Board Members

Chris Speere - President MCA / Founder Hale Ihe Consulting

Chris Speere - President MCA / Founder Hale Ihe Consulting

Board Member

Mr. Speere’s experience includes 38 years of culinary industry expertise, including food product and recipe development, curriculum development and grant management at UH Maui College.  Since his semi-retirement in 2020 he has been active in  the development of the Maui Coffee Associations – Maui Coffee Academy. His activities  include securing funding for major coffee processing equipment, the purchase of coffee based educational supplies and the creation of a series of 10 educational coffee videos for MCA members use and enrichment.

Clive Drew - Consultant

Clive Drew - Consultant

Board Member

I am a dual US/Australian citizen. I first set foot on Maui in 1970 doing internships when I was a graduate student at UH Manoa in Agricultural & Resource Economics in the CTA.
My professional career has spanned agriculture and food processing in Australia, the mainland, Asia, South America and 25+ years managing projects in Africa as an implementing partner for USAID and the Danish and Dutch donor agencies, plus consulting for World Bank, UN, IFC and the Brits.
My passion for coffee was triggered during over 7 years of program support to Uganda’s coffee (>5 million bags/year of Robusta & Arabica) and our focus was a “whole of value chain approach” involving all actors. It worked!!
My wife and I have property on Kekaulike Ave and completed building our “forever home” on Omaopio Rd in 2021 on 14 acres and have 2.3 acres prepared for coffee and seedlings ready for transplanting as soon as we are able to install 8’deer fencing that will legitimize our stake in Maui‘s coffee value chain.
Being semi-retired and rooted on Maui, I can offer myself as an active Board Member on MCA.
Aloha
Dave Douglas - Old Lahaina Coffee Co.

Dave Douglas - Old Lahaina Coffee Co.

Board Member

Dave is the owner of Old Lahaina Coffee, a coffee distribution company. Dave has been part of the Maui Coffee Association since 2016 and has served on the Board of Directors as Vice President for a number of years during that time. Dave is actively involved in the establishment and promotion of “Hawaiian Specialty Coffee” as a world-class brand with a focus on Maui Coffee.

Gary Albitz - Maui Agriculture Technologies, LLC

Board Member

Gary is a garden coffee grower and very interested in the overall process and business of coffee here on Maui. As a Lecturer in Business, Technology and Innovation at UHMC, he has had dozens of farmers and value add food producers as students and consulted to many on their business and processes. His interest in the Maui Coffee Association is in contributing to its growth and sustainability and providing great services to its members and the Maui Community. His specialty is in using technology to assist farmers in dealing with pests/diseases, production and their business.
Maria McMillan

Maria McMillan

Board Member

Maria has been a part of the visitor industry in Maui County since 1993 and the specialty coffee industry since 1998.
 
She was hired by Coffees of Hawaii in 1998 to manage the roasting, retail, cafe and agri-tourism segments of the company on the island of Molokai until 2015.  She then moved to Maui and helped the owners of the Maui Tropical Plantation create the Mill House Roasting Company.

With a hunger to own her own coffee business, she and her Partner, Grant Schule purchased the well-established Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Company in April 2018 from David Gridley.

Her commitment remains the same, by providing coffee programs to
restaurants, coffee shops, and specialty stores throughout Hawaii. These programs include purchasing and roasting quality coffee origins from around the world and select beans from local coffee farmers Statewide.  Delivering a consistent product week after week is her passion and commitment to the industry.

Past board member of:
  • Hawaii Coffee Association
  • Hawaii Coffee Growers Association
  • Maui Coffee Association
  • Molokai Visitors Association.
She has helped coordinate the Maui Coffee Association’s Seed to Cup Festival for the last 11 years. She also volunteers her time on Molokai to help organize canoe races and festivals.
Gerry Ross - Kupa'a Farm

Gerry Ross - Kupa'a Farm

Board Member

We have been growing coffee on Maui for nearly 20 years. I have been part of MCA since its inception and hope to continue to move our organization forward.
Jeff Ferguson - Maui Grown Coffee Company Store

Jeff Ferguson - Maui Grown Coffee Company Store

Board Member

various coffee situations and products starting in 1972: retail, wholesale, roasting in Eugene & Portland. Helped start SCAA.   22 years on Maui. Helped start MCA.  Currently managing partner of The Maui Grown Coffee Company Store, Lahaina.