Distinguished Leadership Award

2025 Nomination deadline: TBA

The National Coffee Association Distinguished Leadership Award was created to spotlight coffee professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, service, advocacy, and engagement to advance both the National Coffee Association (NCA) and the coffee industry.

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.

The award is for continuous and sustained leadership, service, and contribution, rather than for a single act, no matter how monumental.

Nominations for this award come from NCA members, and we encourage all members to submit nominations. Nominees must be current or prior members of the NCA in good standing.

The Nomination process for the National Coffee Association Distinguished Leadership Award is now completely online!

Please review the Terms & Conditions for more info on eligibility criteria and the nomination process for the NCA Distinguished Leadership Award.

Submit Nomination

Questions: Contact Terri Bartlett, Director of Member Relations at trbartlett@ncausa.org or at 646-924-4039

2024 Distinguished Leadership Award Winner: John Boyle

The National Coffee Association (NCA) is honored to award John Boyle the 2024 NCA Distinguished Leadership Award, sponsored by the Eight O'Clock Coffee Company, in recognition of his many contributions and distinguished career spanning more than 35 years in the coffee industry.

Mr. Boyle’s coffee journey began after graduating from the University of South Carolina, taking him into leadership roles at coffee companies including Nestlé USA, Tri Valley Growers, Sara Lee, and most recently Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, where he served as President and CEO. He served on the NCA Board of Directors for more than a decade, including as Board Vice Chair 2010-2012 and Chair 2012-2014.

Mr. Boyle was particularly passionate about the NCA Convention Day of Service, to provide an important opportunity for industry professionals to join together in service to local communities. Additional leadership accomplishments during Mr. Boyle’s Board tenure include the first Coffee Economic Impact Report (2015), the May 2017 Capitol Hill Fly In, and successful campaigns to promote coffee’s contributions to positive health outcomes.