Lecture Description
Following up on a 2023 webinar series entitled “Promoting Wealth for Women in Coffee,” this panel will address the powerful, proven concept of microfinance and microcredit and how it could be leveraged more in coffee. The panelists will define what microfinance is, present on microfinance programs across several projects and countries, and avoid the pitfall of presenting microcredit (broadly) as a 'New Idea,’ as this is a long running effort that has intersected with many other industries. The panelists will emphasize and investigate the clear and proven impacts, as well as the often overlooked side effects. One of the programs that will be presented is the “Learning Loan Microfinance” program, which acknowledged that economic, civil or natural disaster shocks will always be risk variables to longterm sustainability, but when vulnerable women learn skills, like financial and business literacy skills, those are sustainable, and they will have a stronger platform from which to recover from a shock. Women may not “lift themselves out of poverty” because of one loan, but they will have everlasting skills. The financial education and experience that women gain from a microfinance program is a valuable piece that is often overlooked in impact studies.
Date: April 25, 2025
Time: 10:15am - 11:15am
Location: Room 360ABC
Category: Sustainability
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Moderator
Amaris Gutierrez-Ray
Founder, Women in Coffee Project
Amaris Gutierrez-Ray is the VP of Coffee for Joe Coffee Company, a roaster in New York City that owns and operates 25 cafes in the 5 boroughs. She was the founder of the Women in Coffee Project, and is now a collaborative co-founder of TWICE (Team Women in Coffee Exchange).
Panelists
Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard
Vice President, Food Enterprise Solutions/ Grow to Market
Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard began her career in the Peace Corps as a livestock extension agent for the Ministry of Agriculture in Guatemala. This fueled her passion for helping farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, particularly -women and youth-to improve their business and financial literacy, and access to markets. Roberta has core competencies in supply management in various value chains; livestock, poultry, vegetables, coffee, cacao, etc. She co-designed a “Learning Loan Microfinance” project and training manual and is a co-owner and Vice President at Food Enterprise Solutions. Roberta has extensive overseas expertise with multiple donor organizations, private companies, and foundations in 42 countries.
Ruth Ann Church
President / Founder, Artisan Coffee Imports
RUTH ANN CHURCH is the president of Artisan Coffee Imports founded in 2009. Her company trades East African coffee in sustainable ways to improve the lives of farmers, deliver on the brand promises of its roaster customers and uplift producer organizations through support for their management and continuous improvement efforts. Artisan sponsors the IWCA and SCTG. Ruth Ann is an SCA member, certified Q Grader, frequent presenter at coffee events and author of papers on coffee economics and sustainability. Her most treasured experience is when she was living in Rwanda with her family, 2015 - 2016.
Sara Yirga Woldegerima
CEO, Roaster & AST, YA COFFEE ROASTERS
Sara Yirga is a driving force in Ethiopia's specialty coffee scene. As founder and manager of YA Coffee Roasters, a women-led artisan roastery and export company established in 2012, she champions Ethiopian roasted-at-origin coffee. She also created Cherish Addis Coffee & Books, a beloved specialty coffee shop in Addis Ababa. A co-founder of Ethiopian Women in Coffee (IWCA), Sara is an Authorized Specialty Trainer (AST) since 2018, significantly advancing coffee education in Ethiopia. A graduate of Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Coffee Excellence, she is a sought-after speaker at industry events like SCA, AFCA, and WoC.
Natali Venegas
ONG, Bean Voyage
Natali has been working as a Project Lead for Bean Voyage’s Farmer School Initiative in Costa Rica, where she empowers smallholder coffee producers through education, resources, and support networks. With experience in strategy, digital marketing, and working with women coffee producers, she focuses on training in areas such as gender equity and sustainability in the coffee industry.