Ato Solomon Worku, the fouder of SMS PLC and the owner of the Gola Solomon Worku Processing station, was born in Southern Amhara Semen Shewa region in 1956. Ato Solomon grew up in the region where coffee is only consumed, not produced. After studying accounting and business, Solomon started to import coffee machinery, like: Agard pulperes, hulling machines, and generators. There his love for coffee grew. And it didn’t take long before Solomon took an interest in coffee production and the export business. Solomon began his coffee production career in 1995. Just three years later Solomon established the exporting company SMS PLC in 1998, and has been exporting exceptional quality coffee throughout the world. Today, he has several washing stations in coffee producing areas: Komato, Korate, Gola, and Koke. Besides the washing stations, he also owns two drying mills, one in Dilla and the other in Kebado.

Solomon uses a highly controlled quality management system at all his stations. He separates lots based on washing tanks (for washed) and drying beds (for naturals). Each lot is cupped, analyzed, and registered by quality and sensory traits. Under the name of his company, he
has taken his social responsibility to heart and supported communities in Dara, Gedeo, Dilla Zuria,
and Yirgacheffe. Solomon helps farmers by supplying new seedlings, building local offices, and
giving them training on better production management and quality improvements.