In a joint venture with the World Barista Championship (WBC), Bellissimo Media Productions has created a two-DVD set documenting the 8th Annual World Barista Championship (WBC) held in Tokyo, Japan July 31 to August 2, 2007. This DVD set is the first of its kind produced in the eight-year history of the WBC, and uniquely captures both the heart and mind of the exciting 2007 championship event.

The first DVD is a 55-minute overview of the WBC event that displays the soul of the competition. This documentary-style DVD includes interviews, local color shots and footage of all of the competitors in action.

"The DVD documents the full WBC experience, and allows viewers to see and feel the excitement generated by this competition as well as to hear from the participants, attendees and coffee professionals from all over the world," said Bruce Milletto, the film's director. "The film is truly riveting and has the potential to win major national awards and recognition."

The second 100-minute DVD is a training tool that features the performances of the six finalists in their entirety, followed by the awards ceremony.

"This disc is perfect for baristas who dream about competing or bettering their skills and want to analyze every move these champions make in their 15-minute performances," said Milletto.

James Hoffmann of the United Kingdom was declared the 2007 WBC champion out of a field of 45 competitors. Second place went to Heather Perry of the United States and third place to Carl Sara of New Zealand. Baristas who won sanctioned WBC competitions held around the world were eligible to compete for the title. Baristas were judged on artistry, presentation, technical skills and the quality of the beverages they prepared.

The two-DVD set retails for $69.95, and is currently on sale for a limited time at the wholesale price of $49.95. To order, click here.

Bellissimo Coffee InfoGroup, the specialty coffee industry's leading consulting company and producer of award-winning training DVDs and business manuals, has hired Stacie Greer as its marketing director.

Greer will coordinate the marketing programs for Bellissimo and the American Barista & Coffee School (ABC's) in addition to exploring new avenues in which to promote current and future marketing strategies for the company.

Greer's coffee experience includes five years at Starbucks, where she managed retail operations and organized coffee tastings and brewing workshops for customers. Greer was instrumental in the national roll out of new labor management technology and tools to over 1,000 Starbucks stores, providing technical and conceptual support to retail managers from a corporate level. Greer was certified in the Starbucks “train the trainer" program.

"Stacie’s extensive background in specialty coffee business management and operational systems will prove to be a gigantic asset to both Bellissimo and ABC's," said Bruce Milletto, Bellissimo's president.

In addition to her work in the coffee industry, Greer was employed for eight years at IBM in the company's sales and distribution division, where she provided support to the company's international sales team.

"I am very excited to join the Bellissimo team," said Greer. "After many years in a corporate environment, I am happy to be back in the coffee industry. This position is a wonderful opportunity for me to work for a company with such an excellent reputation. My hope is to add to this reputation by sharing my experience and providing excellent service to our customers."

Financial management for existing coffee retailers will be the focus of a two-day intensive Coffee CFO seminar offered this October 13 through 14 at the American Barista & Coffee School (ABC's) in Portland, Oregon. The seminar will be taught by Chris Legler, Starbucks veteran and former CFO of Barnie's Coffee and Tea Company.

Coffee CFO was developed for individual entrepreneurs and small chains that don’t have the financial resources to hire a Chief Financial Officer, even though financial management is one of the most important components of running a successful coffee business.

Coffee CFO will take a comprehensive look at how coffee retailers can optimize the overall profitability of their businesses. The class is designed to teach retailers to understand how to increase long-term profitability through sales growth while managing costs at an optimal level.

Coffee CFO will cover the following subjects in-depth: Revenue, Labor, Inventory and Expense Management, Beverage Costing, Loss Prevention, Marketing Analysis, Investment, Proforma Development, Understanding Financing Options, Budget Development and Prioritization of Financial Needs.

Coffee CFO will be led by Chris Legler, whose vast experience and knowledge of finance, specifically tailored to the coffee industry, brings an unrivaled expertise to the course. Legler’s expertise includes financial management, roasting coffee, business ownership and a great understanding of business operations.

Legler has held executive positions in finance and administration, marketing, retail operations and strategic planning. He was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Barnie’s Coffee and Tea Company and has held positions of increasing responsibility with Starbucks Coffee Company, Sony, British Petroleum, Blockbuster Entertainment and Eddie Bauer.

Coffee CFO will be held at ABC's state-of-the art facility in Portland. ABC’s offers comprehensive coffee business start-up and management programs, barista and latte art training, and a wide spectrum of classes for consumers. ABC's was founded by Bellissimo Coffee InfoGroup.

Workshop fees are $1,595 for the first student, $1,395 for each additional student. For on-line registration and further information, visit ABC's or call 800.655.3955.