Bill Text: MS HR41 | 2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Tim and Katara James; commend business success as owners of Southern Aroma Coffee Roasters in Winona, Mississippi.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-02-24 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR41 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-HR41-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Stevens
House Resolution 41
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE BUSINESS SUCCESS OF TIM AND KATARA JAMES OF WEST, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE OWNERS OF SOUTHERN AROMA COFFEE ROASTERS IN WINONA AND COMMENDING THEIR INVESTMENT IN MISSISSIPPI AFTER RELOCATING FROM GEORGIA IN 2008.
WHEREAS, since relocating to West, Mississippi, in the summer of 2008, Tim James and his wife, Katara, a native of West, have exposed the citizens of Carroll and surrounding counties to a new world experience in coffee and its unique and distinguished aromatic fragrance, by opening Southern Aroma Coffee Roasters in Winona, the first roaster of specialty coffees in the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, with specialty coffees being made from beans with unique flavors reflecting where and how they were grown, a process similar to the refinement of vintage wine, which determine the taste, quality and what that bean gives you, the Jameses seek to provide their customers with the truest essence of their products by working directly with farmer co-ops throughout the world to get
the finest Arabica beans from sources that support environmental and economic sustainability, including organic, Direct Trade, Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade certified coffees; and
WHEREAS, Tim's fascination with roasting coffee stems from his childhood in Georgia, as he nostalgically recalls his grandfather roasting coffee on an old-fashioned roaster and selling it in his store, and credits the birth of his own business establishment to the inability to find a great cup of coffee; and
WHEREAS, Tim, an independent information technology consultant by profession, and Katara, an insurance agent, started their business in the garage of their home in Decatur, Georgia, selling home roasts to local coffee shops and restaurants, filling orders on weekends, while working up to 70-hour weeks in his "real" job and Katara James working long insurance hours; and
WHEREAS, after learning they were expecting their first child, Joshua, they decided a lifestyle change was in order, looked to Mississippi, and soon discovered that the state lacked a presence of its own in the commercial coffee industry; and
WHEREAS, still maintaining a small roasting operation in Atlanta to serve customers there, the James' marketing effort focuses on increasing awareness of their product line among consumers and potential commercial customers, and building consumer demand as the ambitious goal of the business is reflected in its slogan: "Teaching the world about good coffee, one roast at a time."; and
WHEREAS, Southern Aroma, in its efforts to become an all-encompassing coffee service company, generates additional revenue from the sale and service of commercial brew equipment as the only Mississippi company certified by the industry's major manufacturers for sales and service in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the James team recently won a state contract, previously held by a large out-of-state commercial roaster, to provide coffee service to 11 of Mississippi's Welcome Centers, awarded by the Mississippi Development Authority, which was sold on the idea of contracting with a local company; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the entrepreneurial spirit of businessmen and women of the caliber of Tim and Katara James, whose investment in the State of Mississippi is a great investment in its people:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the business success of Tim and Katara James of West, Mississippi, as the owners of Southern Aroma Coffee Roasters in Winona and commend their investment in Mississippi after relocating from Georgia in 2008.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Tim and Katara James and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
