Lecture Description
Independent cafes are full of passion and possibility, but behind the scenes, many are overwhelmed by daily fires, inconsistent systems, and leadership challenges. In this candid, solutions-driven panel, three respected operators and consultants - Erica Escalante, Laila Ghambari, and Eric Grimm - share the practical guidance they use to help struggling cafes regain stability and momentum.
Drawing from decades of combined experience across operations, leadership, training, and HR, the panel will unpack the patterns they see in shops nationwide and offer simple, high-impact shifts that make a meaningful difference. Rather than abstract theory, attendees will hear real talk and real solutions: what to focus on first, how to clean up messy systems, how to reset expectations with a team, and what successful operators do differently.
This session will include live Q&A, giving attendees the chance to ask specific questions and get direct, experience-based insight from all three panelists.
Designed for owners, managers, and anyone responsible for leading a cafe, this conversation offers clarity, encouragement, and actionable takeaways to help transform any shop - no matter how chaotic - into a more confident, consistent, and high-performing business.
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Location: Room 23BC
Category: Business
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a World of Coffee entry badge. Register to attend World of Coffee here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Speakers
Erica Escalante
Cafe & Bakery Consultant, The Cafe Operator
Erica Escalante is a seasoned coffee professional and baker. She is most known for her time as a cafe/bakery owner for nearly 10 years in the Portland, OR area, starting her
entrepreneurship at just 21 years old. Her cafe was a beloved and bustling business, growing to 2 locations with a full bakery program (including over a dozen wholesale accounts), a full food program, and a commissary kitchen program. After her time as a cafe owner, she worked in various operational roles - Head of Retail for Canyon Coffee, and Director of Operations for Goodboybob Coffee Roasters. She now runs The Cafe Operator, a consulting agency helping businesses become more profitable and create better work environments for all. She focuses her time not only on client work, but also on hosting various virtual workshops and running her robust social media accounts where she puts helpful and entertaining cafe business-focused content. Erica lives in Los Angeles with her wife and her two cutie daughters.
Laila Ghambari
Owner, Guilder Coffee Company
Laila Ghambari is a specialty coffee leader with more than two decades of experience shaping the industry. Raised in Seattle’s iconic coffee scene at her family’s Cherry Street Coffee House, coffee has always been part of her story. In 2014, she won the United States Barista Championship, launching her onto the global stage as a competitor, educator, and industry voice. She has served on the Barista Guild Executive Council, developed education for the Specialty Coffee Association, and led retail and operations for some of the country’s most influential coffee companies. Today, she owns Guilder Coffee Company in Portland and continues to champion innovation, leadership, and community in specialty coffee.
Eric Grimm
HR Consultant, The Cafe Operator
Eric J. Grimm is a Human Resources consultant with eighteen years of operational experience in the specialty coffee industry. He has developed HR functions including recruitment, labor planning, and performance management for multiple coffee companies. He is currently the fractional Director of Human Resources for Canyon Coffee Co. and consults through The Cafe Operator.