THE PROGRAM
NKG PACE is a paid, one year, Quality Control–focused program through which the Neumann Gruppe USA (NGUS) companies share their deep knowledge of the green-coffee industry, as well as the quality expertise of sister companies in nearly every coffee-producing country, in the interest of promoting diversity in the U.S. coffee industry.
Shared across NKG U.S. offices
NKG PACE welcomes up to three Partners per program cycle. These are full-time,
in-person positions.
As employees of NGUS, NKG PACE Partners receive an entry-level salary and benefits including medical insurance, life insurance, a 401k contribution plan, long- and short-term disability plans, transit commuter benefits and paid time off.
Gain an introduction to industry certifications and sustainable initiatives.
Curriculum Overview
The program includes a blend of daily lab work, assisting QC managers; collaborative online learning and independent study projects; foundational training in Customer Service and Logistics; and a Speaker Series featuring colleagues from around the globe and outside experts from across the country.
NKG PACE Partners also build relationships with CCRE-selected mentors who encourage the Partners’ progress, success and post-program opportunities.
NKG PACE Partners will
Learn to manage a QC lab, and cup and grade many kinds of coffee
Receive and share samples, and learn to maintain an inventory system
Become familiar with global coffee offerings
Analyze and grade green coffee
Understand how coffee moves across the supply chain from seed to cup
Understand coffee contracts, inventory allocations and how to execute foundational operations in outbound logistics
THE TEAM
NKG PACE is led by a Steering Committee.
DAVID M. NEUMANN
NG Hamburg CEO,
NKG PACE Co-Chair
PHYLLIS JOHNSON
CCRE Founder and
BD Imports President,
NKG PACE Co-Chair
MICHELLE MAISTO
NGUS Head of Marketing,
NKG PACE Program Coordinator
MICHELLE R. JOHNSON
Founder of The Chocolate Barista, Ghost Town Oats
AMANDA ARMBRUST-ASSELIN
NGUS QC & Education,
NKG PACE QC & Education Lead
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It took months of conversations to imagine what NKG PACE might be — and still that was the easy part. Over the following year, dedicated volunteers worked to consider, iterate and execute plans for bringing the program to life, from the HR details to the application process to the development of the Education curriculum.
These committee volunteers included CCRE members, NKG colleagues and coffee community superstars, and we’re sincerely grateful for the time, energy and talents they so generously contributed.
APPLICATION & SELECTION
Amanda Armbrust-Asselin, NGUS (lead)
Candice Madison, independent consultant
Tina Yerkes, Coffee Quality Institute
Stephen Zinnerman, The Coffee EnthusiastHUMAN RESOURCES
Lily Gul, Neumann Gruppe USA (lead)
Levi Booser, Bellwether Coffee
Gabrielle Manaskie, Neumann GruppeMARKETING
Michelle Maisto, NGUS (lead)
David Dávila, Dávila Kafe
Brian Gaffney, Coffee Adjacent, PWC Advisory
Cheryl Hung, Dig Insights
Harper McConnell, StarbucksMENTORSHIP
Ellie Hudson, Green Door Workshop (lead)
Kristen Jones, Peet’s CoffeeQC & EDUCATION
Amanda Armbrust-Asselin, NGUS (lead)
Daniela Altamirano, Neumann Gruppe USA
Drew Billups, Atlas
Candice Madison, independent consultant
Gloria Pedroza, NKG Quality Servic
Gavin Tull-Esterbrook, Atlas
Tina Yerkes, Coffee Quality InstituteSTEERING
David M. Neumann, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe
Phyllis Johnson, Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity, BD Imports
Michelle Maisto, NGUS
Brian Gaffney, Coffee Adjacent, PWC Advisory
Tom Minogue, NGUS
ABOUT NGUS
Specializing In Different Sectors
Atlas Coffee Importers, InterAmerican Coffee and Rothfos Corporation are NKG green-coffee importers and trading houses specializing in different sectors of the North American market. They’re overseen by the parent company Neumann Gruppe USA (NGUS).
NGUS headquarters is located in Hoboken, N.J., on the Hudson riverfront. It shares its space, which includes a certified SCA Premier Training Campus, with Rothfos Corporation and InterAmerican Coffee. InterAmerican also has offices in Houston and San Diego.
Atlas Coffee Importers joined NKG in 2018 and its bespoke office in Seattle is also an SCA Premier Training Campus.
The NKG operative holding company is based in the historic coffee port city of Hamburg, Germany.