T.J. Semanchin
Co-owner, Jack of All Trades

T.J. found his way to coffee after working and traveling in Latin America, focusing on sustainable development. Convinced that fair trade, organic coffee farming could transform rural Latin America, T.J. returned to the States and has spent 10 years in the coffee industry working for social change. T.J. and Denise have two children.

Caleb Nicholes
Co-owner, Head Roaster

For most of his life, Caleb has been a professional gourmand, including three years as an importer of boutique European wines and nine years as a coffee roaster. His work in the wine industry took him all over France, Italy, and Spain where he learned that "if you run fast enough, you don't actually run with the bulls." Caleb is married with two children.

Denise Semanchin
Co-owner, Marketing and Outreach

With a background in environmental education, Denise lived in Paraguay and worked as a trainer for the Peace Corps before returning to the States to join Split Rock Studios, a design/build museum exhibit firm, and to train raptors and other birds at the Minnesota Zoo. She is taking a leave of absence from Kickapoo Coffee to be a stay-at-home mom.

Hallie Ashley
Office Manager

Hallie brings a background in customer service and bookkeeping to her work at Kickapoo Coffee, where she assumes a number of hats. Depending on the demands of the day, she might be balancing the business ledger, packaging coffee, pouring amazing lattes, or filling orders. Caleb and Hallie are brother and sister, and she and her husband live with their child two blocks from the roastery.