Association For Specialty Coffee

Irvine, CA · Founded 1991

Global membership organization connecting and supporting coffee professionals across the specialty coffee industry

Primary audience

Coffee Professionals

Work area

Industry Support

Topic

Specialty Coffee

Contact

Ioannis Apostolopoulos

Website Contact

About Organization

The Association For Specialty Coffee represents thousands of coffee professionals worldwide, from producers to baristas, fostering collaboration and advancing specialty coffee standards. Based in Irvine, CA, the organization operates with 46 employees and 700 volunteers, generating $21.4 million in annual revenue. Founded in 1991, it has grown into a leading voice for the specialty coffee community.

What They Focus On

Professional Development

Advancing skills and knowledge of coffee professionals through education, training, and certification programs worldwide

Quality Standards

Establishing and promoting best practices and quality benchmarks for specialty coffee production and preparation

Global Networking

Building connections among coffee producers, roasters, baristas, and retailers to strengthen the specialty coffee community

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$21.4M

+9.8% vs 2023

Expenses (2024)

$16.4M

+15.8% vs 2023

Assets (2024)

$28.6M

+18.6% vs 2023

Employees (2024)

+39.4% vs 2023

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Employees
2024	$21,392,313	$16,350,274	$28,639,081	46
2023	$19,482,937	$14,120,552	$24,147,527	33
2022	$15,308,064	$11,298,634	$18,879,785	32
2019	$6,875,639	$8,079,289	$5,211,605	51
2018	$8,405,025	$8,562,898	$3,282,544	51
2017	$8,223,028	$8,227,717	$3,039,471	51

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Member Engagement

Build a diverse global community of coffee professionals from producers to baristas
02

Standards Creation

Develop and promote quality standards for specialty coffee production and preparation
03

Education Delivery

Provide training, certification, and knowledge resources to advance professional skills
04

Industry Connection

Host events and facilitate networks that strengthen the specialty coffee community

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Association For Specialty Coffee

Professional Membership Network

Connects coffee professionals globally through membership services, fostering collaboration across the specialty coffee supply chain

Industry Standards Development

Establishes and promotes quality standards and best practices for specialty coffee production and preparation worldwide

Coffee Education Programs

Provides training and certification for baristas, roasters, and coffee professionals to advance industry knowledge and skills

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Association For Specialty Coffee.

Ioannis Apostolopoulos

CEO

Full-time

Compensation: $869,179

Cynthia Ludviksen

Chief Operating Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $277,615

Peter Giuliano

Chief Research Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $264,086

Jennifer Karaismailoglu

Chief Financial Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $259,192

Kimberly Ionescu

Chief Sustainability Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $254,276

Stacy Woods

Events Director

Full-time

Compensation: $156,147

Andrew Tolley

2Nd Vice President

1 hrs/week

Garfield Kerr

Vice President

1 hrs/week

Pamela Chng

President

1 hrs/week

Amy Ball

Events Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $164,711

Mario Roberto Fernandez Alduenda

Technical Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $161,427

Dorit Goossens Lessard

Education Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $141,841

David Latourell

Sales Manager

Full-time

Compensation: $136,597

Emi-Beth Quantson

CRG ex-officio

1 hrs/week

Jessika Sosa

BG ex-officio

1 hrs/week

Kurt Benedict

CTG ex-officio

1 hrs/week

David Browning

Director

Giovanni Fucili

Director

Jeanine Niyonzima Aroian

Director

Jiyoon Han

Director

Joanna Alm

Director

Julia Leach

Director

Luiz Roberto Saldanha Rodrigues

Director

Nadine Rasch

Director

Rob Stephen

Director

Tsega Melesse

Director

Wendy Christensen

Director

Yi-Ling Wu

Director

Milestones

1991

Organization Founded

1991

Association For Specialty Coffee established to represent the specialty coffee industry

2017

Consistent Operations Established

2017

Maintained stable revenue of $8.2 million with 51 employees

2022

Significant Growth Period

2022

Revenue nearly doubled to $15.3 million as membership and programs expanded

2024

Record Revenue Achievement

2024

Reached $21.4 million in revenue with expanded staff of 46 employees

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

Cosimo Libardo Treasurer 1.0 hrs/week

David Browning Director 1.0 hrs/week

Giovanni Fucili Director 1.0 hrs/week

Jeanine Niyonzima Aroian Director 1.0 hrs/week

Jiyoon Han Director 1.0 hrs/week

Joanna Alm Director 1.0 hrs/week

Julia Leach Director 1.0 hrs/week

Luiz Roberto Saldanha Rodrigues Director 1.0 hrs/week

Nadine Rasch Director 1.0 hrs/week

Rob Stephen Director 1.0 hrs/week

Tsega Melesse Director 1.0 hrs/week

Wendy Christensen Director 1.0 hrs/week

Yi-Ling Wu Director 1.0 hrs/week

Andrew Tolley President

Jon Allen Director

Federico Gallia Director

Hide Izaki Director

Sunalini N. Menon Director

Jessica Worden Director

Daryanto Witarsa Director

Emi-Beth Aku Quantson Director

Yannis Apostolopoulos Chief Executive Officer

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$2.8M

Highest Paid

$887K

Ioannis Apostolopoulos

Compensated Officers

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Ioannis Apostolopoulos	CEO	$869,179	$17,430	$886,609	40
Cynthia Ludviksen	Chief Operating Officer	$277,615	$11,274	$288,889	40
Peter Giuliano	Chief Research Officer	$264,086	$11,124	$275,210	40
Jennifer Karaismailoglu	Chief Financial Officer	$259,192	$10,930	$270,122	40
Kimberly Ionescu	Chief Sustainability Officer	$254,276	$10,680	$264,956	40
Amy Ball	Events Officer	$164,711	$7,311	$172,022	40
Mario Roberto Fernandez Alduenda	Technical Officer	$161,427	$7,181	$168,608	40
Stacy Woods	Events Director	$156,147	$5,305	$161,452	40
Dorit Goossens Lessard	Education Officer	$141,841	$6,352	$148,193	40
David Latourell	Sales Manager	$136,597	$6,715	$143,312	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Ioannis Apostolopoulos	CEO	$729,575	$16,180	$745,755	40
Cynthia Ludviksen	Chief Operating Officer	$240,985	$10,930	$251,915	40
Peter Giuliano	Chief Research Officer	$232,568	$10,784	$243,352	40
Jennifer Karaismailoglu	CFO (As Of 12/31/2023)	$208,498	$10,013	$218,511	40
Kimberly Ionescu	Chief Sustainability Officer	$188,299	$8,557	$196,856	40
Amy Ball	Events Officer	$150,595	$7,090	$157,685	40
Mario Roberto Fernandez Alduenda	Technical Officer	$146,506	$6,964	$153,470	40
Dorit Goossens Lessard	Education Officer	$126,480	$6,161	$132,641	40
Carrie Gibson	Events Director	$119,588	$5,832	$125,420	40
Stacy Woods	Events Director	$112,347	$5,362	$117,709	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Ioannis Apostolopoulos	CEO	$406,654	$14,500	$421,154	40
Peter Giuliano	Chief Research Officer	$195,030	$10,894	$205,924	40
Cynthia Ludviksen	Chief Operating Officer	$177,033	$9,011	$186,044	40
David Latourell	Sales Manager	$160,610	$1,725	$162,335	40
Kimberly Ionescu	Chief Sustainability Officer	$148,260	$7,903	$156,163	40
Tracy Savage	Director Of Accounting	$130,515	$6,134	$136,649	40
Amy Ball	Events Officer	$127,080	$4,702	$131,782	40
Mansi Chokshi	Regional Community Director	$120,758	$6,296	$127,054	40
Mario Roberto Fernandez Alduenda	Technical Officer	$118,089	$5,451	$123,540	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Richard Rhinehart	CEO/EXEC DIR - Outgoing	$464,364	$26,785	$491,149	40
Cynthia Cohn Hierbaum	Chief Events Officer	$219,540	$21,901	$241,441	40
Peter Giuliano	Chief Research Officer	$181,002	$24,619	$205,621	40
Cynthia Ludviksen	Deputy Chief, Membership	$137,870	$12,801	$150,671	40
Katherine Goulding	Business Development Manager	$122,210	$24,539	$146,749	40
Kimberly Ionescu	Chief Sustainability Officer	$111,021	$18,826	$129,847	40
Tracy Savage	Director Of Accounting	$109,112	$16,717	$125,829	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Ric Rhinehart	CEO/Executive Director	$329,419	$24,577	$353,996	40
Cynthia Cohn	Chief Events Officer	$250,071	$20,197	$270,268	40
Peter Giuliano	Chief Research Officer	$174,580	$22,459	$197,039	40
Katherine Goulding	Business Development Manag	$120,689	$22,866	$143,555	40
Cynthia Ludviksen	Deputy Chief, Membership	$122,367	$11,038	$133,405	40
Barbara Hudson	Director Of Special Projec	$116,162	$13,070	$129,232	40
Tracy Savage	Director Of Accounting	$104,599	$15,447	$120,046	40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Contact

Get in touch with Association For Specialty Coffee

Phone

(562) 624-4100

Social

Visit Website

505 Technology Drive Suite 340 Irvine, CA 92618

Association For Specialty Coffee

What They Focus On

Financial Information

How They Work

Member Engagement

Standards Creation

Education Delivery

Industry Connection

Programs and Initiatives

Professional Membership Network

Industry Standards Development

Coffee Education Programs

Team & Leadership

Ioannis Apostolopoulos

Cynthia Ludviksen

Peter Giuliano

Jennifer Karaismailoglu

Kimberly Ionescu

Stacy Woods

Andrew Tolley

Garfield Kerr

Pamela Chng

Amy Ball

Mario Roberto Fernandez Alduenda

Dorit Goossens Lessard

David Latourell

Emi-Beth Quantson

Jessika Sosa

Kurt Benedict

David Browning

Giovanni Fucili

Jeanine Niyonzima Aroian

Jiyoon Han

Joanna Alm

Julia Leach

Luiz Roberto Saldanha Rodrigues

Nadine Rasch

Rob Stephen

Tsega Melesse

Wendy Christensen

Yi-Ling Wu

Milestones

Organization Founded

Consistent Operations Established

Significant Growth Period

Record Revenue Achievement

Associated People

Board of Directors

Executive Compensation

Related Organizations

Tax-Exempt Affiliates

Taxable Corp Trust

Contact

Phone

Social