National Coffee Association Names 2026 Industry Award Winners
The National Coffee Association has announced its 2026 individual award recipients and Origin Charity of the Year, with presentations scheduled for the trade group’s annual convention in Tampa, Florida, March 12–14.
Distinguished Leadership Award: Pedro Lázaro Gaviña
The NCA’s Distinguished Leadership Award will be presented posthumously to Pedro Lázaro Gaviña, a third-generation roaster and co-founder of F. Gaviña & Sons, who died in 2025 at age 80.
Born in Cuba into a coffee family with more than 150 years in the trade, Gaviña helped build the family’s Los Angeles roasting operation into one of the nation’s largest minority-owned coffee roasters. His death came within six weeks of his brother Paco’s passing, marking the end of an era for the Gaviña family’s direct leadership.
Rising Star Award: Nora Johnson
Nora Johnson, Senior Director of Commodities at Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, takes home the Rising Star Award. Johnson oversees green coffee procurement, risk management, inbound logistics, and quality assurance for retail brands including Chock full o’Nuts, Kauai Coffee, Hills Bros., and Segafredo Zanetti.
She has served on the NCA’s Next Gen committee since 2020, holding positions as both committee and council chair during her tenure.
Volunteer of the Year: Thomas J. Hartley
Thomas J. Hartley, founder of Hartley Transportation (established 1992), receives the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work identifying supply-chain vulnerabilities and preventing green coffee theft. His efforts contributed directly to the NCA’s theft prevention guidance documents.
Origin Charity of the Year
Strategies for International Development (SID) has been named Origin Charity of the Year. The nonprofit provides technical assistance to coffee farming families in Uganda, Tanzania, and Guatemala, working to improve yields and livelihoods at the farm level. Grounds for Health was named as a finalist.
NCA President William “Bill” Murray noted that “each honoree has gone above and beyond to leave an indelible mark on the sector.”
Why This Matters
These awards highlight the diverse contributions that keep the coffee industry running: family roasters who built empires over generations, procurement professionals navigating volatile markets, logistics experts securing supply chains, and nonprofits strengthening farming communities at origin. The posthumous recognition of Pedro Gaviña, in particular, marks a moment of reflection for an industry shaped by immigrant entrepreneurs who turned local roasteries into national institutions.