Better Together
Stories from Our Team
Bosten Arcand
Senior Staff Accountant, FairWave
Bosten Arcand
Now: Senior Staff Accountant, FairWave
Was: Barista, The Roasterie and Messenger
For Bosten Arcand, coffee has always been the through-line.
Starting as a part-time barista at The Roasterie's Woodside location, Bosten began covering shifts at Messenger, familiarizing himself with both brands. As he developed a passion for coffee, he took on roles as a coffee lead, assistant general manager, and Roasterie tour guide.
It was on those tours that something clicked. Instead of coffee questions, visitors kept asking business questions — and Bosten got curious. "Accounting is considered the language of business," he says, "and I figured the best way to learn business would be through that language."
With an English degree already in hand, Bosten went back to school for a Master's in accounting, then joined FairWave as an accounting specialist. Today he's a Senior Staff Accountant. The role allows Bosten to pursue his goals while staying close to coffee.
“The job I was hired for is a lot different from what I’m doing now,” says Bosten. “But the consistent string through it all is coffee."
Adrienne Blasky
Sales Enablement Manager, FairWave
Adrienne Blasky
Now: Sales Enablement Manager, FairWave
Was: Sales Rep, FairWave
Adrienne Blasky knows specialty coffee from the inside out. As a green coffee salesperson, she built deep relationships across the industry and got to know many of FairWave’s brands – like Folly Coffee, Black & White, Ceremony, and Up. When Adrienne joined FairWave in 2023, it felt like a homecoming.
Adrienne started at FairWave as a sales rep focused on strengthening relationships — work she describes as an education in trust. Building on that foundation, Adrienne developing expertise in retail account management, team training, and financial analysis as she moved into her current role as Sales Enablement Manager.
What keeps Adrienne going? The people. "Everyone I work with puts a lot of their heart into what they do," she says. Ask for her favorite cafe and Adrienne will point you to Up Coffee: tucked into an industrial neighborhood, Up’s cafe is off the beaten path yet always bustling. "If you know, you know."
Will Johnson
Director, Hugo Tea
Will Johnson
NOW: Director, Hugo Tea
WAS: Barista, Messenger Coffee
Will Johnson always knew he wanted to work for Messenger Coffee. Growing up in Nevada, he'd dreamed of it. So he moved to put in a resume, got the job, and moved to Kansas City.
Will started as a barista at Messenger's flagship location in 2020 and quickly became coffee-obsessed. "I fell in love with the care required to make coffee taste very good," he says. That passion carried him into a market educator role, then account management, and most recently into his current position as Director of Hugo Tea.
His advice to anyone starting out in specialty coffee: "Be a sponge. Be willing to take opportunities and risks along the way."
When Will’s not working, you'll find him listening to records, hanging out with his cats, or cooking a big meal to share with his partner.
Brandon Wilson
Creative Director, Fairwave
Stephanie Braun
Designer, FairWave
Stephanie Braun
NOW: Designer, FairWave
WAS: Designer / Marketing Coordinator, Barista, Spyhouse
Stephanie Braun earned her degree in graphic design and began work in the creative industry — then left to pursue coffee. Starting as a barista at Spyhouse, Stephanie took on administrative work, social media, and part-time design before moving into full-time design for FairWave.
"I'm lucky to have been given the opportunity to grow into my current role and work in an industry I've always loved," she says, "alongside some of the most passionate, intelligent, and talented people I've ever met."
Stephanie wants every customer walking into a FairWave café to feel like they belong, and could stay for hours. It's not a bad way to describe what FairWave has been for her, too. "I feel like I've finally found my people,” Stephanie says.
When she's not designing, she's on a long walk with her dog, Poppy.
Genaro Guerra
Head Roaster, Kansas City
Genaro Guerra
NOW: Head Roaster, Kansas City
WAS: Roaster, The Roasterie
Genaro joined The Roasterie in 2018 and continues to roast for FairWave today. He believes in the positive global impact FairWave creates. And he sees it in action with sustainable practices for local consumers and producers worldwide. As the head roaster, Genaro’s day starts early – at 4am! He reviews the reports from the prior day’s orders and goes to work roasting an average of 46 batches of coffee each day for a total of 1.5 million pounds in a year. By 10am, he’s in the cupping lab with the rest of the quality team to ensure the excellence of today’s roast. He loves that his role exposes him to incredible coffees and incredible people.
Stacy Barter
VP of Project Management, FairWave
Stacy Barter
NOW: VP of Project Management, FairWave
WAS: General Manager, The Roasterie
If you have a question about this business, Stacy probably has the answer. After 18 years at the Roasterie – most of the time as general manager over the entire business; she stays busy with large-scale projects and everyday operations. So, when she got an offer to be the vice president of project management for FairWave, she didn’t hesitate and accepted the challenge.
Stacy’s drive has built her career alongside building The Roasterie portfolio. Under her leadership, their business expanded to include single-serve coffee pods, wholesale club partnerships, and cold brew cans. And with her future-minded philosophy and organizational abilities, Stacy plans to propel every brand in the collective in the same way.
Eva Gonzales
Production Team
Eva Gonzales
NOW: Production Team
WAS: Packaging Team
Caffeination has fueled hard-working people since the discovery of the coffee bean.
Eva joined The Roasterie in 2011 and continues to be a driving force on the production floor. She starts her workday around 6am and begins labeling bags of coffee roasted earlier that morning. She labels on average 3000 bags of coffee each day, and then helps the rest of the production crew to fulfill orders.
For Eva, The Roasterie continues to be the same, caring employer, now with more people and human resources to provide a support system.
Better Together
Our Leaders
Justin Seamonds
CEO
Isaac Hodges
President, Growth
A longtime leader in the coffee industry, Isaac Hodges has seen firsthand how local businesses create a ripple effect in the global supply chain. He’s drawn by FairWave’s unique ability to connect with ethical suppliers and organizations that positively impact their communities. Isaac finds that FairWave’s resources empower their employees to become leaders, and he’s excited for his teammates to grow alongside the company.
Isaac is a coffee drinker by day and an indie rock musician at night. His biggest (and most adorable) fans are his three kids.
Justin Seamonds
CEO
Justin Seamonds believes leaders are everywhere — from the boardroom to the bakery, from the roastery to the cafe. As FairWave's CEO, Justin is committed to the people and proudly distinct brands that power the Collective. Over 25 years leading food and beverage businesses, Justin has learned that the best cup of coffee is one shared with friends. Justin has called Atlanta, Wichita, Houston, and Chicago home, and he's ready with food recs for each one. (Whatever you do, do not miss The Nifty Nuthouse in Wichita.)
When he's not thinking about coffee, Justin can be found playing live music with the Chicago Sound Collective.
Isaac Hodges
President, Growth
A longtime leader in the coffee industry, Isaac Hodges has seen firsthand how local businesses create a ripple effect in the global supply chain. He’s drawn by FairWave’s unique ability to connect with ethical suppliers and organizations that positively impact their communities. Isaac finds that FairWave’s resources empower their employees to become leaders, and he’s excited for his teammates to grow alongside the company.
Isaac is a coffee drinker by day and an indie rock musician at night. His biggest (and most adorable) fans are his three kids.
Isaac Hodges
President, Growth
A longtime leader in the coffee industry, Isaac Hodges has seen firsthand how local businesses create a ripple effect in the global supply chain. He’s drawn by FairWave’s unique ability to connect with ethical suppliers and organizations that positively impact their communities. Isaac finds that FairWave’s resources empower their employees to become leaders, and he’s excited for his teammates to grow alongside the company.
Isaac is a coffee drinker by day and an indie rock musician at night. His biggest (and most adorable) fans are his three kids.
Isaac Hodges
President, Growth
Isaac Hodges
President, Growth
A longtime leader in the coffee industry, Isaac Hodges has seen firsthand how local businesses create a ripple effect in the global supply chain. He’s drawn by FairWave’s unique ability to connect with ethical suppliers and organizations that positively impact their communities. Isaac finds that FairWave’s resources empower their employees to become leaders, and he’s excited for his teammates to grow alongside the company.
Isaac is a coffee drinker by day and an indie rock musician at night. His biggest (and most adorable) fans are his three kids.
Katie Evans
President, COO
Katie Evans
President, COO
Meet Katie Evans, the powerhouse behind FairWave’s operations. Raised in a family-run business, Katie grasps the grit and grind essential for a local business to grow. With more than two decades of experience in supply chain and operations in the food industry, she's our go-to for production and all things manufacturing. But beyond spreadsheets and logistics, she's got a passion for coffee that's as strong as her morning brew.
When she's not juggling her boys’ activities or keeping FairWave running smoothly, you'll catch her pedaling through town, savoring wine with pals, or cozying up with a great book.
Suzanne Gunning
Chief Marketing Officer
Suzanne Gunning
Chief Marketing Officer
The marketing projects on Suzanne Gunning’s résumé are varied, but they share a common thread: creating impact. Her latest role at FairWave is no exception. Suzanne’s experience has shown her that marketing empowers people to work together for positive change. She looks forward to using her skills to drive support for local brands and community organizations … and toward great cups of coffee.
If you see Suzanne off the clock, it may not be in Kansas City. An explorer at heart, she finds that her children’s curiosity has made her trips even more exciting.
Joe Marrocco
VP of Coffee
Joe Marrocco
VP of Coffee
For Joe Marrocco, coffee is a language that crosses all borders. His fluency in the craft has taken him to every corner of the industry, from serving as a barista to importing. Joe understands that coffee’s universality comes from its ability to adapt to local communities. He believes uniting local brands allows them to change the world through ethical buying practices. Joe is an eyewitness to the power of green coffee importing and has seen its impact on his trips to coffee-growing regions and industry events. His mission for restorative practices and long-lasting partnerships has brought him to FairWave, where he’ll continue connecting to local business owners and industry experts.
If you gather around the campfire with Joe after one of his fishing trips, you might be lucky enough to hear him play a tune on his guitar.
Kevin Johnson
VP of Cafés
Kevin Johnson
VP of Cafés
The culinary experience has been a lifelong journey for Kevin Johnson. His love of food has taken him far, from representing the U.S. at the Dean & DeLuca International Chefs conference in Thailand to collaborating with Pharrell Williams on the Williams Family Kitchen. Since joining the team at FairWave, Kevin has been focused on building and preserving the unique local brands within the collective.
The next destination on Kevin’s journey might be a spot on HGTV. Outside of work, he can be found cranking away on home improvement projects.
Ken Revenaugh
VP of Sales
Ken Revenaugh
VP of Sales
After years of leading sales initiatives, one thing has always been constant—coffee. From the early morning flights to client meetings to the late-night espressos powering through a proposal, coffee has been a quiet but constant companion in Ken's career. Joining FairWave combines his passion for helping businesses grow with the joy of delivering extraordinary coffee experiences. He's excited to expand the reach of FairWave brands.
Whether it’s kayaking a scenic river, hiking a rugged trail, or cruising down a winding road on his motorcycle, Ken is seeking out new advenutures - fueled by coffee, of course.
Melissa Woetzel
VP, People & Culture
Melissa Woetzel
VP, People & Culture
A passionate leader with two decades of deep hospitality experience, Melissa Woetzel is drawn to FairWave by our people — and our unique focus on keeping local brands local. Melissa thrives on creating paths for teammates to grow, and building environments where people feel pride in their work. Melissa’s go-to tea is Hugo Tea's Ma Wei and her favorite coffee is any single origin — she’s down to try them all.
A San Diego native who has called Kansas City home since 2007, Melissa is a dedicated animal lover. On her days off, you’ll find Melissa checking out new local restaurants, hiking, and traveling with her partner Christina. They enjoy spending quality time with their 19-year-old cat and plan to expand the furry family soon.
