The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) announces the appointment of Emily Oak as the newest member to represent the association's interest on the World Barista Championship (WBC) Board of Directors.

Oak is Director of Training and Development for Australian Independent Roasters, an SCAA member and wholesale roaster located near Sydney, Australia. She is slated to serve a two-year term on the internationally-recognized barista competition's board.

In addition to four representatives from the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), with whom the SCAA jointly owns the WBC, Oak joins current SCAA representatives Cindy Chang, of Counter Culture Coffee, Nicholas Cho of murky coffee, and Andrew Hetzel of Cafemakers, LLC on the WBC Board of Directors, These volunteers are tasked with continuing the interest and growth of the WBC on a global scale while building a stronger educational and social platform for the worldwide barista community.

Oak represented Australia as a competitor at the 2001 World Barista Championship in Miami. Since then she has served as a WBC judge, WBC regional coordinator for the Asia Pacific region, and chair of the WBC regional coordinator committee, in addition to other professional and volunteer accomplishments in the global specialty coffee industry.

"SCAA is pleased to select Emily to represent our association on the WBC Board of Directors," said SCAA Executive Director Ric Rhinehart. "We are confident she will provide SCAA with a strong presence within the internationally-recognized specialty coffee organization while also contributing to the WBC's continuing growth and success."

“I’m very excited about representing the SCAA on the WBC board,” said Oak. “I have believed in the goals of the WBC since its inceptions and look forward to helping the organization continue to grow.”

The stated goals of the WBC are:
--To promote the growth, excellence and recognition in the barista profession.
--To grow the barista's knowledge of and expertise in the preparation and serving of specialty, espresso coffee through competitions.
--To promote the knowledge and consumption of specialty coffee to the consumer through the Barista.
--To become globally recognized as the premier world barista event in the coffee calendar.

About the SCAA
Celebrating 26 years of success, SCAA is the world's largest coffee trade association. SCAA members are located in more than 40 countries and represent every segment of the specialty coffee industry, from coffee growers to coffee roasters and retailers. The SCAA's mission is to be the recognized authority on specialty coffee, providing a common forum for the development and promotion of coffee excellence and sustainability. The SCAA's dedication to excellence in coffee is realized through the setting of quality standards for the industry; conducting research on coffee, equipment and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and business services for members. The SCAA's annual conference is held in a different U.S. city each year and is the coffee industry's largest gathering and exhibition.

About the WBC
The World Barista Championship was created initially by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe. The first WBC took place in Monte Carlo in October 2000. The Specialty Coffee Association of America quickly joined and the WBC is now a joint venture among the two sister organizations. The WBC is a nonprofit corporation headquartered in the United Kingdom. Ownership is shared between the SCAE and SCAA. The organization's 2009 event will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 16-19, 2008, in conjunction with the Specialty Coffee Association of America Symposium and Exposition.