Santa Fe, NM – Tim O’Connor, founder of Pacific Espresso and longtime leader in the specialty coffee industry, and Mike Ebert, Alterra Coffee sales representative and past member of both the Roasters Guild and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), were nominated to the Coffee Kids Board of Directors this past June in Seattle, WA. Ebert is now Board president and O’Connor is the new vice president.
Ebert has a wide range of specialty coffee experience, including purchasing, sourcing green coffee, product development, marketing, upper management and strategic planning. He also helped in the formation of the Roasters Guild, serving as their first chair of the Executive Council for two years. From there he served eight years for SCAA on the Board of Directors, finishing as the president in 2010.
Outgoing Board President Mike Ferguson welcomed Ebert to the Board by saying, “Mike was the one who turned the idea of a thing called the Roasters Guild into reality, and Mike was president of the Specialty Coffee Association of America Board during a very challenging time. Mike is not only a talented leader, he gets things done.”
Executive Director Carolyn Fairman agrees. “Mike definitely gets things done. In just a short while as president he has already proven great leadership and direction. It’s a pleasure working with him as president.”
O’Connor has been a part of the specialty coffee industry since 1980 and has, in the past three decades, developed several brands into industry leaders. Brands such as Illycaffe, La Marzocco, Puro Caff, and Pacific Espresso have benefited from his expertise. He served as SCAA Board president from 2011 – 2012. He now brings his market knowledge and vast experience to Coffee Kids.
“I am honored to serve on the Coffee Kids Board of Directors,” said O’Connor. “I see a well-managed organization with a lot of unrealized potential. The timing is right for it to grow and make a greater impact in the communities that the coffee industry and its consumers rely on.”
“Tim asks the hard questions,” said Fairman, “which is something that can help us reflect in ways that allow us to truly grow and achieve greater impact. All of us at Coffee Kids welcome both Tim and Mike’s combined expertise, vision and strategic thinking to our team and look forward working with them.”
