Meet Our Micro Center Champions!

The Micro Center Champions have been on our Community for a few months now, providing recommendations, helping users problem solve, and writing up reviews. The one thing we never did was sit down and introduce our Champions to you! So, we had all of them write up brief bios highlighting which department they work in, any areas of specialty, and anything else they felt important to highlight! Presented below, in alphabetical order by last name:

(Champion photos coming soon!)

The Micro Center Social and Community Champions

Warren B. / @Lambdaben - Houston, TX.

I'm Warren - a tech guru and gaming enthusiast. With 30+ years of experience building PCs and providing technical support, I'm a master at troubleshooting and repairing even the most complex computer issues. But that's not all - I also have over 20 years of sales experience, making me a pro at helping customers find the perfect tech setup for their needs. On a personal level, I have an unrivaled passion for Call of Duty. When I'm not busy building or selling PCs, you can find me dominating the virtual battlefield in Warzone. I'm currently working in the Build-Your-Own PC section but I've also worked in various departments throughout my 12-year tenure at Micro Center.

Terrell B. / @tbarggs - Columbus, OH.

Hello, my name is Terrell. I have worked for Micro Center for about 6 years and I currently work in the Systems Department (PCs). When I’m not working I enjoy gaming, watching anime, and hanging out with friends. My favorite game genres are FPS and MMORPGs. I have played almost everything so if you have questions about those I can probably answer them! I built my first gaming computer about 10 years ago and have been in love with everything involving computers ever since!

Ryen B. / @Rye_Bread - Chicago, IL.

Hey, my name is Ryen! I’ve been at the Chicago Micro Center for two years now. I’ve worked in the General Sales and Apple departments and currently find myself in the Systems department. I specialize in prebuilt desktops, laptops, monitors, as well as all things gaming! I’m more than familiar with most of the products we sell, and have a passion for helping our guests find the perfect system. It’s my favorite feeling ever to have a customer stop back in the store to tell me how happy they are with their new setup (and how jealous their friends are).

I spend my free time riding my motorcycle, working on my car, cooking, playing guitar, and (of course) playing video games. I’m currently in the process of rebuilding my gaming PC, made almost entirely of Open Box parts I’ve been slowly buying over the last few months. Call me crazy, but I’m in no rush to get it built and the savings give me more money to spend on the other my other hobbies. I can’t wait to meet you all and see what everyone’s working on!

El'Lisa C. / @elcurr - Overland Park, KS.

Hey everybody! I’m El’Lisa and I work at the Overland Park, Kansas Micro Center. I have been with the company for three years now and have worked in various positions. I actually started out as a temp employee pulling web orders at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Later, I was offered a permanent position as a cashier before transitioning into Front End Lead. Since then, I have been the RCC (Retail Compliance Coordinator) and am now a General Sales Associate. I guess you could say that I’m sort of a jack of all trades at Micro Center! When I’m not at work, you can most likely find me binge-watching a new show (I watch way too much tv) or playing video games like World of Warcraft or Diablo 3.

Shoan D. / @Shoan041 - Marietta, GA.

Hey Micro Center Community; I am Shoan! Since 2019, I have had the pleasure of working in the Marietta Georgia Micro Center’s Build Your Own Sales Department. In 2022, I was excited to be selected to pioneer the Social Media and Community Championship position for my store. I was born in Cleveland Ohio, but I grew up in Georgia. I lived in North Carolina for a couple of years, but ultimately came back to Georgia. I have been working in Electronics sales since 2016. 

When I was young, I started upgrading my computer and I built my first one in 2012. Video games have been a pastime for me since I found my brother’s SNES as a kid. Counter Strike: Condition Zero was the game that brought me over to PC gaming, and I still play many different types of video games to this day! Some of my favorite games are: Soulsbourne games, Destiny 2, Dota 2, Divinity Original Sin 2, Monster Hunter World and Super Smash Bros. Other hobbies that I’m into are woodworking, welding, painting miniatures, photography, watching shows/movies/anime, playing card/board/tabletop games, playing golf and cooking.

Harry G. / @TreBouncee - Rockville, MD.

My name is Harry and I'm an Apple associate at the Rockville location. I've been around technology for as long as I can remember. My father built computers so I naturally gravitated toward the field. In my 3 years at Microcenter, I've been able to fill so many gaps in technical knowledge I didn’t even know I had. I started in GS (General Sales) and eventually made my way to Consumer Electronics in a little over a month and stayed in that department for about 4 months. From there I graduated to the Apple section and I’ve been there ever since. Upon moving to CE, I made my intentions very clear about where I wanted to end up and I was able to perform well enough to be promoted. The reason I set my sights on the Apple section is because I am what some consider a power user - that is to say, fully entrenched in the Apple “ecosystem”. I felt as though that background knowledge would enable me to speak from the perspective of not only a salesperson but also a fellow consumer. As I type this on my MacBook Pro, I'd love to talk tech with you, answer any questions you may have, and make the best recommendations I can. 

Benjamin L. / @BenjaminLaRocque125 - Parkville, MD.

Hello, I’m Benjamin from the Towson/Parkville Microcenter. I have a passion for motorsports and tech. I’m usually in a Discord with my friends or listening to technical death metal when I’m not on my motorcycle. I also happen to like sneakers/photography/anime

Earnest M. / @ChaosDTV - Madison Heights, OH.

Hello, My name is Earnest, also known as ChaosDTV. I've been working at MicroCenter for a year now, 2023 will be my 2nd year in the company. I am a YouTuber outside of work and play lots of RPGs and I also love photography and videography.

My specialty is kind of a jack of trades but if you have any questions regarding being a streamer/YouTuber or any photography/videography questions, I'll be happy to help! My outside-of-work loves are gaming and YouTube, two things that very much require passion and I very much love doing.

Philip N. / @phil_lost_zephyr_ - Brentwood, MO.

Hello! This is Philip from Brentwood, MO. I am currently working in the system sales department at my local Micro Center. I’m usually helping out customers decide on what type of computer they need. The things I work with range from laptop systems to desktop towers all with Windows 10 or 11. I also like to help out with finding the right monitor to fit with the computer setup! 

I’m a friendly salesperson who will try to find what the customer needs. Even though I mainly specialize in computer systems, I also have passions like keyboard and mouse peripherals. I love the different sounds and configurations you can do with a keyboard. Don’t be afraid to ask me any questions, whether it be about computers or even computer peripherals, I’ll be willing to listen and help out to the best of my abilities!

Lizz R. / @lizzs - Long Island, NY.

Hi! My name is Lizz, I am the “Visual Merchandising Specialist” here at the Long Island, NY location. I am the person in charge of making sure the store is in pristine shape for your shopping needs! I’ve been with Micro Center for 7 ½ years now. I’ve worked in all the sales departments (General Sales, BYO, PC Systems, and Apple) over my 7 years working at Micro Center, with some experience in the Leadership team as well.

I love to play video games! Whether it be on my Nintendo Switch, my gaming/streaming PC, or my Steam Deck - it’s what I will use to unwind and relax. I’ve always been enamored with technology growing up. Heck, I was on the computer and typing before I could even speak. If you have any questions about PCs, setting up a streaming rig, setting up your home network, or even questions about your smartphone, I’m your girl!

Chris R. / @Vaganza - Sharonville, OH.

I started with Micro Center in 2004 (18 years) as a Customer Service Representative in the Service Department, and after 2 years moved into a position as a Service Technician with a focus on custom builds for the store on the weekends. When I'm not at Micro Center, I spend time consulting, designing, selling, installing, and programming commercial audio/video systems. Before diving into the tech world, I worked for 10 years at Ohio’s oldest architecture firm as an architectural designer and IT coordinator for the firm’s three locations. This is what has built up my focus on commercial and enterprise IT solutions. My additional specialties include network audio and video transport, network switching, wireless design and implementation, server virtualization, and telepresence. I have a Bachelor of Architecture from Miami University.

In my free time, I'm a huge follower of Star Trek and a Superman fan, and I enjoy designing and building high-end custom furniture like custom computer cases. I also enjoy camping and kayaking as well as playing ice hockey. If I'm not working at my computer, I'm deep in 3D modeling software designing the next building project rather. Music, art, and architecture still play a large part in my life. I'm also a member of several organizations including the Hamilton Ohio Neighborhood development board and the AVIXA Women’s Council, which focuses on promoting and advancing Women in the fields of Technology and the Audio Visual industry.

Vlad R. / @Vladdy - St. Louis Park, MN.

Hello, my name is Vlad. I work in the systems department at the St. Louis Park Minnesota location. I’ve been at Micro Center for almost five years now. I started as a cashier before moving to the Front End Lead role and eventually graduated to Systems. In my spare time, I enjoy creating photography and biking around the Twin Cities.

Juan S. / @Lesaol - Fairfax, VA.

Hello everybody!

My name is Juan and I am a Computer Systems Specialist, as well as a Social Media and Community Champion for Micro Center. I have been working for Micro Center for 3 years now but have been working with computers for over ten years. I first began to learn about computers when I tried to play Minecraft and League of Legends as a teenager. My home pc was only for school use and so it ran terribly, which led me to slowly learn all about computers just to play games. I realized then that learning about computers was pretty fun and was even able to take courses in high school to get some IT certifications. I enjoy helping others and that is the main reason why I love working at Micro Center but seeing some of the crazy new tech that comes out has its perks as well! My hobbies consist of video games, photography, content creation, and a tiny bit of DJing. I am always happy to help those to have questions or want to explore similar hobbies, so if you need help just post! It is nice to meet the community!

Wade S. / @w8deywins - Westmont, IL.

Hello, my name is Wade. April will mark my third year with Micro Center. I am currently in the Build-Your-Own department but worked my way up. I was the 3D printing champion while I was in General Sales a few years ago and that really helped lead me into BYO which is where I wanted to be at in my end-game scenario. I built my PC over a year ago and it’s been the best gaming experience ever. The main three games I rotate between are PUBG, Rust, and DayZ. Apart from work, I like to spend time on the slopes skiing and snowboarding during the winter season and hit the trails with my mountain bike during the spring and summer seasons. I love to photograph my adventures to capture that moment of nostalgia. I have been using fitness apps a lot lately to track my stats which help me train and progress. They’re so fun, it’s like a game! 

Something I love to say to my customers after they get their first build is “I’ll see you on the battlegrounds!”

Julia V. / @Julia_V - Cambridge, MA.

Hi there, my name is Julia and I work in the Systems Department at the Cambridge Micro Center. Outside of work, I enjoy creating, whether it's painting, 3D modeling, photography, or writing. I am particularly passionate about environment art, whether it's textures, lighting, or prop modeling. Building worlds with complex and interesting stories and being able to visually represent them is exciting to me, and I aim to become more proficient at it. Software-wise, I am working with Blender and Adobe Substance in order to learn the fundamentals of 3D and procedural materials. I also enjoy gaming in my spare time. In fact, Destiny 2 was the game that helped me discover my passion for environmental art. In general, I enjoy open-world games and competitive FPS games. When I built my PC at Micro Center, I picked up a Ryzen 9 5900X and an RTX 3080 in order to support what I want to do. Now, I daydream about getting the i9-13900K and the RTX 4090 someday. 😝

On the less techy side, Philosophy is also one of my huge passions. I love reading and writing about philosophical topics. My area of expertise in philosophy is Philosophy of Mind and Phenomenology. Edmund Husserl's works have played a huge part in my college career and continue to influence me today. Something else I enjoy a lot and wish I had more time for is Shotokan Karate. I started practicing Karate in college and was able to train my way up to a 1st Kyu Brown Belt. Eventually, I hope I can go back and train, and work toward my Black Belt.