ALTERRA

A study in diversity by Sharon and Sue

Diversity: what are we talking about?

The ways in which people differ that may affect

their organizational experience in

terms of performance,

motivation,

communication, and inclusion.

Diversity encompasses internal and external business of an organization.Elective or necessary?

Alterra Coffee Company

Based in Milwaukee, WI Began in 1993(4) by three dudes…The

original location was in Bayshore (with a 10 lb. roaster)

Hey…take a look at me now

235 Employees 150 Full Time 85 Part Time

Nine Locations and Counting Mission(2008)

To deliver an exceptional coffee experience to our customers, co-workers and community.

Ward, Paul and Lincoln

LINCOLN FOWLER,

one of three co-founders of

Alterra Coffee Roasters: "My four years at Marquette were the finest four years of education I've ever had. . . .

There was a strange mingling of modesty/sense of service, a confidence in our abilities and the unavoidable hubris of teenage boys. This created an atmosphere of healthy, intense competition . . . and fostered strong egos while never

letting us forget that we are required to serve our community and each other.“

Paul Miller“Bringing your personality to

work helps create a really

Special place,” “What we’re trying to do is

create an exceptional experience (for customers). And that requires people to bring

their personalities to bear on the job.

And that’s where you can empower

people.”

Individuality and lack of uniformity

is a double-edged sword, Miller and the Folwer brothers said.

We’re forced to establish goals and find what is

appropriate. We don’t want to tie

down our people too tightly.

It’s a struggle to balance.” Ward Fowler

Alterra Coffee Company

Vision(2008) Recognize excellence is elusive and create a culture of

continual improvement.

Provide our customers and co-workers with creatively-designed, non-traditional environments conducive to building relationships, stimulating conversation, and

forging community connections. Build strong, mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with coffee producers

Participate in the continuous improvement and

development of our local community through long-term partnerships with non-profit organizations and like-minded businesses.

Goals Involve 30% of our staff with

community building activities each year. Bakery Manager

Milwaukee Center for Independence Forging relationships

Refugee Services Lutheran Services

WI Department of Labor Catholic Charities

Alterra Interview

Human Resources Generalist: Carolyn Castillo

Interview process

Diversity through corporate mentality

Only the best suited will be hired Philosophy:

“The further out you BRANCH, the more you learn.”

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Spidey’s Uncle

Hiring Process

Online vs. In-person application 95% of applications online Pros and cons

Voluntary Self ID Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) Mayfair and Lakefront hiring Employee Referral Program Challenges: age, personality, cognitive style,

background, education UWM Job Fair

City of Milwaukee Demographics

Population 594,833 21.3% of the population and 17.4% of families are below the

poverty line At 43% in 2007, Milwaukee has the second highest black male

joblessness rate in the country behind Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Race Makeup

White 43.6% Black 39.5% Native American 0.8% Asian 3.6% Pacific Islander 0.05% Other race 7.3% Two or more races 2.1% Hispanic 14.9% Note: Hispanics may be of any race

Commitment to Community

100% wind powered Revitalized interesting historic buildings that anchor neighborhoods Experimental artificial wetland that treats parking lot runoff Fair trade coffee buying practices Works with urban farming legend Will Allen’s Growing Power on a

vermiculture project Urban Ecology Center-From the daily donation of baked goods by Alterra Coffee Roasters

Second Harvest -Alterra’s support of Second Harvest of Wisconsin is noteworthy. This organization distributes millions of pounds of food each year to people who need it in our state. The company donates a small portion of their sales to the cause and, perhaps more importantly, has raised awareness for Second Harvest’s efforts to feed hungry people.

Sponsors annual mountain bike race

Did you know worms like coffee too!  Since 2000, Alterra Coffee has delivered the used coffee grounds from their Prospect Avenue café to the vermicomposting bins at Growing Power Food Center and Training Facility. It is a great nitrogen source and it keeps our nice group of red wrigglers well fed.  We compost over 300 pounds of coffee grounds per week. 

For those of you counting, Growing Power composts more than 180,000 pounds of waste per week. 

That’s over ten million pounds of waste not going into Wisconsin’s and Illinois’ landfills annually.

Coffee anyone

Growing Power…

Urban Ecology Center

From the daily donation of baked goods by Alterra Coffee Roasters…

Second Harvest of WI

Alterra’s support of Second Harvest of Wisconsin is noteworthy. This organization distributes millions of pounds of food each year to people who need it in our state.

The company donates a small portion of their sales to the cause and, perhaps more importantly, has raised awareness for Second Harvest’s efforts to feed hungry people.

Free helmets for kids at a local bike rodeo, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, and WORBA. Donates to the development of the Hank Aaron State Trail.

 

As always, the Alterra Team continues its strong tradition of community service.

Mars …Flavia …what does it mean???

our relationship with mars is unique and took some time to craft. we remain locally owned and operated.

all of our staff keep their jobs.

all cafes stay open and all our management stays in place. we remain committed to our culture and community.

the only thing that may change is our ability to grow that commitment and strengthen our culture.we are truly excited to bring alterra's roasting, sourcing and brewing expertise to elevate the bar in single-serve coffee. we like the mars organization. they are an impressive bunch. their family is committed to sustainability and although vastly different in size/scope, we share many values.

we're looking forward to the months of work ahead. there are new challenges, but our operations, culture and community will not change.

i wore shorts to work today......and i'll wear shorts to work tomorrow. that may give you a sense for the magnitude of change we are expecting.

thanks to all of you who enjoy the cafes and coffee. we really appreciate you.

lincoln fowlerco-owner

Humboldt Headquarters

90% reclaimed “Shot in the arm”( of adrenaline) for the

neighborhood Alderman Michael D’Amato

$3 million project due to sustainability Diversity of River West The Humboldt Avenue location has

received environmental awards and has a large outdoor seating area. K. Jenkins,

Yahoo! Contributor Network

What the founders say about the locations…

If (a café or location) has a patina, it would be criminal to get rid of it,” Ward Fowler said. “People look for that. They respond to places that have history and have been lived in.”

It is an aesthetic that we work towards,” Miller said. “Every store is a little different. The lakefront (café) tells a different story than (the Riverwest cafe) and the Foundry is a little different.”

Having its production facilities connected to cafes is part of Alterra’s operational model and part of the company’s connection to Milwaukee’s industrial heritage, said Lincoln Fowler.“We like work, and showing people how things work,” he said. “We don’t like the attitude of (glossing) things over to make them look good.”

Recommendations

Computers in cafés (for hiring purposes) Benefits( would perhaps generate

diversity in age of applicants) Expounding on Fair Trade Much of Alterra’s coffee

carries the Fair Trade label – a certification process that some coffee producers, suppliers and roasters go through to ensure that growers in South and Central America are being paid living wages for their products.

let us know who the farmers are…make it personal