Feel the Energy Summit 2024: Inspiring Leaders, Energizing Teams
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787 Coffee’s End-of-Year Summit 2024 was more than just a gathering; it was a TED Talk-style forum celebrating a year of incredible achievements and setting the stage for an even brighter 2025. Held in our HUB in NYC, this summit brought together inspiring leaders, passionate team members, top baristas, motivators, wellness, art and the energy of coffee culture to reflect, recharge, and refocus.
Born from a Tradition of Connection and Celebration
Since the inception of 787 Coffee, the End-of-Year Summit has been a cornerstone of our culture—a platform to communicate, quantify, learn, and celebrate the wins of our company and its leadership. Every year, district leaders and department heads present their achievements, share their challenges and successes, and outline goals for the upcoming year. This tradition fosters transparency, collaboration, and a shared vision, reminding us of memorable moments while keeping key lessons in the back of our minds as we forge ahead.
A Global Celebration of Leadership and Innovation
Featuring an impressive lineup of speakers and leaders from around the world—including World Barista Champion Michalis Dimitrakopoulos from Greece and representatives from Puerto Rico, El Paso, Houston, New York, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Korea, Spain, Panama, Colombia, Italy, Peru, Ukraine, and Israel—the summit showcased the diversity and innovation that define 787 Coffee.
This year, we were honored to welcome Michalis, one of the world’s top baristas from Greece, whose journey from barista to world champion embodies the values and mantras of 787 Coffee. Michalis shared his passion with our team, recounting his inspiring path and emphasizing the importance of dedication, creativity, and resilience in the pursuit of excellence. His story left a lasting impact, reinforcing the connection between passion and purpose.
Highlights from Our Speakers
Karina Taranovska & Admin Crew: Recapped the successes and accomplishments of 2024, the challenges faced, and the forecast for an exciting 2025.
José Pena: "Life is Chaos" — Compared life to a hot cup of coffee, emphasizing the importance of taking action before chaos cools progress.
Giorgio Mariani: "The Power of Connections" — Explored the importance of building meaningful relationships to bridge the gap from point A to point B.
Diego Villicana: "Evolve or Repeat" — Shared his journey from personal trainer in Mexico City to head recruiter at 787 Coffee, emphasizing growth through discomfort.
Zitlaly Pena: Presented a clear vision as the head of finance and the new payroll platform, designed to improve the barista experience by addressing team needs and preferences.
Erika Garcia: Highlighted improvements in payroll, inventory, and growth in the Sauce Lab.
Laura Enriquez: Outlined marketing and online growth strategies, including data-driven plans to boost online orders, catering, and digital presence.
Judith Garcia: Shared social media success stories, including 65 million interactions on TikTok, driven by innovative coffee pouches.
Morgan Brady, Mona Patel, and Shirzad Zarei: Panel on "The Power of Storytelling," stressing its importance in engaging both customers and team members.
Bart Henderson: Discussed the critical role of exercise and health in maintaining energy and achieving success.
Othman Hafdi: "Create, Collaborate, Win" — Celebrated teamwork and the magic that fuels 787 Coffee.
Irvin Chavira: Reflected on maintaining balance in 2024 and previewed plans for 2025, including a new coffee equipment maintenance program.
Alessio Troia: Shared insights on the partnership between San Remo and 787 Coffee.
Michalis Dimitrakopoulos: Shared his journey from dream to reality, becoming a world champion and inspiring others through training and passion.
Sam Sepúlveda: Highlighted sustainable practices at Hacienda Iluminada and plans to explore new coffee lots and robusta processes.
Cesar Fierro: Discussed the importance of employee engagement and growth for organizational success.
Arian Abadi: Emphasized focus and decisive decision-making as keys to destiny.
Diana Seo: Explained the value of correct practices within a corporate team setting.
Kenny Santucci: Showcased the power of consistency and the ripple effect of small habits.
Michael Mejorado: Reflected on 787 Coffee’s growth in El Paso and his transition to Puerto Rico as a district leader.
Michael Ramirez: Shared his journey from barista to district leader, emphasizing his love for growth.
Steven Melendez: Inspired with his ballet journey, teaching lessons on adaptability and audience experience.
Brandon Peña: Shared his vision for taking 787 Coffee to the next level with smart goals and consistency.
Paola & Operations Team: Highlighted the application of learned lessons into the success seen today.
Mirielle Maor: Discussed her evolution with 787 Coffee and plans for BrandON workshops and events.
Kevin: Shared the impact of photography and its role in storytelling.
The Summit: A Platform for Growth and Excellence
This summit serves as a platform for leaders and top performers to share insights on where 787 Coffee stands and the direction we’re heading in 2025. Having a clear path for growth is essential for every company, and 787 Coffee understands this deeply. Leaders at the summit are united by a common goal—to improve the quality of coffee through consistency. From farm to cup, we bring value to customers by using only specialty coffee while minimizing the use of plastics and pesticides to protect what truly matters. Our commitment extends to latte art, local products, in-house baked goods, and a profound love for the earth. The summit embodies our mission to push every human at 787 Coffee to grow and strive for greatness, ensuring our shared vision of sustainability, excellence, and innovation comes to life.
Brandon Ivan Peña’s Reflections: From Challenges to Energy
During his keynote, Brandon Ivan Peña, CEO, reflected on the transformative journey of 787 Coffee:
"2023 was a tough year. We were losing. Changes needed to be made. We made the difficult decision to close some coffee shops and refocus on what truly matters: coffee, humans, community, and our passion for creativity and energy—energy that fuels us to give energy to others."
Brandon shared how 2024 marked a pivotal year for the company:
"This year wasn’t about financial growth; it was about sustainable growth. We invested in a new office, opened new shops in New York, Puerto Rico, and El Paso, and committed ourselves to development. Training, training, training—that became our mantra. We quantified everything, simplified processes, and most importantly, humanized the experience."
Looking ahead to 2025, Brandon’s message was clear:
"Energy is our thing. We’ll continue delivering the strongest and freshest coffee—from farm to cup—while introducing other origins to expand our offerings. We’re set to open 13 new coffee shops in 2025, all with one mission: consistency in every drink and energy to help you achieve your goals. Energy with caffeine, for you to go and make shit happen."
Artisanal Coffee!
High ENERGY Coffee!
Sam Sepúlveda’s Coffee Journey: Sustainability at the Heart
Sam Sepúlveda, cofounder of 787 Coffee and Hacienda Iluminada, took attendees on an unforgettable coffee journey through a tour of the farm and an in-depth look at the honey process used to process our coffee. His message was clear: value in coffee begins with a commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices that nurture the earth.
Sam highlighted our dedication to focusing on the core elements that make 787 Coffee unique: coffee, the animals of the farm, and our farmers, who are the heart of the company. He shared insights into our efforts to develop new methods and explore innovative coffee lots, including robusta coffee and specialty processes. “If it’s good for the earth, it must be good for you,” he reminded us.
Attendees also got a sneak peek at our newest addition to Hacienda Iluminada—our newly completed cabins. Sam extended an open invitation: “If you want to stay on a coffee farm and immerse yourself in this incredible journey, you must visit the farm.”
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Thank You to Our 787 Family
The Feel the Energy Summit 2024 reminded us of what makes 787 Coffee extraordinary: our people, our passion, and our purpose. To our team members, customers, and partners, thank you for being part of this journey.
Here’s to an inspiring and impactful 2025! See you next year!
787 Coffee’s End of Year Summit: Feel The Energy