What does it really take to build a coworking space that becomes a community asset, not just another office?

That was one of my favorite conversations with Rob Archer, CEO of Codebase Coworking in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Rob has built something special. Codebase sits inside a larger entrepreneurial ecosystem designed to attract talent, support founders, and strengthen the local community. What struck me most was how intentional every decision has been.

We talked about the reality of balancing financial responsibility with a bigger mission. Rob doesn't shy away from the numbers. In fact, he broke down coworking economics better than most MBA professors. But he also understands that some of the most valuable parts of a coworking space can't be measured on a spreadsheet.

From giving more than 70 hard hat tours before opening, to building deep relationships throughout Charlottesville, to creating a member mix that reflects the broader business community, Rob has shown what's possible when you lead with both strategy and service.

We also dug into:

• How to think about coworking profitability when your vision is bigger than revenue alone
• Why understanding your market matters more than copying someone else's model
• The lessons Rob learned launching a 20,000 sq. ft. coworking space
• Building occupancy before opening day
• Developing community managers and investing in your team
• Creating a coworking experience that attracts and retains local talent

If you're building a coworking space, this episode is packed with practical insights on growth, positioning, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.

And if you've ever wondered whether coworking can be both profitable and deeply connected to its community, Rob's story is a masterclass.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Rob Archer on LinkedIn Codebase Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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Some coworking operators close one space and swear they'll never do it again.

Matt Irvin closed his first coworking space during COVID...packed up his family, drove from California to Chicago in the middle of the pandemic...and opened another one anyway.

Matt and I go way back to our CrossFit days in the Bay Area. We used to do Murph together, and I still remember him air squatting faster than everyone else while we talked about his idea to open a coworking space in Menlo Park.

At the time, he and his wife Meg were trying to solve a very real problem: how do you create beautiful, welcoming workspace for therapists and small businesses without the cold, corporate feel?

That idea became Cocial in Menlo Park.

Then came COVID.

This episode is packed with gems for operators:

• How Matt turned a massive curved-window flex space into an events business with 100+ events a year
• Why community matters more than ever in suburban coworking markets
• What operators miss when they focus only on desks and offices instead of creating a culture people want to belong to
• How he bootstrapped both spaces, negotiated free rent and TI, and built the first location himself with "burritos and beers" labor

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how much heart Matt brings to the business. You can feel how deeply he cares about creating spaces where people feel comfortable, connected, and supported.

If you're thinking about suburban coworking, events, hospitality, or simply what it takes to start over and build again, this one is worth your time.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Matt Irvin on LinkedIn Cocial website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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If your coworking space lost its Google Business Profile tomorrow… how long would it take before your pipeline dried up? That might sound dramatic, but after digging into Google's latest review policy changes, I don't think it is. Google quietly rolled out major updates in April that completely change how coworking operators can ask for reviews. And some of the tactics many of us have used for years? They now violate policy. This episode is a wake-up call for coworking operators because your Google Business Profile is not just another marketing channel. It is the top of the funnel for your business. It drives local search visibility, social proof, SEO, and ultimately leads. I recorded this episode immediately after learning about these changes because the implications are huge. If your automations, signage, onboarding materials, or team scripts are out of compliance, you could start losing reviews… or worse, lose review functionality altogether. In this episode, I walk through: - The 8 major Google review policy changes coworking operators need to know right now - Why common review strategies are suddenly risky - How to audit your automations, QR codes, onboarding materials, and CRM workflows - What Google's AI enforcement tools are actually looking for - The safer, compliant ways to continue generating reviews and protecting your search visibility If your coworking business depends on local search traffic (and it does), this is one of the most important episodes I've recorded this year. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Google's official review policy Google's Maps UGC policy overview

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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What would you do if you bought a coworking space that was losing money… on purpose?

That's exactly what Lea Latham did.

She walked into a 13,000 square foot executive suite business that was underwater, knowing full well she'd likely have to take it over. And when the time came? She moved into her RV, parked it outside, and got to work.

I loved this conversation with Lea because it's such a real look at what it actually takes to turn a space around:

• Making the hard call to replace a team member (and wishing you'd done it sooner)
• Installing systems, structure, and accountability from scratch
• Leaning into technology to create visibility and control
• Understanding that relationships matter—but they're not everything
• And focusing on the fundamentals that so many operators overlook (like actually responding to leads…)

I've had the privilege of working with Lea through our programs, and she is exactly the kind of operator you want in this industry: curious, decisive, and willing to take action.

If you've ever wondered whether you could take over an underperforming space and turn it into something profitable… this episode will give you a very honest look at what that actually requires.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Katy Elite Suites website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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Most people don't start their coworking career thinking they'll become president of the company.

Jessie Hathcock did.

When I sat down with Jessie Hathcock from The Loading Dock, I couldn't stop thinking about how rare her story is. She started as a community coordinator… and six and a half years later, she's leading the entire company.

We talked about:

• What it really looks like to grow up in the coworking industry (and why those career paths are finally becoming more common)
• How their co-warehousing model is opening doors for entrepreneurs you might not expect… including tradespeople and small businesses that need space to grow
• The messy, real behind-the-scenes of implementing EOS and building a healthy, aligned team (not as easy as it sounds)
• Why "unreasonable hospitality" isn't just a philosophy for them… it's a budget line item
• And how they're creating a level of connection that leads to 82.5% of members reporting improved wellbeing

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how honest Jess is about the messy middle.

Rapid growth. Team tension. Launching new initiatives before you're fully ready. Learning (sometimes the hard way) how to lead at a higher level.

And still choosing to build something that puts people first.

If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to scale a coworking business without losing your culture… this episode is such a good one. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Jessie Hathcock on LinkedIn The Loading Dock website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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You don't have a lead problem. You have a follow-up problem.

Leads are coming in. Marketing is working. But deals aren't closing at the rate they should be and the issue is almost always the system behind the leads.

In this solo episode, Jamie breaks down where coworking sales funnels tend to fall apart and how to fix them.

You'll learn:

• Why leads get stuck in your CRM and never convert
• Where follow-up typically breaks down (especially mid-funnel)
• How inconsistent systems cost you real revenue
• The four essentials for optimizing your sales process

If your "needs follow up" column is overflowing or you feel like you should be closing more deals with the leads you already have, this episode will give you a clear path forward.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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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 the biggest missed opportunities in coworking – How automation can increase hospitality (not replace it) – What it looks like to compete with larger operators without a big team

If you've ever felt like your tech stack is running you instead of the other way around… this one will hit home.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Daniel Wesson on LinkedIn Chelle Peterson on LinkedIn CoLevel

What Every Coworking Operator Needs to Know About Lease Renewals

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

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Community Manager University

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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 chance to work with the FireWorks team through Coworking Startup School and Community Manager University, and Courtney is such a great example of what happens when you invest in your people and give them space to grow.

She's curious, driven, and clearly all-in on her community—and this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can actually use.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Courtney Schwartz on LinkedIn FireWorks Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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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 also get into:

Office-to-residential conversions. Why "downtown" may matter less than ever. The rise of smaller, hyper-local office hubs. And why building owners—not just operators—may drive the next wave of growth.

If you care about where the office market is actually heading (not just headlines), this is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Peter Kolaczynski on LinkedIn Yardi website U.S. Coworking Industry Report Q4 '25

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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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 coworking model — you'll enjoy this conversation.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Glen Hicks on LinkedIn USTATION website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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