Back to New York

In 10 days time my wife and I will be living in Syracuse, NY.

It is a home coming for me and a big change for my wife. Muncie is a relatively small town and as coffee goes it is a typical waste land of quality. Vecinos was the exception and an anomaly. I was brought on as the barista trainer and bar manager. In the last month the general management and board of the church that owns the building and the shop have decided to close for one year and restructure the business. As my authority in this company was  limited to the coffee quality behind the bar I watched largely as a well informed outsider as the situation unfolded.  It’s hard in a town like this to get something to catch on and I believe the management and the board are heading in the right direction. Having assessed the mistakes they made early on they are now busy making things right. I really respect them for pushing onward and I hope they get it open again very soon. My services as a free lance trainer are always available to them but only if  called upon.
I will say though that I am actually quite excited to see what great things will come from the team at Alliance World Coffees. Chris DeMarse who is the head of coffee at AWC is a pretty amazing professional. I have learned a lot from him in the two years I have been here… steady, focused, and always learning…there is no better man to head up that crew. Then there is Grant Butler (Mr. “here come the beans!” himself …) Grant is the head production roaster. Grant may be a long haired, bearded, pierced, tattooed, death metal guitar player but his way around everyone is as a truly compassionate individual with a pastors heart. And that is exactly how he approaches the roasting and you can taste it in the cup.
Josh Lindstrom, a newly certified roaster with AWC, is all about pursuing the vision of quality coffee that is inherently inside him. He is a family man and a leader in the making. He and has been and will continue to be a great asset to the AWC family.
Lastly, Adam Crowder. A 10 year Army vetran and drill sergeant who ran his own successful company on government contract.
I hired Adam as a barista…and it was maybe a week until he was performing the role as if it were 3 months. It was obvious that he was going to be more than just a barista. Adam is the Head of Marketing at AWC. Other roles include catering, skull cracking, and generally being right and helping you come to that realization too. I have learned a good deal about work ethic and business from observing Adams progress.
Sarah, Fan (our Chinese intern), Geoff, and Tisha make up the rest of the crew doing phone answering things, barista things, catering things, production things, and youtube surfing things.

So with these guys at the helm of the ship that is Alliance World Coffees I expect to see great things. It has been my pleasure an honor to be amongst professionals like these. I am thankful to have worked with Guy Pfanz who started AWC and Vecinos. A true visionary and faithful Christian brother.
I will miss everyone at Muncie Alliance Church, and AWC immensely.
Who knew that such riches were waiting in Muncie, IN. Thanks everyone!
And thanks be to God. He is faithful!

Stay tuned for more info on what is in store in Syracuse, NY…

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