I’ve asked all the staff to send me their official bios for the website.  In the meantime, I thought I’d write up my own description of the staff from my perspective for your reading enjoyment.

Blake Allen is my “townie partner-in-crime”.  Like me, Blake grew up in Lawrence, though he graduated from Lawrence High a *few* years after I did.  He is also the first person besides my sister and myself that I ever heard use the term “wonky”, so I think that must be a townie thing.  Blake is our Service Manager.  He has also been dubbed “chat master” because anytime there is a wonky situation with a repair, Blake is the one that conducts the online chats with Apple’s agents.  He knows them all on a first name basis.  Oh yeah, and he’s a rabid KU Basketball fan!

Corey Beckmann – Apple Sales Professional, Apple Product Professional

MacBook, iPad 2, Apple TV, iPod Touch

Corey is a student at KU, studying information systems in the Business School. Originally from Overland Park, he enjoys everything Mac and has been working in sales at iCafe for about a year. He enjoys hanging out with his fiancé and friends, playing sports, cooking and listening to music. He teaches our Free Fridays at Five courses and will help you with any questions related to Apple products. Feel free to stop by, he’ll be sitting at the MacXprt bar eager to answer your questions!

Ryan King – Apple Sales Professional, Apple Product Professional, Apple Certified Macintosh Technician

15″ MacBook Pro, iPhone 4, Apple TV

Ryan is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas and a Lawrence native. He works as a technician for the MacXprts Network at iCafe. He says, “The three most indispensable items in my life, (my MacBook Pro, iPhone 4, and Apple TV), are all Apple products. It has always been my dream to be an astronaut. I don’t like Tootsie Rolls. I do like a cappella music. I believe in KU basketball, the hangin’ curve ball, good friends, and opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve.”

David Sturm is my husband, and at times also my handyman, spare tech, answering service, salesperson, guinea pig, moving man, personal chef, food delivery guy, coffeemaker, taxi/delivery driver, support staff, and most importantly, father of our children.  He is also my biggest “success story”.  David was a PC guy his whole life, (but I married him despite this shortcoming.)  It took me just over five years of marriage to convert him, but he is now a loyal Mac user.  When iCafe first opened, he would stop byfrom time to time to bring me pretty much whatever I need (and usually before I even know I need it, much less ask for it).  While there, he hung around long enough to share his own experiences with visitors to iCafe.  His favorite thing to do was throw his iPhone around (literally!) to demonstrate how well his Otterbox case protects the phone.  Eventually, it occurred to me that he was really my partner not only in life, but in business, and I officially made him part of the team.

Then there’s me, Cindy Bracker Sturm.  I guess you could say that I’m the leader of this motley crew of men.  I grew up here in Lawrence, back in the day when the school district still educated its students on Macs.  My first computer was an Apple II-C.  I have owned many macs since then and loved each and every one (in fact, they all have names!)  I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Music Education.  I worked for MacXprts-Kansas for a couple of years before forming iCafe and officially taking over ownership of Lawrence’s MacXprts location in May 2009.  Starting this business has been an adventure to say the least, but I’m loving it!  Lawrence is such a fantastic community for locally owned business.  Almost every person I have encountered has been so supportive and helpful, and truly my staff here – well, I really think of them like family – they are so dedicated and wonderful.  I think I’m the luckiest person on the planet!  Ok, enough cheese  (Did I mention I’m also a sentimental sap?  Yeah, you might as well know that about me too!)

Thanks for visiting our site.  Stop in some time and get to know our little “family”!