International Women's Coffee Alliance
United States Chapter
USWIC Board of Directors
The USWIC Board of Directors consists of 12 volunteer members who serve a 2-year term. The board of directors supports the work of USWIC and provides mission-base leadership and strategic governance. Every year, a number of seats open up for nominations. Members of our community will be elected to serve a 2-year term.
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Inaugural Board of Directors.
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Executive Team: The initial term limits should last until year 2023 elections. This will give the organization some stability and assurance that goals are being set and achieved during the implementation of the next Executive Committee and stability with the installation of the first of the Directors.
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Plan: Elect a 2nd VC. The VC would migrate to the Chair. The Chair would migrate to the Past Chair. The Exec Team would be a three-year commitment.
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Directors: The Director positions should be divided between the three regions of the US; West, Central, and East. Half of the initial positions should be extended to 3 years so that all Directors do not expire at the same time.
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The USWIC Bylaws are available here.
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Meet the USWIC Board of Directors
Renee Espinoza is co-owner of Firedancer Coffee Consultants with primary responsibility for the education and training aspect of the company. Espinoza is an Authorized SCA Trainer; holding professional level certificates in Barista Skills, Brewing, and Roasting. She has extensive experience in events, restaurant, and café management as well as the creation and implementation of employee training programs. Renee is also a past board member of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) and resigned to push the US-based IWCA Chapter organization forward. She continues to find ways to make sure women’s voices are heard and have a seat at the table. As Notorious RBG said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.”
Renee Espinoza
President
Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Launtia Taylor
1st Vice President
Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Maria Cleaveland
2nd Vice President
Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Brittany Amell
Director
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Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Mark Inman
Director
Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Sam Supsky
Communications
Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Michelle Anariba
Communications
Launtia is Co-Founder of the Taylor Gentles Group established in Switzerland in 1994, she has a proven leadership track record in Sales & Marketing in the coffee and cocoa industry bringing over 20 years of experience to the Team. She has served as the Chair for the SCA’s Lecture Committee, a Member of the Roasters Guild Executive Council, a Re-Co Ambassador for the SCA Symposium, and on the NCA Summit Team. Launtia also served as President of the IWCA Board of Directors. In this role, she was a speaker at the 2010 International Coffee Organization’s World Coffee Conference in Guatemala where she addressed the topic of Social Sustainability. As a past VP of Sales & Marketing for Probat Burns, she led the strategic design and implementation of projects for clients spanning the coffee and cocoa Industry. Launtia is currently President of the Taylor Gentles Group operating in Tampa FL, and a Senior Consulting Member of the Firedancer Coffee Consultants Team
Kirsten Nelson
Communications