NCA gears up for annual convention
Posted: Feb 25, 2010
Educational and networking opportunities are on the agenda at the National Coffee Association of U.S.A.’s 99th Annual Convention, taking place March 18-20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, Calif. “As our industry continues to grow in new and exciting ways, it’s more important than ever to take time away from our daily professional lives to get a strategic look at our business as a whole,” says Robert F. Nelson, NCA president and CEO. “We’re pleased to provide this forum for the entire coffee community to come together and collectively look to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing marketplace.”
Educational sessions will focus on keeping pace with change and understanding how to maximize opportunities. Rocky Laverty, president and CEO of Farmer Brothers Coffee Company, will kick off the convention with the keynote address.
General sessions on the convention’s first day will include:
• What to expect in the U.S. and world economy as well as the changing coffee trade, presented by Scott Clemons, managing director of Brown Brothers Harriman & Company
• Challenges that East Africa faces as a region in marketing its coffee to the world market, presented by David Browning, vice president, Coffee Initiative, Technoserve
Day two of the convention will include:
• A sneak preview of the 2010 National Coffee Drinking Trends report
• A roaster roundtable discussion led by Colleen Anunu, director of coffee at Gimme Coffee, and Stephen Schulman, director of business development at S&D Coffee
• A social media discussion entitled “Marketing in the Digital Age”
For the sixth consecutive year, NCA will host a tabletop exhibition at the convention. Registration for the convention as well as sponsorship and tabletop opportunities are available; go to ncausa.org or call (212) 766-4007.
—Chris Ryan
