Everything Coworking

What happens when a coworking operator gets completely fed up with their tech stack… and decides to build their own solution? That's exactly what Dan Wesson and Chelle Peterson did. Dan and Chelle are the co-founders of The Post Workspace and CoLevel, and I've known them since they went through Coworking Startup School back in 2018. It has been so fun to watch their journey from launching their space in Tucson to building a platform that's now helping operators all over the world. They didn't set out to create software. They just wanted to run a better coworking space. But after juggling Calendly, DocuSign, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, social schedulers, answering services… and still missing leads, still feeling overwhelmed, still wondering what was falling through the cracks… they hit a breaking point. So they fixed it. We talk about: – What they were actually dealing with behind the scenes before building CoLevel – The moment they realized their tech stack was holding them back – Why speed to lead is one of t

What if AI didn't replace your community manager… but actually made them better at their job? That's exactly what Courtney Schwartz is doing at FireWorks Coworking—and it's such a refreshing take on a topic that can feel overwhelming (or even a little threatening) in our industry. Courtney is deeply passionate about people, community, and creating meaningful connections. And instead of letting AI take over, she's using it to take admin work off her plate so she can spend more time doing what actually matters inside her space. In this episode, we cover: How Courtney uses AI to streamline time-consuming tasks like blog writing and content repurposing Why "garbage in, garbage out" is the reality of AI—and how to get better outputs How indie operators can use AI for local SEO and even demographic research The role of AI in helping you identify and reach your ideal member Why community managers who embrace AI will have a huge advantage How to use AI as an extension of your voice, not a replacement I've had the c

Most people don't spend 13 years quietly building one of the most comprehensive datasets in commercial real estate. But that's exactly what Peter Kolaczynski has been doing at Yardi. In this episode, Jamie sits down with Peter Kolaczynski, Associate Director of Yardi, to unpack what's really happening beneath the surface of the coworking and office markets. And this one gets… data-heavy in the best way. We get into: Why coworking is still only ~2.3% of total office space—and why that number could 5x How Yardi tracks over 80,000 office buildings and what that unlocks for the industry The surprising reality of physical office occupancy (hint: it's still under 60%) Why enterprise demand for flexible space keeps growing despite return-to-office pressure How AI could reshape not just coworking—but total office demand One of the most interesting takeaways: even if office demand shrinks overall, coworking may expand. Why? Because uncertainty drives flexibility—and flexibility is exactly what coworking offers. We a

What if you built a coworking space… designed so you barely had to be there? That's exactly what Glen Hicks did. After 27 years in IT leadership and a life-changing heart attack at 34, Glen completely rethought how he worked. Instead of jumping into another executive role, he became what he calls a "digital independent." But he couldn't find a workspace that actually fit the way he wanted to work. So he built USTATION — a beautifully designed, mostly self-serve workspace in New Brunswick that runs with almost no staff (and Glen lives three hours away). In this episode we talk about: How he runs a 3,500 sq ft coworking space with almost no on-site staff Why smaller spaces can actually create better community The simple tech setup that avoids the dreaded 5-minute meeting room startup Why he installed a private work pod in an airport Glen is thoughtful, unconventional, and very intentional about how he spends his time (he works about 20 hours a week now). If you're thinking about building a simpler, smarter co

What if the secret to running a thriving coworking space isn't fancy software or a massive team… but one incredibly grounded, genuinely caring community manager? I finally got to sit down with Nicole Antolino, Community Manager at Fireworks Coworking in Marietta, Georgia and this conversation was long overdue. Nicole has been part of our Community Manager University program since 2022 and I've watched her grow into one of those rare unicorn operators who can truly do it all. She talked about the real balancing act of this role. When to extend flexibility and when to hold the line. How to juggle task lists with real human connection. What it's like to be a working mom running a space. And why she believes customer service experience matters more than industry background when hiring. We also dig into: Why 30 percent meeting room utilization might actually be normal How she and her teammate divide and conquer to grow the business The evolution of Fireworks' ideal customer profile What it really takes to sta

What's worse than overspending on things that don't deliver ROI? Underinvesting in the areas that actually make or break your business. This week, Jamie flips last week's episode on its head and tackles the critical areas where coworking operators consistently underspend—and pay the price in lost revenue, lower margins, and frustrated members. From soundproofing decisions during construction to the size of your private offices, Jamie breaks down the build-out choices that seem expensive upfront but deliver massive ROI over time. She explains why an 80-square-foot office will always outperform a 120-square-foot one when you're trying to hit $70 per square foot in revenue, and why phone booths aren't optional—they're essential to selling flex memberships. This episode is packed with specific, actionable advice on where to invest, how to evaluate ROI, and what trade-offs to consider based on your market, lease term, and access to capital. We talk about: Why soundproofing should be built into construction fr

What happens when good intentions meet bad ROI? This week, Jamie tackles the spending decisions that quietly drain coworking operators' margins—and shares what to do instead. Fresh from working with clients who are making these exact mistakes, Jamie breaks down the four most common areas where operators overspend: marketing agencies that don't understand local business, IT retainers that sit unused, social media managers in markets where Instagram doesn't drive leads, and $20,000 custom websites that look beautiful but don't convert. This episode is direct, practical, and yes—a little bit of a rant. But if you've ever wondered whether you should hire an agency, pay for an IT retainer, or invest in a custom site, you need to hear this. We talk about: Why most marketing agencies can't deliver ROI for single-location operators (and the one exception) How to set up your IT infrastructure once and stop paying monthly retainers The truth about social media for coworking spaces—and when it actually works What ma

This week, Jamie Russo tackles a slightly uncomfortable question—especially for someone who runs a program called Community Manager University. But if you're struggling to find quality candidates when you post that job title, this episode might change how you think about recruiting. Here's the problem: the community manager title anchors candidates on member interaction and engagement. But the actual job? It's pipeline management, CRM updates, billing follow-up, vendor coordination, office turnovers, social media, sales tours, and—oh yeah—also community building. When you hire someone expecting to spend their day chatting with members and they end up spending three hours in HubSpot, you've got a mismatch. And that mismatch starts with the title. We talk about: Why "Location Manager" might attract better candidates (and who's testing it successfully) How to prioritize the five hats: operations, community building, sales & marketing, finance, and leadership The front-of-house vs back-of-house split when

IWG (the parent company of Regus) just cold called you about turning your office building into a coworking space—and you have no idea how to evaluate their offer. This week, Jamie Russo breaks down exactly what landlords and building owners need to know before signing a management agreement with IWG, Regus, or any other operator offering a partnership model. Spoiler: they're not calling because your building is special. They're calling because you own a building. And that distinction matters—a lot. Jamie walks through the IWG partnership model, why they're pursuing landlords so aggressively right now, and the 13 critical questions you need to ask before even considering their offer. Because while IWG is incredibly good at sales, marketing, and designing efficient spaces, their incentives are not the same as yours. We talk about: Why IWG wants dots on the map—and what that means for your building How management fees work (and why they get paid even if you don't make profit) Why smaller spaces (under 15,00

What happens when a small business coach realizes her clients need more than advice—they need a place to actually work? She converts the loft she's been living in with her family into a coworking space. This week, Jamie Russo sits down with Sue Reardon, co-founder and community connector at Suite Spotte in Forest Park and La Grange, Illinois, for one of the most fascinating origin stories we've heard on this podcast. In this episode, we talk about: How Sue went from coaching micropreneurs to realizing coworking was the missing piece Why it took two years to get the Forest Park location rezoned Her "test and invest" mindset—constantly experimenting with flexible memberships Why she stopped doing evening events and started showing up with soup and wine instead The "Team Mashup" concept—bringing remote and in-office teams together This conversation is proof that coworking works best when you stay curious, listen to your members, and aren't afraid to test unconventional ideas. If you're an operator wondering

What happens when a coworking expert walks into a national coworking brand as a day pass user—and the experience falls flat? This week, Jamie shares her recent day pass experience and turns it into a practical checklist for operators who want to treat every day passer like a potential long-term member (because they might be). It's the holiday season, which means travelers are staying with family, needing to get work done, and looking for a place to escape for the day. Day passers might be transient—or they might become your next member, referral source, or meeting room regular. But if your onboarding process is clunky, your team isn't asking questions, and nobody offers a tour, you're leaving money (and relationships) on the table. Jamie walks through exactly what went wrong in her experience and what should have happened instead—from the moment she walked in the door to the moment she left without anyone noticing. We talk about: Why signage, parking info, and wifi instructions should be crystal clear o

What happens when a flex workspace veteran with decades of global experience decides the future isn't about branded coworking takeovers—but about making flex invisible so the building itself can thrive? In this episode, Andrea Pirrotti, Head of Real Estate at infinitSpace, shares her unconventional approach to helping landlords activate underutilized space without heavy CapEx, long lease-up timelines, or the friction that comes with traditional flex operators. Andrea's background is extensive—she ran global marketing for IWG across 65 countries, led operations at Office Evolution, and now she's bringing a Dutch operator's profitable, partnership-first model to the Americas. We cover: Why spec suites look like a solution but often lose money for landlords How infinitSpace's semi-white-label model (Beyond) blends into a building's existing design and brand The fatal mistakes operators make that Andrea's team capitalizes on when taking over failed spaces Why "high optics, low friction" (like a barista at the

What happens when a lifelong hairstylist-turned-life-coach steps away from the salon and builds one of the most flexible, hyper-local coworking models I've ever seen? You get The Foundry Workspaces, created and operated by Vena Boddy, who brings an action-oriented, community-centered approach to coworking that works beautifully in her Michigan suburb. In this episode, Vena shares her unexpected journey into coworking, how her husband's early entrepreneurial experiences inspired their model, and why she leaned fully into fractional private offices instead of the typical dedicated office or open coworking setup. If you've ever wondered whether part-time private offices can actually work, Vena is proof that they can—not only functionally, but profitably. We talk about: How her background as a hairstylist and certified life coach shaped her philosophy as an operator How she runs a mostly unstaffed space while still delivering a boutique, high-touch experience Why her day passes and conference room rentals have b

What happens when a lifelong marketer and multi-business entrepreneur realizes she's tired of working alone — and decides to build the space she wishes existed? In this episode, Jodie Gallant, CEO of WORK Lakes Region, shares the remarkable story behind launching the first coworking space of its kind in New Hampshire's Lakes Region — and why the idea lived in her for nearly a decade before becoming real. Jodie's journey is full of surprising turns, smart marketing insights, and honest lessons about opening a coworking space in a smaller market. We cover: How growing up inside a family-run corporate environment shaped her entrepreneurial instincts The marketing tactics that actually work in small markets (including radio and direct mail) How chambers, connectors, and partnerships accelerated her visibility What she learned about the fears people bring into coworking spaces (including what to wear) Why 60 percent of her revenue comes from day passes and meeting rooms — and how she nurtures those users

In this episode, Jamie shares the key themes she's taking into her 2026 planning — and why now is the moment to shift from working in your business to working on it. She also walks through what to expect in this year's Q1 planning workshop and pop-up community. In this episode you'll learn: • Why "radical responsiveness" is becoming a major differentiator • How to plan for outcomes instead of tactics • What owners should keep close instead of delegating • Why carving out R&D time (especially around AI) matters • How to think realistically about projects, KPIs, and capacity Join the Q1 2026 Planning Workshop: everythingcoworking.com/quarterly Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Q1 2026 Planning Workshop: everythingcoworking.com/quarterly Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

What do antiques and coworking have in common? For Carol DiGiovanni, more than you'd think. Carol never set out to run a coworking space. With a degree in material culture and a long career as an accredited antiques appraiser, she loved researching the stories behind old treasures—not managing HVAC contractors or setting up a member portal. But when the pandemic hit, Carol and her husband—owners of a full city block of office space in downtown Chico, California—knew they'd need to pivot. In this episode, Carol shares her journey from antique expert to community builder, and how she's doubled the size of onFlume Coworking while keeping it intentionally local, friendly, and low-fuss.  We talk about: Why her quiet, dog-friendly coworking model works perfectly in her market How she expanded from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet (and filled it fast) Why pre-marketing matters—and what she'd do differently next time How owning the building changes her approach to pricing and expansion What she learned about p

In this episode, Jamie dives deep into how to choose the right business coach for where you are in your coworking journey — whether you're just dreaming about opening your first space or you're years in and ready to grow profitably. She shares personal stories from her own coaching experiences, from mindset breakthroughs to painful early mistakes that could've been avoided with coworking-specific guidance. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why the type of coach you choose depends on your stage of business The difference between general business coaching and industry-specific coaching How a coach can accelerate decision-making, confidence, and ROI When one-on-one coaching makes sense — and when a group program is a better investment How Jamie's early coaching experiences shaped her approach to helping coworking operators today Jamie also introduces two new coaching programs — the Revenue Playbook and the Profit Accelerator — designed specifically for coworking operators who want hands-on support, a

Most coworking operators didn’t open their doors because they love spreadsheets — but the truth is, what gets focus gets results. In this episode, Jamie Russo breaks down the essential rhythm every coworking business needs for reviewing its numbers. You’ll learn what to track weekly, monthly, and quarterly so you can make better decisions, spot opportunities early, and grow profit with intention. No spreadsheets, no overwhelm — just a practical framework that helps you stay connected to your business and confident in your next move. In This Episode: Why your numbers aren’t something to fear — they’re your clearest path to clarity and control. The simple weekly metrics that keep you connected to your pipeline and cash flow. The monthly insights that reveal trends and show where your biggest opportunities lie. The quarterly reviews that help you see the big picture and plan with confidence. How to build a tracking habit that empowers your team and keeps you focused on results.   If you’re ready to m

Most coworking operators make decisions based on instinct — pricing, marketing spend, staffing, space allocation — all guided by gut feel. But when you dig into the data, it often tells a completely different story. In this episode, Jamie shares examples of how metrics can reveal blind spots that gut feel misses — like when vacant offices aren’t the real problem, or when ad spend is working but lead follow-up isn’t. You’ll learn why the right data brings confidence and clarity to your decision-making and helps you prioritize what will actually move the needle. If you’re ready to make smarter, data-informed decisions about your coworking business, join Jamie for The Coworking Scorecard: Measure What Matters, a free live event happening on October 23 at 1 PM ET. You’ll learn how your space stacks up against industry benchmarks and where to focus next for sustainable growth.

Ever wondered how to build a successful coworking business in smaller markets that the big players ignore? Jeff Goronkin cracked the code by targeting overlooked cities and mastering the art of community-first growth. Key Topics Covered: How Jeff leveraged a "sandbox period" to learn coworking before committing to major investments Why targeting smaller markets (populations 50-70k) can be more profitable than competing in saturated metros The power of revenue-share lease agreements and how to negotiate them with landlords Building relationships with economic development offices to secure grants and support Why PR and community engagement are secret weapons for coworking success Smart hiring strategies for community managers who can truly own their role The importance of downtown revitalization as a core business strategy Lessons learned from expanding to three locations across NY, PA, and MA Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Jeffrey's LinkedIn profile Urban Co-Works website Everything Coworking Feature