Norbert Niederhauser is CEO of Cropster Inc. and is based in California. He has worked in information management for specialty coffee for over 10 years, including a five-year research position at CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture) in Colombia. Norbert works with roasters, traders and growers in the specialty coffee industry as well as with research and development organizations and NGO’s. Cropster specializes in online information management platforms enabling all partners along the coffee supply chain to manage data efficiently and improve quality and communication. Cropster has offices in Colombia, the USA and Austria serving clients in over 20 countries worldwide.
Andreas Idl is CEO of Cropster GmbH and is based in Innsbruck, Austria. He studied information technologies and worked in this area before dedicating himself to speciality coffee. After doing consulting projects in coffee in Latin America he eventually co-founded Cropster. Cropster specializes in online information management platforms enabling all partners along the coffee supply chain to manage data efficiently and improve quality, consistency and communication. Cropster today runs offices in Colombia, the USA and Austria serving clients in over 20 countries worldwide.
Anna joined Gourmet Source, Specialty Coffee Foodservice Brokers, in April, 2011. Previously, she was the Senior Account Representative for Dillanos Coffee Roasters, working with them for nine years. Her experience includes marketing/branding, menu development, signature drink recipes, training, product selection and overall business development. She has authored several articles in national coffee publications and serves on the SCAA Lectures Committee. Anna is also a certified USBC judge, found a successful niche in Signature Drink Competitions and is the newest World Latte Art Judge. Her passion for the coffee industry and perfection in every cup is contagious! You’ll desire to aim for the same in your business.
Tom Palm has 25 years of experience in the restaurant and foodservice industry. He is the founder of Design & Layout Services, a company specializing in the design of specialty coffee shops. Since 1996, working with independent operators as well as national chains. Palm has helped more than 800 people open cafes and coffee shops throughout the United States and internationally. He is a member of the SCAA Allied committee. He has also written several articles that have been published in coffee trade magazines, and has presented seminars at numerous coffee industry trade shows.
Andrew Miller is the president of Café Imports, an independent green coffee company based in Minneapolis. He has a degree from the University of Minnesota, twenty years of restaurant experience and now twenty years of entrepreneurial experience building a small business. The Café Imports team works with some of the world’s best producers in developing and sourcing some of the finest coffees on the planet. This work, in conjunction with some of the industry’s best roasters, is an attempt to increase the livelihoods of the people in coffee through education and quality. 
Albert has combined his considerable knowledge of the Coffee, Cocoa and Palm Oil physical markets with his experience in implementing risk management strategies in Futures, Options and Structured Product in the commodity markets. Albert joined Hencorp Futures, later acquired by INTL FCStone more than 21 years ago, where he has been an important pillar for the development of Risk Management programs for all participants in the Coffee, Cocoa and the Palm Oil markets; from producers to final consumers. Albert received a BBA with a specialty in Finance from Florida International University. Albert is presently the President of the Pacific Coast Coffee Association (PCCA). 
Nathanael has been an active part of the coffee industry since 2001, when he started as a barista at Disneyland. His career has taken him to managing Starbucks, pouring cappuccinos at Peet’s, training at Java City, and developing a comprehensive education program at Portland Roasting. Nathanael is a regular presenter at industry trade events, a United States Barista Competition judge and Certified Barista through the BGA. As Portland Roasting’s Coffee Educator, he develops new products and recipes, assists with blend assessment and development, cups new offerings, and constructs brewing guidelines and training materials.
Dr. Mark Corey is a product development scientist at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. based in Waterbury, Vermont. Dr. Corey received his PhD in Food Science at the University of Georgia, conducting research on functional foods and bioactives. He represents GMCR on the Scientific Advisory Group of the National Coffee Association. 
Michael has worked on coffee for Catholic Relief Services since 2004. From 2004-2007 he worked to increase the consumption of Fair Trade and sustainable coffees in the United States as director of the CRS Fair Trade Coffee Project. Since 2007, he has worked with smallholder farmers in the coffeelands throughout the Americas. Michael currently directs the Borderlands Coffee Project in Colombia and Ecuador and advises other CRS coffee projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. He is based in Quito and publishes perspectives from the intersection of coffee and international development for the CRS Coffeelands Blog at coffeelands.crs.org.
Marshall Fuss is a lawyer in Pasadena, California with long experience in business, real estate and trademark law, and a special interest in the coffee industry. His clients have ranged from single coffee shops to international companies and trade associations, including SCAA, the Coffee Quality Institute, International Women’s Coffee Alliance, World Coffee Events and World Coffee Research. He is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and the Cornell Law School and is the author of “Choosing and Protecting Trademarks” (Specialty Coffee Retailer, Aug. 2010), “Leasing 101 for Roasters” (Roast magazine, Jan./Feb. 2005) and other articles.
As a managing partner Mark Stell oversees a staff of 29 and is responsible for things green, sales and marketing and financial management. His leadership has earned the company local, national and international recognition for its business achievements and sustainability initiatives. Mark and his family also co-own a coffee farm in Tanzania where they are rehabilitating a 1500 acre coffee estate employing over 90 full time people. Sustainable supply chain management is Mark’s passion and he has been working at it for over 20 years. Mark is also the founder of Portland Global Initiatives, a non profit that focuses on water issues around the world. 
As Director of Sustainability for Farmer Brothers Coffee, Sarah develops and implements strategy, process, and systems to support sustainability and corporate responsibility—linking people, planet, profits. Through an innovative lens, she guides a culture of sustainability, both internally and with all stakeholder relationships. Through impact tracking, waste and water reduction, greenhouse gas emission reduction, renewable energy, sustainable coffee portfolio management, stakeholder engagement, and stewardship projects, Sarah aspires to create transparent and sustainable coffee, tea, and spice supply systems. 
Steve started his career with an Importer on Wall St. in NYC in 1978. He has worked for various importers, roasters and an exporter at origin. Steve currently sources green coffee for multiple concepts, roasting locations and market segments. He travels extensively to visit producers around the world and works closely with the marketing department on new product development.
Michael C. Boyd is a fourth-generation Boyd family member. He evaluates and purchases green coffee and travels to coffee-growing regions. He is an active member of the SCAA and a Licensed Q Grader.
John has been in specialty coffee for over 30 years serving as a barista, roaster and coffee buyer and many other jobs mixed in. He has a love for coffee, especially buying and cupping. He has worked for roasters both large and small taking him to coffee growing areas. John has been a SCAA volunteer working on cupping subcommittees and leading cupping classes for over 10 years. The last three years he has enjoyed being one of the buyers in Ask the Green Buyer. Meeting so many people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives on coffee has enlightened John in this session.
Ernesto is a coffee professional with more than twenty years of experience. He is the principal for the Salvadoran Coffee School in El Salvador and the head of the Coffee Quality Control department for the Salvadoran Coffee Council, helping improve the coffee production chain from seed to cup. Ernesto became a certified Q grader in 2004 and he also helped in the development of the five national Baristas competitions approved by the WBC (World Barista Championship) and he also participated as certified sensory judge. In the search for better quality Ernesto has been a taster judge for the Cup of Excellence competition during the last ten years El Salvador has held the program. 
Ana Elena is the executive director for the Salvadoran Coffee Council and legal representative of the Emergency Fund for Coffee. She belonged to the board of UCAFES becoming president for a period of two years. While she served as director of the Agricultural Development Bank she supported managing capital loans to the sector of cooperatives in general. Because of her studies in the organic agriculture she has driven the organic movement, preferably organic coffee, seeking support for certifications through international cooperation. She has always tried to market agro products to markets like United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union, participating in agribusiness fairs, achieving markets for Salvadoran products. 
As president of Probat Inc, Karl Schmidt is responsible for the companies activities in the North American market; this includes coffee, cocoa processing and particle size reduction equipment. Prior to joining Probat, he held the position of vice president at a major multi-national company in the dairy industry. Previously, he was actively involved with other major international companies within the European community involved in the food processing industry. His educational background includes a Master’s Degree from a German University.
Steve started his career with an Importer on Wall St. in NYC in 1978. He has worked for various importers, roasters and an exporter at origin. Steve currently sources green coffee for multiple concepts, roasting locations and market segments. He travels extensively to visit producers around the world and works closely with the marketing department on new product development.
Michael C. Boyd is a fourth-generation Boyd family member. He evaluates and purchases green coffee and travels to coffee-growing regions. He is an active member of the SCAA and a Licensed Q Grader.
John has been in specialty coffee for over 30 years serving as a barista, roaster and coffee buyer and many other jobs mixed in. He has a love for coffee, especially buying and cupping. He has worked for roasters both large and small taking him to coffee growing areas. John has been a SCAA volunteer working on cupping subcommittees and leading cupping classes for over 10 years. The last three years he has enjoyed being one of the buyers in Ask the Green Buyer. Meeting so many people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives on coffee has enlightened John in this session.
Sunalini Menon is the CEO of Coffeelab Limited, in Bangalore, India. This lab provides comprehensive quality related services for the coffee industry. Sunalini is not only one of Asia’s recognized coffee cuppers, but also travels to coffee origins to conduct workshops on quality. She is a Licensed Q Grader of the CQI. Sunalini is the “Quality Ombudsman” of the Speciality Coffee Association of India. She is also a Coffee Corps Volunteer. Sunalini has received many awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award 2005 (from the International Women’s Coffee Alliance Founding Committee), and the ‘Leadership Medal of Merit’ 2010 from the CQI.