Say what you will about legacy media, but there's nothing like seeing your picture in the paper!
Jim was interviewed by Kara Baskin for the Boston Globe's "Getting Salty" column, which is a weekly informal Q&A with local food & beverage industry folks. The interview was published online on Tuesday, March 17 (link here, but there's a paywall for non-subscribers) and in the print edition on Wednesday, March 18.
Among other points, Jim discusses how Wavelength got started;
"We really wanted to make sure we were building this from the start the right way with the right focus, because it’s almost impossible to change direction if you don’t set things up from the beginning correctly.
Also, I think my previous experience in entrepreneurship and running a business, and even in the design and engineering industry, gave me a leg up in knowing how to build and design a business from a technology standpoint."
why he and Deanna chose to start a business in coffee;
"When I got out of my previous company... I really wanted to focus on sustainability. This was something ... I had been trying to focus on over the last several years, but it’s difficult when you’re trying to work with a client.
Coffee is... directly impacted by climate change; the actual plants themselves are extremely sensitive. The whole coffee industry is very aware of climate change and is actively looking for solutions.
It’s a huge issue doubled up by the fact that the people affected most by this, farmers, generally live in poorer countries. They don’t necessarily have the ability to just start growing something different or moving someplace else. They have to mitigate it, they have to adapt."
and what it's like to work together with your spouse;
"That can definitely be challenging, but honestly, it’s a lot of fun. You bring in whatever good dynamic you’ve got as a couple. Obviously, you have to have a good relationship at home. If it doesn’t work at home, it’s not going to work at work.
We have our own jobs: Deanna handles... the general manager side [of the business], which is not something she has experience with, but it suits her skill set very well, as it turns out. I tend to focus more on the technical: roasting, importing, choosing the beans.
We’ve been together for over 20 years, and you think you know everything about somebody. When you work with someone, it’s a little bit of a different environment."
