After 26 remarkable years with Atlas Coffee Importers, Jennifer Roberts will be retiring from the coffee industry at the end of the year.
Jennifer’s journey in coffee began in the early nineties, when she launched and operated one of Montana’s first espresso carts. From there, she steadily worked her way backward through the supply chain — barista, roaster, importer — gaining a helpful, holistic understanding of the industry.
Jennifer joined Atlas in 1999 as the company’s very first employee and has since done nearly every job imaginable, from quality control to bookkeeping and sales. For the past several years, Jennifer has led Atlas as Managing Director, bringing exceptional clarity, consciousness and heart to the role.
Jennifer is brilliant, strategic and exacting. She has guided Atlas through some of the biggest changes and most challenging chapters in its history: integrating into Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, navigating a global pandemic, and steering the company through historic market volatility and shifting tariff landscapes. She’s also proven time and again that meetings really can end on schedule!
Jennifer Roberts cupping coffee with Atlas founder Craig Holt.
As Atlas’ first employee, Jennifer did every job that needed doing!
Having worked in every aspect of the company, Jennifer has lead with unmatched insight paired with deep empathy. She’s balanced sharp business acumen with compassion, integrity and a genuine commitment to helping people thrive. Her leadership has shaped Atlas profoundly, and everyone who has worked with her understands how rare and remarkable that combination truly is.
While Jennifer’s retirement marks the end of an era, we are fortunate that her legacy of thoughtful leadership will continue with Susan Heller Evenson, who will step into the Managing Director role. Currently Atlas’ Senior Trading Manager, Susan has been with Atlas for more than 16 years, beginning in Sales and building her career as a trader. With her passion for data analytics, her deep knowledge of Atlas operations, and her dedication to people and relationships, Susan is exceptionally well-positioned to guide Atlas forward and bring new energy and ideas to the role.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Jennifer’s incredible contributions to Atlas — and in congratulating Susan as she steps into this new chapter of leadership. •
