The Specialty Coffee Association is seeking nominations for its Board of Directors. The two-year volunteer position will serve for the calendar years of 2022 and 2023 and will be critical in helping CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos develop a five-year strategic course for the SCA. The multi-stage application process starts with the initial nomination, which can be made until July 9th.
Per the statement announcing the opening of the nominations, in order to earn a spot on the 18-seat Board of Directors, qualified applicants must first sit for an interview with the Nominating Committee, a group of seven past and current board members: Colleen Anunu (Board President), Juan Luis Barrios (Board Vice President), Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos (Board 2nd Vice President), Burak Alici (Board Treasurer), Christina Meinl (Emeritus Director), Heather Perry (Emeritus Director), and Yannis Apostolopoulos (Chief Executive Officer).
The SCA defines qualified nominees as SCA members in good standing with โa track record of board leadership,โ including โleadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.โย Other states qualifications include: extensive professional experience, a commitment to and understanding of the coffee value chain, excellent diplomatic skills, and โpersonal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of people in the coffee community.โ
Along with commitments of two to three weeks for in-person meetings and attending the SCAโs major trade shows, board members are responsible for the following initiatives:
- Serving as trusted advisors to the CEO as they develop and implement the 5-year strategic plan
- Reviewing agenda and supporting materials before board and committee meetings
- Approving SCAโs annual budget, audit report, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all legal and fiduciary responsibilities
- Contributing to the annual performance evaluation of the CEO
- Assisting the CEO and Board Chair in identifying and recruiting other board members
- Partnering with the CEO and other board members to carry out board resolutions
- Serving on committees or task forces and taking on particular assignments
- Representing the SCA to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization
- Ensuring SCAโs commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities that the SCA serves
The slate of candidates will be announced August 31st, at which point nominations by petition will take place in order to allow individuals who didn’t make it through the board nomination process a chance to be voted onto the board. Petition candidates will have until September 30th to acquire 100 signatures from SCA members in order to be added to the ballot. The final results will then be announced December 13th.
For more information on the responsibilities, the qualifications, or to nominate yourself or someone else, visit the Specialty Coffee Association’s official website.
Zac Cadwaladerย is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.
