Team
Founders
Dave & Trudy Bateman
Dave Bateman is a retired lawyer working for both the USAF/USFR and for his won private practice in Olympia, Washington. Mrs. Trudy Bateman is a retired ER nurse, having practiced in many hospitals from California to Washington state to Washington DC! Together, they purchased Heavenly Hawaiian in 2005 and have been farming coffee and expanding the team ever since.
Senior Staff
Bill Myers, General Manager
Bill is a refugee from the political world of Washington, DC. He arrived in Kona 15 years ago, traded political intrigue for Hawaiian aloha, and is now slowly redeeming those pieces of his soul he had previously sold off by helping to create Kona’s best coffees and build what is now Hawaii's highest-rated coffee farm. In his spare time, Bill restores historic churches.
Alexandria Hollis, Business Manager
Hailing from central Virginia, Alex has always dreamed of working in coffee. After joining our work trade program in October of 2018, 5 months later, her dream came true when the farm offered her a full time position, and she has been working here since. She looks forward to learning more about coffee and becoming a professional coffee roaster and taster (Arabica Q Grader).
Brett Strawn, Senior Data Analyst
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Brett had always dreamed of moving to Hawaii, and spent many years visiting multiple islands. After researching our work stay program, Brett decided to join the farm, and discovered the perfect niche for him to stay here at the farm.
Randi Lancelotti, Logistics Manager
Aloha! I am Randi. I am from the midwest. Iowa to be exact. I grew up in the city but was fortunate enough to experience the enchanting farm life every summer while staying with family. I am starting a new chapter in my life and couldn't think of a better place to do it than right there. I'm enjoying the less stressful, slower paced world of coffee compared to my 17 year career as a Realtor in Iowa. I knew little to nothing about coffee when I arrived on the scene here and still have a long way to go. The daily experiences here on the farm are not only educational, they're entertaining as well.
Samantha Wilson, Product Development Manager
Samantha was born and raised in Southern California where her love for nature and the ocean blossomed. She earned an academic scholarship to Baylor University where she earned a BBA in Marketing and played on the Women's Club Lacrosse team. Following graduation, Samantha ventured to Austin, TX where she worked for various FinTech organizations and participated in art collectives involving visual arts and electronic and live music. Feeling stifled by the corporate grind, she joined the Heavenly Hawaiian workstay program and later accepted a full time position as Product Development Manager with a main focus on honey production. Off the farm, you can find Sam hiking, snorkeling, coaching holistic health practices, playing beach volleyball, and practicing her improv skills.
Friendly Faces Around the Farm
Townsend
Susan
Megan
Steven
Patrick
Our Furry Friends
Sami the Cat, Our Grande Dame
Exiting her self-imposed isolation from adoring fans, Sami can occasionally be seen accepting obeisance from her staff.
Umi the Cat, Chief of Gecko Control/Coffee Influencer
From humble beginnings as the official poke taster at a popular Kona restaurant, Umeke decided to quit his job on the spot to join our ohana at the farm. Now he spends his days giving tours of the farm, accepting love from all of his adoring fans, sampling the trees for the best scratching posts, and controlling our gecko population.
Kingsley the cat,
Assistant to the Coffee Influencer
Joining the Farm as a young kitten, Kingsley fit right into the ohana as Umi's younger brother and rodent control apprentice. He can commonly be found sneaking around the farm and avoiding his adoring fans, as this sweet gentle introvert prefers to meet new friends on his own terms.