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Our Team
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Andrew VournasAndrew Vournas has been in Specialty Green since 1988, with over almost a quarter of a century of experience in trading coffee. He has learned the coffee trade from the ground up since the age of nineteen while delivering and warehousing coffee and cupping and implementing quality controls in the cupping room. Andrew became one of the youngest coffee traders in the United States, and in 1989 at the age of 20 began his quest to source the best coffees from around the globe. His travels have taken him to Central America, South America, Africa, Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim including Papua New Guinea. Andrew has assisted many retail and wholesale roasters in setting up their specialty coffee business plans, as well as developing specific blends for their customers. He has spoken about coffee at many training seminars and conventions, was selected as an International Jury cupping judge with the Cup of Excellence (Bolivia and Colombia), and while serving multiple terms as a Board of Director of the Pacific Coast Coffee Association helped organize large cupping competitions. He has worked hard to improve the quality of coffee with farmers and mills throughout the coffee regions in hopes that better quality will benefit farmers with higher prices. Andrew is married with one son and currently lives in Westlake Village. In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, watching USC Trojans football, the beach, and coaching basketball. Andrew, when not in the office, enjoys a slight obsession to travel and to date, has visited 31 countries, five continents and still counting. His favorite coffee is difficult to pin down but if he had to choose just one it would be our Papua New Guinea Purosa. His favorite quote is “Never, never, never give up” by Winston Churchill. Andrew can be reached at our Westlake Village, California office by phone at 818-879-1443 or email at andrew@vournascoffee.com |
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Steve TeislSteve Teisl joined Vournas Coffee Trading as a coffee trader in August of 2004. He is a true resource in specialty coffee and few people have a sincere love of coffee like Steve! He started in coffee some years back while working in Papua New Guinea and, in fact, opened the ANGCO U.S.A. office for the largest and oldest exporter of coffee in Papua New Guinea. For the two years prior to joining Vournas Coffee Trading, Steve was a sales agent for a large, world-wide coffee import/export company. There, he specialized in the wonderful coffees of Papua New Guinea. Here at Vournas Coffee Trading, Steve represents our full line of fine specialty coffees, in addition to the fantastic Papua New Guinea coffee from the Purosa Valley that he has hand-nurtured throughout his days in coffee! Steve is a great coffee resource and has a wealth of coffee experience to share with you. I personally think that Steve makes absolutely the finest single origin espresso I have ever tasted, using PNG Purosa. Take him up on any offer to make you one if you get the chance! Integrated with all things coffee – especially early morning espresso on his one of a kind lever Gaggia – Steve is known to venture to any and all motor sports especially Drag Racing. He is married with 3 grown daughters, and currently 6 grandkids, who are spread around the world. Together they love to experience great traveling adventures. Steve’s favorite quote is “Get up, dust off, keep going” by Craig McConaghy, and of course his favorite coffee is FTO Papua New Guinea A Purosa. We are very proud to have Steve represent our company and our offerings, and know he looks forward to your call at our Carlsbad, CA Sales Office at (800) 746-0117 or via his cell at (916) 759-4283. |
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Michael Vournas (Aug 28, 1962-Sept 12, 2009)Michael Vournas passed away September 12, 2009 after a two year battle with cancer. He was Andrew’s business partner, brother and friend and his contribution and presence at Vournas Coffee Trading is irreplaceable. His love and passion for life lives on through his wife Cindy and daughters Jessica, Chris and Mikaela. During his life Michael was blessed with extensive travels that enabled him to hunt down great coffees in source countries. The knowledge he obtained was rare and extremely valuable to Vournas Coffee Trading in its ability in assisting roasters. Michael had true natural ability for cupping coffees and was honored by the Pacific Coast Coffee Association (PCCA) as the 2006 Cupper of the Year, through the annual Pete McLaughlin Memorial Cupping Competition. Michael was dedicated, hard working and a really great guy. Not only will his knowledge and skills in the coffee world will be sorely missed, but also his ability to make every one feel valued and loved. Mike’s favorite saying was “Hope Springs Eternal”. He was an integral part of Vournas Coffee Trading, and he will always have a place in our hearts, on our website, and with our company forever. |
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Kim ReichKim Reich joined Vournas Coffee Trading in July 2010. She was born in New York and spent the early years of her life there until her family moved to California. She soon became a West Coast native, or what we like to call Left Coaster. Upon joining Vournas Coffee Trading, Kim brought with her 15 plus years of experience as an executive assistant with a variety of companies. She is amazingly organized, detailed oriented, helpful and professional. She manages the Vournas Coffee Trading traffic, receivables, payables, order processing and customer service with ease and if you find yourself needing information she can find you the answer. She has traveled to many parts of the world including Australia and Europe. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors, exercising, movies, shopping, and spending time with her family, friends and her adorable dog, Peanut. Her favorite quote is “Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Wonderful” by Mae West. It is hard to choose, but if pressed for an answer as to what her favorite coffee is she would have to say Guatemala Huehuetenango. Kim is a valuable addition to the Vournas Coffee Trading team. |
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Kathleen “Kat” VournasKathleen, also known as Kat, joined the Vournas Coffee Trading team in January 2009. Kat comes to us with a background in marketing and fundraising. While working for Harman International, a Fortune 500 company, she was an integral part of the creation and implementation of marketing programs for JBL and Harman Kardon. She later moved into fundraising for Pacific Oaks College and Children’s school, and her experience there helped her to understand the importance of effective communication with the customer. After an 8 year hiatus to raise her son, she returned to the workplace. Her background in marketing and public relations has proved beneficial to Vournas Coffee Trading. Kat can be found “behind the scenes” at Vournas Coffee Trading working in a variety of capacities from Strategic Marketing to Accounting. She loves to spend time at the beach, hiking, biking, reading and digging up the next best fun thing for her family to enjoy doing together. She spoils her Labrador Retriever, Dollie, and is now trying to convince Andrew to add another pooch to the clan. Her favorite coffee is Ethiopian Yirgachefe, and her favorite quote is "Your success and happiness lies in you.” – Helen Keller |
