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NCA Member Awards

NCA Individual Recognition Awards

Each year, the NCA presents the Distinguished Leadership Award and the Volunteer of the Year Award at the NCA Convention in recognition of the outstanding achievements of individuals from the member community.

Know someone who deserves to be recognized for their work in the coffee community? See the chart below for award criteria and nomination requirements.

Nominations for the 2026 award cycle will open in September 2025.

Special Thanks to Eight O'Clock Coffee Company

 

EOC Logo

 

Sponsor of the 2025 NCA Individual Recognition Awards

The NCA Luminary Award
The NCA Distinguished Leadership Award
The NCA Volunteer of the Year Award
Category
Innovator/Game Changer
Leadership
Volunteer
Award Description The NCA’s highest recognition for an individual whose extraordinary and groundbreaking contribution(s) has been a driving force of positive change and has had a significant, profound, and lasting impact on the coffee community. The recipient of this special honor has demonstrated exemplary leadership, service, and commitment to the NCA and the coffee industry by promoting and advancing NCA’s mission; contributing to the advancement of the coffee industry; and going above and beyond of what one may usually undertake. This Award recognizes an outstanding volunteer who stands out for his/her overall leadership and contributions during the past year.
Level of Contribution Recognition can be for a single contribution. The award is for continuous and sustained leadership, service, and contribution, rather than for a single act, no matter how monumental. Recognition can be for a single contribution.
Time period of contribution Open-ended Open-ended Past Year
NCA Membership Required for Nominee? No Current or prior member Nominee must have worked for an NCA member company during the year in which they are nominated.
Self-nomination allowed? No No No
Nomination

A minimum of four (4) nominations is required, but a maximum of six (6) nominations can be submitted.

   Required Nominations:

  • One (1) Lead Nomination from an NCA member in good standing.
  • Two (2) Supporting Nominations from NCA members in good standing.
  • One (1) Supporting Nomination from either an NCA member in good standing or a non-member.

Additional Supporting Nominations (Not Required)

  • There may be up to two (2) additional Supporting Nominations from NCA members in good standing or non-members.

A minimum of four (4) nominations is required, but a maximum of five (5) nominations can be submitted, by NCA members in good standing.

Required Nominations:

  • One (1) Lead Nomination.
  • Three (3) Supporting Nominations

Additional Supporting Nominations (Not Required)

  • There may be one (1) additional Supporting Nomination submitted.

A minimum of one (1) nomination by an NCA member in good standing is required, but a maximum of five (5) nominations by NCA members in good standing can be submitted.

Required Nominations:

  • One (1) Lead Nomination

Additional Supporting Nominations (Not Required)

  • Up to Four (4) Supporting Nominations
Language Lead Nomination letters, Supporting Nomination letters, and supportive materials must be in English. Nominations must be in English. Nominations must be in English.
Submission deadline 2026 Deadline Forthcoming 2026 Deadline Forthcoming 2026 Deadline Forthcoming
Full award details
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Questions: Contact Terri Bartlett, Director of Member Relations, at trbartlett@ncausa.org