The Industry.

 in the earlier years of my carrier as a woman coffee roaster, I felt intimidated by all of the grander of the Coffee Industry.   I thought it was going to be hard to fit in or be a part of such a powerful industry. I really thought it was a man's industry and I better watch out to the male oriented, power driven and anti woman group of professional Coffee Roasters.  Boyyy was I for a big surprise, I remember the very first SCAA Event that I went to, it was about 5 years ago, I was blown away by the reception and the good will of the people I met.
I was bless to learn so much of this amazing industry from some very seasoned professionals and experts in the field. They where so supportive of my work and where so kind to offer me any help and assistance I needed to learn and get better at what I was doing and yes the majority where men.
And I also had the great opportunity to meet some amazing women who where also leaders in their field and where so instrumental in my growth in this industry.  Here is the really cool thing, a lot of the people who made a deep mark in my development, I don't think they know they were so instrumental in doing what they did in my life.
But I think that happens to all of us, people make deep marks in our life's and they do not know how much impact they are making.  They simply are doing what they do every day with all their passion and love, with all their enthusiasm that comes so natural because they know that what they are doing is why God put them in this earth to do and they are happy to do it.
From women coffee growers who where push to become growers by their husbands living them with their children to feed and a coffee field to grow, to the women who are roasters and teachers for Baristas and Rosters they all are so very important.  We are not a minority in an industry we are a part of an industry where we all men and woman are doing important work not just to bring the consumer a cup of coffee, but to put food on the table in the lives of families. We are changing, and preserving the human rights of many men and women and children.  We are part of an industry that celebrates us all in our differences in culture, color and race, and where its OK to demand that you are treated with respect and that your labor is well compensated.  It is not just enough that I am roasting coffee and selling it to my clients I have an obligation to promote all of the people that are part of the chain that makes my industry.
Why you ask?.  Simple I know God put me on this earth to be doing what I am doing, "I am a Coffee Roaster.".