Mark D. Goodman: Boyer's CEO is no stranger to building coffee brands.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn
• Position: EXECUTIVE EDGE - Dialogue with Mark Goodman - Chief executive officer - Interview

Mark Goodman, 46, took over as chairman and CEO of the Boyer Coffee Co. two years ago after helping launch McDonald's overall coffee strategy, including the McCafe. Today he heads a staff of 41 at the Denver-based company, which is nearing 50 years old.

WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM

I was born and raised in metropolitan Detroit--Ypselanti, Mich. I'm blessed to have two of the greatest parents on Earth. My father was the first African-American elected mayor of Ypselanti, and my mom was one of the administrators at the University of Michigan for 20 years.

WHO INSPIRED YOU GROWING UP?

My grandmother Goodman was an entrepreneur. She used to dress windows at a department store in Detroit. In the 1950s, that was still a time of intense racial oppression--where African-American women could go and purchase clothes from major department stores but they could not try them on. She and my grandfather saved every nickel and opened Goodman Fashion Center--a place where women of all colors could purchase and try on clothes. That influenced me being in retail these 20-plus years in terms of what it means to identify a problem, find a solution and serve an entire community.

WHAT DREW YOU TO RETAIL?

I was raised in a family that was active in the community, so there was something about retail that appealed to me. You're interacting with the public every day; you're serving the public; you're creating jobs and opportunities.

HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN YOUR GOAL TO BE A CEO?

I'm enjoying the prospect of what we're doing here to resurrect this proud Colorado company and create growth opportunities for the next 50 years and beyond.

WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO TAKE BOYER'S COFFEE?

This has been primarily a proud Rocky Mountain-based company, so we're looking to expand it here and westward over the next few years. We will continue to grow the brand in the...