Scholarship Program

Production Roaster, Makeworth Coffee Roasters

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest corner of Washington State, I am deeply connected to the serene Coastal Salish waters and the lush, evergreen shaded hills that envelop her. In moments when I am not engrossed in the art of roasting, my days are filled with reading, contemplative writing, yoga practice, card games, savoring a good beer, and of course indulging in copious amounts of coffee. Bellingham is home to a lively specialty coffee community, and it is where I feel most at home. Surrounded by laughter, connection and curiosity, specialty coffee holds a big place in my heart. There is a certain intention that I am drawn to in roasting coffee — it allows me to be present and detail oriented, to meld the left brain and right brain, to mix the creative with the scientific. This intention carries into all aspects of my life and in all of my pursuits, past, present, and future.

Coffee Roaster, Three Keys Coffee

Hey y'all! My name is Alisher Kamalov (he/him) and I'm originally from Kazakhstan by way of Houston Texas. I have been passionate about coffee since my first cafe job back in High School and after 10 years working in the construction industry I've committed to pursuing coffee full time! I've been roasting with Three Keys Coffee in HTX and working on launching my own roasting operation (Steppe Coffee). Also juggling some cafe shifts to keep my bar skills fresh and engage with the coffee drinking community. Education and training has always been a passion of mine so I look forward to learning more at the retreat and spreading the knowledge to other aspiring coffee professionals!

Founder/Roaster, Bevel Coffee

My name is Kevin Mejia, I'm from Los Angeles, CA, and I'm a first-generation, American-born, Honduran descendant. I founded and operate a roastery named Bevel Coffee as its only (current) employee along with my girlfriend (by chance also Honduran). At the moment, our business operates as a cottage food operation. We spent our savings to buy a used 3kg Mill City roaster after a disheartening and unexpected shift in both of our careers and lives. Despite that, we picked ourselves up and built a cart to start doing pop-ups to share our coffee. Our 1 year anniversary is August 26th and in that year we've built amazing relationships with coffee industry folks, we've catered and popped-up at hundreds of venues and events. It's an amazing ride and we're excited to be able to ride this wave into a cafe/roastery in the future. As Hondurans, we have a passion for sharing

Some of our favorite coffees that we've had from our ancestral homeland and giving back to those economies. In my spare time, I mountain bike, rock climb, skateboard, woodwork, play guitar/drums, and more. I can't sit still, I enjoy learning and have a million hobbies. Coffee was the one that was the catalyst for this amazing journey.

Lead Roaster, Portrait Coffee

My name is DJ Thomas and I am the Lead Roaster at Portrait Coffee in West End, Atlanta, Georgia. I have worked in the coffee industry as a barista and roaster for six years. I am very passionate about every part of the coffee supply chain from baristas to producers. My hope is to teach people about all the different stakeholders it takes for delicious coffee to reach their cups.

Production Roaster, Red Bay Coffee and Aftermath Coffee

I was born and raised in Oakland, with a comedic and creative spirit that has always defined me. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a path that allowed me to express myself creatively and embody my complex, nostalgic nature. It was in 2008-2009, while I was working my way through college, that I stumbled upon the world of coffee. Little did I know that this fortuitous encounter would ignite a deep love and understanding for the art of coffee.

I began my journey in the industry at the frontlines, starting as a barista and gradually working my way up to the shift manager position. But I craved a deeper knowledge of the science behind coffee production and the complex flavors that pour out of each cup. However, my pursuit of this knowledge encountered roadblocks, but I never gave up.

When the pandemic struck, I took the time to reflect on my future. Harnessing the money from my last paycheck, I invested in a café roaster from Sweet Maria and enrolled in roasting essentials classes at Boots Coffee and Mill City Roasters. These experiences fueled my passion and led me to the doors of Red Bay, which opened up a space for me to learn and grow through their roaster apprenticeship program. Today, I am proudly serving as their production roaster.

My journey is far from over as I continue to strive for perfection in my craft. I believe there is still much to learn, and my deepest hope is to retain and pass on the valuable skills and experiences to my daughter, preserving the legacy left behind by our ancestors.