We are thrilled to introduce you to the latest addition to our ever-growing team, Imke Straaten. Imke is taking on the role of Program Manager for Africa, and her base of operations will be in Uganda. With a rich background in International Development and a wealth of experience working and living in Eastern Africa, Imke is set to make a significant impact on managing our projects across the African continent. Imke’s journey toward a career in International Development began in India when she was only seventeen years old: By participating in a student exchange Program called “Global Exploration” she was first exposed to the disparities of our world. During this transformative experience, she witnessed the effects of the caste system: The glaring inequality between outcasted leprosy patients and the exclusive international school students stirred a passion within Imke to work towards a more just world. Determined to make a difference,

Introducing Giuseppe Cipriani, the newest addition to the Beyco family, who is set to take on the role of Sales Manager. Giuseppe's mission is clear: to build a thriving and vibrant network of producers and buyers, all while ensuring that farmers receive the recognition and rewards they rightfully deserve for their exceptional products.

In the heart of Melbourne, something magical was brewing from July 17th to 19th: the 10th Melbourne International Coffee Expo ( MICE).  For Progreso, though we are familiar with the European and American coffee markets, the Australian terrain was a bit uncharted, and thus Rianne van der Bom, our Progreso Asia Program Manager stationed in Indonesia, went out to explore what was happening in this corner of the world, and how did it resonate with the global coffee narrative?

We are thrilled to introduce our newest team member, José Manuel Quigua Fajardo, here at Progreso! Today, we want to take a moment to share more about José Manuel and his deep connection to the world of coffee and agroforestry.

Welcome, Rodney Nikkels, to the Board of Progreso! We are thrilled to have such a passionate individual join our team. Rodney's commitment to improving the lives of smallholder coffee and cacao farmers has been unwavering, even before Progreso existed the way it is now. 

We have more great news to share! Our team is expanding, and we are thrilled to introduce our newest member, Jean Paul Collazos Marina. From and based in Northeast Peru, Jean Paul is joining us as an Agroforestry Expert. Jean Paul’s main role will be to work closely with coffee and cacao farmers and provide them with support, training, and technical assistance. He will help them design and implement sustainable agroforestry systems that improve the productivity and quality of their farms. This means finding ways to reduce the harmful effects of greenhouse gases and promoting a circular economy by storing carbon in the long term and selling it. Jean Paul has a lot of experience in environmental work, particularly in monitoring and evaluating development programs and projects in different parts of Peru. He has worked with organizations like USAID and the European Union. He is also passionate about regenerative agriculture

From Jinotega (north-eastern Nicaragua), Bismarck brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience as an agricultural engineer with a remarkable 18-year career. We couldn’t be more excited to have him on board. Throughout his extensive professional journey, Bismarck has held various roles in management and marketing, with a strong focus on collaborating with cooperatives and farmer organizations in Jinotega. His expertise spans a wide range of areas, including governance, administration, finance, sales, and, most importantly, working within the Coffee Value Chain. Here at Progreso, we will be tapping into Bismarck’s talents to drive training initiatives and facilitate the sharing of knowledge within the Coffee Value Chain. His focus will be on crucial aspects such as collection, traceability, processing, export, risk management in prices, and fostering valuable connections. Bismarck is particularly excited about the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of organizations and companies benefiting from our technical

At Progreso, we are thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Yvette, who has joined us as a Coffee Quality Consultant. With her extensive experience in providing coffee quality training across Uganda, Yvette is a valuable addition to our team. 

Hosted by the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA), the World of Coffee Forum drew in more than 10,000 passionate attendees from an astounding 130 countries. Among the delegates were some of our very own colleagues from Progreso: our Managing Director, Anneke Goede, the Senior Product Manager of Beyco, Federica Marra, as well as our Program Managers Yasmin Córdova and Daan Mulder, overseeing Latin America and Africa respectively.

Want to join us in scaling up our world-class trading platform based on blockchain that connects and facilitates sustainable trade in the global coffee and cacao industry? We are looking for a Sales Manager to join our team!