NCA Honors Industry Luminaries and Announces 2026 Award Recipients
February 27 - 2026
Coffee Geography Magazine
The National Coffee Association has unveiled the recipients of its prestigious 2026 Individual Recognition Awards, alongside the Origin Charity of the Year, setting the stage for a celebration of industry excellence at the upcoming NCA Convention in Tampa, Florida. The announcement honors a diverse group of leaders, from a late visionary roaster to a rising young professional, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the nation’s coffee sector.
Among the honorees, the late Pedro Lázaro Gaviña, co-founder of the Gaviña Coffee Company, has been posthumously awarded the NCA Distinguished Leadership Award. A third-generation coffee roaster who fled Cuba to build a new life, Gaviña helped transform a family dream into one of the largest minority-owned roasting operations in the United States. Known as a perfectionist and a mentor, his legacy of integrity and dedication to quality continues to guide the fourth generation of his family now leading the business.
Pedro Lázaro Gaviña
Nora Johnson
Thomas J. Hartley
The association also introduced its inaugural Rising Star Award, a new accolade designed to spotlight emerging talent. The recipient is Nora Johnson, Senior Director of Commodities at Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA. Since joining the NCA Next Gen community in 2020, Johnson has quickly ascended to Chair of the Next Gen Council, where she has been instrumental in shaping mentorship programs and industry challenges, proving herself a dynamic force for the future of coffee.
Meanwhile, the Volunteer of the Year Award has been bestowed upon Thomas J. Hartley, President of Hartley Transportation. With over three decades in the coffee trade, Hartley channeled his logistics expertise into combating a rise in green coffee thefts. Working closely with the NCA, he was pivotal in developing a public guide to help the industry secure its supply chain, demonstrating that the journey from crop to cup relies on vigilance behind the scenes.
Beyond individual achievements, the NCA recognized the broader impact on farming communities by naming Strategies for International Development (SID) as the Origin Charity of the Year. Sponsored by Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee, this award highlights SID’s regional approach to training smallholder farmers in Guatemala, Uganda, and Tanzania, helping them transition from subsistence to successful commercial farming. Grounds for Health, a longtime provider of cervical cancer prevention in coffee regions, was named a finalist.
NCA President and CEO William Murray praised the collective contributions, stating that each honoree has gone above and beyond to strengthen the industry. The formal presentation of the awards will take place at the NCA Convention, where the coffee community will gather to toast the leaders shaping its present and securing its future.