In honor of International Workers Day, Red Bay Coffee salutes all of the workers of the world - everyone from our coffee farming partners, the folks sweating in the kitchens of our wholesale accounts, to our very own staff.
As a small token of appreciation, we want to throw some shine on our team with these portraits and mini interviews.
Presente!
DANIEL YESHIWAS - Production Manager
-Where were you born. I was born in Khartoum, Sudan.
-What did you want to be when you grew up. Growing up I wanted to be a history teacher.
-Best coffee childhood memories. Fond childhood memories of my mother being mad when I burned the buna on the stove.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. People don't know that I used to be severely obese! Over 300 poundsDISHON LEVEXIER - Barista
-Where were you born? I was born in San Francisco CA, (Western Addition district).
-What did you want to be when you grew up. Growing up I wanted to play basketball or be an Artist.
-Best coffee childhood memories. I had a dean in elementary school who use to LOVE coffee. He never said that to me, but I never seen him without his cup.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. Most people wouldn't know the range of music I listen to. From Fela Kuti, Earth Wind & Fire etc.. to Enya.
NESBYTH RIEMAN - Barista
-Where were you born. South.
-What did you want to be when you grew up. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a famous actor in big motion pictures. Now, all grown up, I realize I'm the big picture in motion.
-Best coffee childhood memories. Sippin on my mamas coffee. She always uses too much sugar and cream, but being a kid, I couldn't get enough of all that sweetness.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. I'm a trained actor, dancer, performance artist (a lot of people already know this about me, but what y'all may not know is... I'm available for paid gigs
...).
RICHARD SANDOVAL - Production Lead
-Where were you born. I was born in Modesto, raised in North Richmond,CA
-What did you want to be when you grew up. As a Kid I always wanted to be a firefighter.
-Best coffee childhood memories. When I was 8 I had a smoothie with choco- MEEL, bananas, cinnamon, eggs, and cold coffee. It was one of the best drinks I've had and memories of my family having fun together playing La Gallina Ciega on a summer night.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. Most people don't know that I still Volunteer for YES Nature to Community, a Non-Profit in Richmond, California
ETHAN IBARRA - Retail Lead
-Where were you born. El Salvador - at 1-year old, my mother and I migrated to the United States where the Bay Area became my home.
-What did you want to be when you grew up. When I was kid I always wanted to be an architect and design my future home.
-Best coffee childhood memories. Best memory would be when I was about 6. Sitting in this very small kitchen where my grandmother sang to me as she made my very first cafe con leche.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. Most people don't know that I have a deep love for musicals, especially watching them on stage.
SOLOMON - Lead Coffee Roaster
-Where were you born? I was born in San Francisco, CA.
-What did you want to be when you grew up. As a kid when I was growing up I wanted to be a construction worker because I loved taking things apart and putting them back together.
-Best coffee childhood memories. My best coffee memory is being 11 or 12 years old and wanted to drink coffee after church on Sundays but my mother would never let me I couldn't even have decaf coffee.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. Most people don't know that I once played the piano and clip clarinet.
ANTOINE HICKS - General Manager
-Where were you born. I was born in San Francisco, CA circa 1989
-What did you want to be when you grew up. Not sure what I wanted to be, all I used to imagine was me wearing a suit holding a big bag of money, signing very large checks.
-Best coffee childhood memories. Listening as my great grandmother would order coffee "BLACK" with a very serious look on her face.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. I love math with a passion!
COUNCIL MCCOY - Facilities Lead
-Where were you born. I was born in Gary Indiana.
-What did you want to be when you grew up. When I was kid I wanted to be a cowboy like Red Rider and the Lone Ranger.
-Best coffee childhood memories. When I was 3-years old in 1950, I remember my father drinking his coffee as we at at the kitchen table. The smell of Folgers Coffee filled the room with aroma and smelled like hot licorice. He used his tin coffee pot and added sugar and Carnation milk.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. When I was 17 I Volunteered to join the Marines in 1965. I had a 8 week growth spurt where I went from 5'-5" and 125 pounds to 6' tall and 165 pounds.
KEBA KONTE - Founder/CEO
-Where were you born. San Francisco 1966
-What did you want to be when you grew up. I wanted to be an artist when I grew up like my uncle Ron.
-Best coffee childhood memories. I remember riding with my mom in her 1963 campaign colored Chrysler New Yorker to North Beach where she would buy a pound of fresh roasted and ground Gaffeo Coffee. It filled the car with a chocolate smell.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. I have a strong aversion to moths. There is no rhyme or reason to their movements. They are insane.
ALICIA ADAMS - Director of Coffee
-Where were you born
I was born in Stamford, Connecticut
-What is your spirit animal and why
My spirit animal is a Monarch butterfly because I feel like I am always evolving, transforming and recreating myself.
-Best coffee childhood memories
I grew up on the East Coast. My best childhood memories with coffee were brewing coffee in the automatic pot for my parents after dinner and trips to Dunkin Donuts.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
Most people don't know that I have my motorcycle license.
JESSIE LLARINAS - Quality Control Lead
-Where were you born?
I was born in San Francisco California.
-What is your spirit animal and why?
My spirit animal would be a Bird, a Peacock .
I like to spread my wings and fly . I am full of positive vibes and I am filled with joy & happiness.
-Best coffee childhood memories.
I was in a coffee shop in downtown San Francisco with one of my Aunts having my first cup of coffee. I was
17 that’s when I knew I would come to enjoy it .
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
In my moments of time whether it’s sad or happiness , I write Poetry. I have been a writer since the 4th grade. I am published in the World Book of Poetry.
JESSICA MONCADA KONTE - Venue Manager
-Where were you born
I was born in San Francisco, California.
-What is your spirit animal and why
Beyoncè is my spirit animal; a good friend thought it fit me best.
-Best coffee childhood memories
My father steaming milk on my grandmother's espresso machine with honey and spices before I went to bed. The sounds always scared me, but it tasted so good.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I have a subscription to Martha Stewart Living.
MARIA FERNANDEZ - Customer Relations Manager
-Where were you born?
I was Born in Oakland, CA - Oaktown!
-What is your spirit animal and why?
My Spirit Animal is the Bear, because it symbolizes, strength, courage, protection and leadership.
-Best coffee childhood memories.
The warmth of the kitchen and the smell of coffee brewing in my parent's electric percolator.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I am extremely ticklish (oops, now everyone knows).
TATEONA HUGHES - Store Lead
-Where were you born?
I was born in Detroit, Michigan - they say our cities are sisters!
-What is your spirit animal and why?
I feel like my spirit animal is a candle - sometimes I am the light, sometimes I am the dark before the flame.
-Best coffee childhood memories.
My best coffee childhood memory has to be a lifetime of my father drinking Coney Island coffee: his drink? a double-double drip, two creams and two sugars.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
Off the clock, I'm an astrologer - I love to read planetary placements, transits, and constellations.
RACHEL KONTE - Chief of Design
-Where were you born?
Born and raised in Copenhagen Denmark. Arrived in the US in 1993.
-What is your spirit animal and why?
I feel my spirit animal is a Raven. I have always been attracted to this gorgeous bird and I actually raised a wild danish bird similar to a small Raven - called Allike in Danish - when I was 12 Years old.
-Best coffee childhood memories.
It is making coffee for my mother every morning. She was a single mom working long hours, so my sister and I learned early to have a cup of coffee by her bedside. This was brewed as a single pot of pour over and I loved the smell of coffee.
-Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I lived 4 years on a farm in a very small Danish village on the island of Jutland. We moved to this remote place in 1970’s with romantic notions of leaving the City for the countryside. It gave me the foundation of my gardening and outdoor spirit.