HOUSE OF PER'LA

Paul Massard - Co-Founder/Managing Partner - A Certified Q Grader by the Coffee Quality Institute, one of roughly 350 in the US, brings 15 years of extensive coffee procurement, roasting, grading, farming, and production experience. Paul most recently held the position of Director of Supply Chain for Honolulu Coffee Company overseeing all farming, processing, roasting, production/packaging, quality assurance, and purchasing departments. Previous to Paul's time at Honolulu Coffee, he spent 5 years as the green coffee buyer, production manager/roaster, and quality assurance manager at The Roasterie in Kansas City. Paul Massard is a 2005 graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in International Finance and Marketing as well as a 2009 graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University's Executive MBA Program. 

Chris Nolte -  Co-Founder/Managing Partner - Brings to Per’La Specialty Roasters an extensive background in business development, branding, and marketing from a variety of industries including hospitality, healthcare, and logistics.  He specializes in large, multi-site product implementations that require everything from needs assessments and product selections to staff education and quality testing. Chris has a true passion for enhancing the customer experience while helping businesses grow their bottom line.  Chris Nolte is a 2005 graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in International Finance and Marketing.

Vanessa Valera Nolte - Managing Partner - With nearly 20 years of international business experience with a focus in the consumer electronics and home goods space, Vanessa brings extensive expertise in the areas of branding, finance, and accounting.  Vanessa is a graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in Finance and is a past recipient of  EY's Entrepreneur of the Year award.  Vanessa also maintains a passion for mentoring women entrepreneurs through her relationships with University of Miami, Babson College, and WIN Lab.

Benjamin Harrison - Strategic Advisor - Brings over 25 years of entrepreneurship and organizational leadership experience taking companies to the next level. Benjamin grew up in Milwaukee and then attended Bowdoin College, which included a year abroad in Paris. He joined TransPerfect Translations in an entry-level position, rose to become its first VP of New Business Development and was a key player in the company's rapid growth. Benjamin then joined Rishi Tea as a co-owner and Vice President. Under his leadership, Rishi grew from a startup into a multi-million dollar market leader with over 100 employees and business across multiple channels in all 50 states
and 15 countries. In 2017, he joined Tradecraft Outfitters, a fast-growing national specialty coffee & beverage distributor and service provider to help lead its integration into Compass Group. Today, Benjamin is the CEO of Fresh Picks, a Chicago-based gourmet grocery brand that pairs farmers from across the Midwest to end consumers.