NCA Next Generation

Founded in 2016, the NCA Next Generation (“NCA Next Gen”) connects young professionals in the US coffee industry and provides a platform for them to learn, network, and develop as professionals. The goals of NCA Next Gen are to develop future industry leaders, create and foster a supportive and inclusive community, and provide members with resources that support their career growth. Through educational sessions, networking events, and leadership opportunities, NCA Next Gen is charting the future of the industry.

How Can I Get Involved with NCA Next Gen?

Active participation in NCA Next Gen offers you greater engagement with the NCA community and provides you with valuable opportunities to establish industry-wide connections. If your employer is an NCA member and you’re under 40 years of age, you are considered a member of the NCA Next Gen community. There are no additional fees for joining the NCA Next Gen.
 

Get involved:

• Follow NCA Next Gen on LinkedIn
• Attend a Next Gen social event 
• Apply for the NCA Mentorship Program as a mentor or mentee
• Apply for Next Gen working groups or the Next Gen Council

Next Gen Council & Working Groups

Next Gen Council consists of three officers (Past-Chair, Chair, Vice-Chair) and five council members. Council members actively participate in Next Gen's project and event-focused working groups.

Working Groups

NCA Next Gen working groups are project and event-focused, bringing together members to develop and execute initiatives that support the Next Gen community. Working groups collaborate on various activities including networking events, educational sessions, and community engagement projects throughout the year. Working group volunteers work closely with the NCA Next Gen Council and NCA staff to plan and implement programs at industry events such as the NCA Convention, as well as other key initiatives like the NCA Mentorship program and Coffee Gives Back: Day of Service.

Council members serve two-year terms (each term begins in March and ends the following March). Working group members serve for the duration of their respective working groups. Meetings are held monthly. NCA accepts applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications in January.

APPLY FOR WORKING GROUP 

APPLY FOR NEXT GEN COUNCIL

Current Next Gen Council Members:

Chair
Nora Johnson
Senior Director of Commodities, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA

Nora Johnson is a Commodities Manager with Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA (MZB-USA), one of the largest private label coffee manufacturers and owner of several retail coffee brands including Chock full o’Nuts®, Kauai Coffee®, Hills Bros.®, Hills Bros.® Cappuccino, Segafredo Zanetti®, MJB®, and Chase & Sanborn®. In her role, Nora manages futures and physical positions for several MZB-USA clients and is responsible for trade execution in addition to supporting the company’s responsible sourcing strategy. A Licensed Q Arabica Grader, Nora is part of MZB-USA’s dedicated green coffee cupping team.

Nora began her coffee career in 2016 as a summer intern with the Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA Commodities Department. Nora graduated summa cum laude from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2017 with a B.S. in Finance.

Vice Chair
Jasmine Murphy
Assistant Manager, Green Coffee Trading, The J.M. Smucker Co.

Jasmine Murphy leads the green coffee sustainability platform at The J.M. Smucker Company as part of the Green Coffee Materials team. Headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, The J.M. Smucker Co. is the largest U.S. at-home coffee company and owner of iconic brands such as Bustelo and Folgers.

Jasmine is a licensed Arabica Q Grader with over 10 years of experience in the coffee industry. She began her career in 2013 in research and development and has worked on panel training, coffee buying, logistics, and product development in liquid and soluble coffee. In her current role at JMS, she developed a deep knowledge of sustainability and is passionate about addressing the variety of issues the coffee industry faces. She attended The Ohio State University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Stephanie Alcala
Coffee Trader and Sustainability Liaison, RGC Coffee

Stephanie Alcala is a Coffee Trader and Sustainability Liaison at RGC Coffee, a privately held, family-owned importer and trading company dedicated to sourcing and trading coffee responsibly. In her role, Stephanie works with roasters and retailers to manage their physical and futures positions while expanding demand for 3E, the company’s responsible sourcing platform. Through her work, she aims to use coffee as a vehicle for meaningful community and ecological impact.

Stephanie’s journey in coffee began as a barista while studying Environmental Science and Business Administration at Whittier College. After earning her B.A., she pursued a Master of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, where her research focused on the genetic diversity of a specialty coffee variety in Panama. She later returned to Whittier College as an adjunct professor, where she developed and taught a course on sustainable coffee supply chains before joining RGC Coffee.

Tim Cox
Account Director, Franke Coffee Systems

Tim is a food and beverage professional with over 15 years of experience focusing on Specialty Coffee. With a career spanning diverse roles ranging from multi-unit retail management, restaurant ownership, product development for national brands, marketing, and sales, Tim has developed his experience across multiple channels including Specialty, QSR, and Convenience. In his role at Franke Coffee Systems, Tim is responsible for business development, key account management, and go-to-market strategy for the specialty coffee channel. Tim lives with his wife and three children in the greater Nashville Metropolitan Area. When he’s not working to help more people access better coffee, Tim enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, mountain biking, and cooking.

Helena Huguley
On Sabbatical 

Helena started her career in coffee 10 years ago with a comprehensive nine-month training program at Volcafe origins in Colombia, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. Upon completing her training, Helena returned to the United States, initially serving as a junior trader in Volcafe's California office before transitioning to their New York office. In 2016, Helena took on a sustainability role with Volcafe Costa Rica, moving to San Jose and working for the exporter for four years. Helena considers her time in Costa Rica to be some of her most formative, working throughout the supply chain from the Farmer Support Organization to export traceability. In 2020, Helena moved back to the US and worked at Mercon Specialty for two years before rejoining the Volcafe Group in 2022.

Helena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Economics and Management from the University of Georgia. She speaks Spanish and is deeply passionate about the coffee supply chain. Helena is excited to join the Next Gen Council, where she looks forward to further serving the coffee community.

Mike Vilarino
Director of Finance and Procurement, Baronet Coffee

Mike began his coffee career in 2021 after working on Wall Street, most recently at Jefferies in the Special Situations Group. At Baronet, he manages green coffee buying and oversees Finance, while actively engaging in the National Coffee Association’s Next Gen group. Through his involvement with the NCA, he has built strong industry connections and worked to support the next generation of coffee professionals. Mike is eager to continue fostering growth and engagement throughout the next generation community.  A Fordham University graduate with a BS in Finance, he is passionate about coffee and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter outside of work.