Results Announced for the 2015 Barista Guild Executive Council Election

We are excited to announce that the votes for the 2015 BGA Executive Council election have been tallied and certified, and our new Executive Council Members are Sarah Leslie, Matthew Scott, Miguel Vicuna, Laila Ghambari and Alexandra Littlejohn! Congratulations to you all! Each of these new directors will begin their two-year term on the Executive Council at The SCAA Event in later this month. Please be sure to congratulate and say hello if you see them in Seattle.

Of course, they join the additional BGA Executive Council Members, and we’re all here to serve you! Reach out and contact any of the EC Members any time, via the contact information on the Executive Council page.

Thank you to all Barista Guild members who voted in this election, and thank you especially to the Nominating Committee.

For more information about elections, see the BGA Bylaws, or contact us!

Elected Executive Council Member Profiles

Sarah Leslie, Gimme! Coffee Sarah Leslie is the Director of Education at Gimme! Coffee, where she develops and executes training programs. She holds the Barista Level 1 and 2 Certificates and is also a credentialed Barista Certificate Examiner. Sarah has been teaching people to make coffee since 2010. Her coffee career began in 2006 in NYC, and since then she taken on many roles in companies around the city. She is serving her second year on the BGA Certificate Committee and has attended four Barista Camps in the past two years. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys tossing the frisbee around with her husband and their dog Pickles.

Matthew Scott, Lemonjello's Coffee Matthew Scott opened Lemonjello’s Coffee in Holland, MI in 2003. He runs it and still works the bar every day. He also manages a blog at CoffeeFoxhole.com. Matthew has been a USCC barista competitor since 2012 and just placed second in the 2015 North Central regionals. He is an SCAA Credentialed Lead Instructor and Espresso Subject Matter Expert. He is currently serving on the Barista Guild’s Events Committee and as the Barista Guild’s sustainability liason to SCAA’s Sustainability Council.

Miguel Vicuna, Metropolis Coffee Lohi Miguel is General Manager and Director of Coffee Education for Metropolis Coffee in Denver, Colorado and has been in coffee for over 10 years. He currently serves on the Executive Council of the Barista Guild of America and is Chair of the Certificate Committee. He is also a Head Judge for the U.S. Barista Championship and a World Barista Championship Sensory Judge. He enjoys hikes up North beyond The Wall with his direworlf.

Laila Ghambari, Cherry Street Coffee House Laila Ghambari is director of coffee at Cherry Street Coffee House, a family-owned business where she works alongside her father. Cherry Street Coffee House has been open to the city of Seattle for over 20 years, with 10 unique locations. Laila is an Executive Council member of the Barista Guild of America and is the 2014 United States Barista Champion.

Alexandra Littlejohn, Equator Coffees and Teas Alexandra handles specialty sales for Equator Coffees and Teas, based in San Rafael, CA. From her Southern California home, she travels around the country connecting with baristas and promoting Barista Guild activities and benefits whenever she can! Alex is a Level 2 Certified Barista, SCAA Credentialed Lead Instructor, Espresso Subject Matter Expert, and has recently joined the team of specialized instructors; which will allow her to teach internationally. She currently serves on the Executive Council and as the vice chair of the Barista Guild’s membership committee.