mark@portlandroasting.com
Mark Stell likes to travel the world in search of growers committed to high-quality coffee. He learned how to determine quality through his early career stint as a roaster and gained management and retail experience as owner of Abruzzi Coffee Roasters, a small Portland company. It wasn’t until opening Portland Roasting in 1996 that Stell was introduced to the grower component of the coffee business. Once he began his travels to coffee-producing countries, he developed a deep appreciation for the growers and their commitment and love of the land.

Mark oversees a staff of 26 and is responsible for green coffee sourcing, purchasing and financial management of the wholesale roaster and green coffee wholesale business. His leadership has earned the company local and national recognition for its business achievements and sustainability initiatives. For two years running, Portland Roasting was recognized as one of Portland’s fastest growing private companies by Portland Business Journal. In 2005, the company won the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Sustainability Award for its Farm Friendly Direct™ Program, and this year was a finalist in Willamette University’s Ethics in Business Award Competition.

When not traveling or managing his team, he retreats with family to his cabin in the shadow of Mt. Adams and tries to sneak in a fly fishing trip here and there.