Ric Rhinehart, director and vice president for the Specialty Coffee Association, will share his views on “Key Trends in Specialty Coffee” during the Opening General Session of the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) CoffeeTea&Water (CT&W) 2012, NAMA Director, Coffee and Water Service, Roger Stewart NCE5, CCS, announced. CT&W, the single largest education and networking event for coffee, tea and water service operators nationwide, will be held at the New Orleans Hyatt Regency Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 13 to 15.
“In an increasingly volatile coffee world, engaging consumers where they are is critical for success. I will speak to coffee quality and the consumer experience, and the implications for consumption, growth and value,” said Rhinehart in a prepared statement.
In addition to his work with the Specialty Coffee Association, Rhinehart has held executive positions in several coffee and tea firms over the past 20 years, most recently serving as president of a Los Angeles, California-based roaster and retailer. He has also designed, developed, and produced a wide range of both tea and coffee products, and is the co-author of Tea Basics a primer on premium tea, published by John Wiley & Sons in 1998. He is a frequent presenter and panelist on industry issues and trends at trade shows and symposiums.
During his career Rhinehart served as a Director for Coffee Kids, the Coffee Quality Institute, World Coffee Research, and World Coffee Events. He was a founding member of the American Premium Tea Institute, where he served on the Board of Directors and as president. He and his wife, Wendy Rasmussen, live in Garden Grove, Calif. with their four children.
Operators should register before October 15 to enjoy $100 savings on the registration fee. For more information contact Stewart at [email protected] or 616-299-6483 or click on the CT&W logo at www.namacoffeeservice.org.
