People-First Hospitality Leader Joins FairWave Coffee Collective as Chief Executive Officer

Kansas City, MO, February 26, 2026 —

This week FairWave Coffee Collective announced the appointment of Justin Seamonds as Chief Executive Officer. Seamonds brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across hospitality and multi-unit food and beverage businesses.

FairWave is a fast-growing Collective of distinct specialty coffee brands working together to bring exceptional coffee to their communities. In a dual role, as Prime Minister of Fun & CEO,

Seamonds will focus on the people who power it.

“Leadership is a communal activity,” he says. “Leaders are everywhere. They’re in the cafes and roasteries, they’re designers, they’re executives. If you have the opportunity to lead — and everybody does — do it for the betterment of something more meaningful than just profit.”

Seamonds forged this philosophy over more than two decades of leadership in food, beverage, and hospitality. Most recently, Seamonds served as CEO of Roti Restaurants, where he rebuilt the brand’s culture to strengthen and support frontline teams. Prior to Roti, he spent more than a decade driving domestic and international growth at gourmet food retailer Dean & DeLuca.

“We’re excited to welcome Justin to FairWave,” shares Isaac Hodges, President, Growth at FairWave. “His commitment to building exceptional cultures fits strongly with how we believe great brands — and great teams — grow.”

Seamonds’ first priority is learning from the distinctive local brands that make up the Collective. He will travel to each market to learn about their successes and the unique communities they serve. “Each brand in this Collective has built something extraordinary,” Seamonds shares. “My job is to protect each brand’s unique identity while strengthening our work together as a Collective.”

About Justin Seamonds

Justin Seamonds is Chief Executive Officer of FairWave Coffee Collective, where he leads a growing network of distinct specialty coffee brands. He brings more than 20 years of experience leading multi-unit food and beverage businesses, with a track record of building excellent cultures while strengthening operations and driving strategic, sustainable growth.

Most recently, Seamonds served as CEO and Prime Minister of Fun at Roti Restaurants. Previously, he served in executive leadership at Dean & DeLuca, supporting the gourmet retailer’s domestic and global growth. Seamonds holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Economics from Duke University and a Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the co-founder of Chicago Sound Collective, a club for amateur musicians who play live music across Chicago.