Hellos and goodbyes.

Business entrepreneur and TV reality series producer, Donald Trump isn't the only person to say, "You're fired!" It's a sentence we all hate to utter. We don't hate it because we then have to start the hiring process all over again, but because it's a distressing event. We don't want to hurt people's feelings. We give people chances, give them the benefit of the doubt, try to believe every far-fetched, unlikely story they tell us before we have to give them the boot, toss them out and start the process all over again.

Phil Beattie of Dillanos Roasters helps us to find the right apprentice for our roasting business, find that person who is passionate about your company's product and will treat it with the respect and honor it deserves. He wants us to never utter those traumatic words. (See page 16).

Dr. Ernesto Illy of illycaffe died this month at the age of 82. A great man in the coffee industry, Dr. lily's pursuit for an excellent espresso led him to make many technological advances for the coffee bean. lily Caffe was known for its state-of-the-art research laboratory, numerous inventions and patents and the famous Brazilian growers' contest in pursuit of cultivating high quality beans.

Dr. Illy was a humorous, humble man, who readily complimented industry members on their accomplishments. His factory and home was always welcome to all those he met in the industry.

I bid farewell to Larry Frank, co-publisher of this magazine, as he retires. He was an asset to our magazine, helping us shape and guide the magazine's editorial and was a truly caring person to the tea and coffee industries. He loved this industry and we loved him.

Jane McCabe

Editor & Co-Publisher