Laura Ann Sweitzer Email & Phone Number

Berkeley, California, United States

Berkeley, Ca

-Procures all cocoa beans used by TCHO in alignment with rigorous quality and social standards-Oversees all processing of cocoa beans into cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa liquor -Program development and implementation for all TCHO Source programs. -Leads public and B2B presentations for key accounts on TCHO's sourcing and the TCHO brand- Create marketing collateral and write long form articles explaining TCHO source, cocoa quality, and cocoa sustainability to all… Show more -Procures all cocoa beans used by TCHO in alignment with rigorous quality and social standards-Oversees all processing of cocoa beans into cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa liquor -Program development and implementation for all TCHO Source programs. -Leads public and B2B presentations for key accounts on TCHO's sourcing and the TCHO brand- Create marketing collateral and write long form articles explaining TCHO source, cocoa quality, and cocoa sustainability to all customers. -Lead TCHO chocolate's successful B Corp Certification! Show less

Berkeley, Ca

- Lead communications and support bean procurement from TCHO's cacao suppliers (cooperatives and exporters) in Latin America, The Caribbean, and Africa. - Conduct extensive quality analysis (sensorial analysis and physical analysis) of all cacao lots prior to purchase. - Manage TCHO's portfolio of supply chain development projects and the team of implementing consultants. - In charge of telling the TCHO Source story to individual consumers and key business accounts.

Oakland, Ca

• Managed implementation, reporting, donor compliance and monitoring & evaluation for Fair Trade USA's diverse project portfolio (highlights listed): - $517,000 USAID & Green Mountain Coffee- Minas Gerais, Brazil (Coffee) - $686,714 Kellogg Foundation & Progresso- Chiapas,Mexico (Coffee & Honey) - $218,000 Rabobank, LWR & Progresso- Banda Aceh, Indonesia (Coffee) - $365,500 Stichting Het Groene Woudt - Padang, Indonesia (Tea) -$65,000 – Fair Trade USA’s small… Show more • Managed implementation, reporting, donor compliance and monitoring & evaluation for Fair Trade USA's diverse project portfolio (highlights listed): - $517,000 USAID & Green Mountain Coffee- Minas Gerais, Brazil (Coffee) - $686,714 Kellogg Foundation & Progresso- Chiapas,Mexico (Coffee & Honey) - $218,000 Rabobank, LWR & Progresso- Banda Aceh, Indonesia (Coffee) - $365,500 Stichting Het Groene Woudt - Padang, Indonesia (Tea) -$65,000 – Fair Trade USA’s small grant program – Global (Coffee)• Successfully executed call for resumes, selection, contracting, management and payments for over 20 independent contractors for consulting positions (concurrently among all projects).• Developed criteria, terms of reference, processes and selection committees for Fair Trade USA’s small grants program. Performs all contracting, compliance verification and payments• Effective liason between coffee companies in the United States and coffee suppliers. Provided critical supply chain information to roasters and importers. Developed mutually beneficial solutions to supply chain constraints. Show less

Oakland, Ca

• Recruited, hired and managed 17 local project consultants for the 2 million dollar Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project funded by USAID and Walmart stores Inc.• Designed key project activities and oversaw successful implementation of best practices training modules for quality production and business financial management• Managed effective communication with RSP project beneficiary population• Worked on sound reporting and project monitoring and evaluation • Supported… Show more • Recruited, hired and managed 17 local project consultants for the 2 million dollar Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project funded by USAID and Walmart stores Inc.• Designed key project activities and oversaw successful implementation of best practices training modules for quality production and business financial management• Managed effective communication with RSP project beneficiary population• Worked on sound reporting and project monitoring and evaluation • Supported baseline, design and start up activities for the USAID-funded Sustainable Sourcing Partnership Project Show less

• Conceived and developed customer service handbook for company• Conceived and developed systems and procedures for receiving and incorporating customer feedback• Actively grew the company’s customer base through contacting potential new wholesale accounts • Coordinated outreach with existing wholesale customer base• Trained customer service and administrative staff for the company

• Conducted a self-designed research project on the social function of graffiti in 7 countries: Spain, The Netherlands, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador• Personally organized all travel arrangements, project contacts and interviews• Extensively researched the history, political and economic climate of each city • Planned and adhered to a self-monitored project time line and final deliverable due dates • Supplemented my year of international research by auditing… Show more • Conducted a self-designed research project on the social function of graffiti in 7 countries: Spain, The Netherlands, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador• Personally organized all travel arrangements, project contacts and interviews• Extensively researched the history, political and economic climate of each city • Planned and adhered to a self-monitored project time line and final deliverable due dates • Supplemented my year of international research by auditing classes at the University of São Paulo in Brazil and volunteering with S.O.S Racismo Madrid in Spain Show less

Certificate In International Development And Social Change - American University Cairo Cohort, Development Economics And International Development

Spanish, Economics

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa