Jason Omens and Leslie Schneider: Bringing Coworking to Bainbridge Island

05.03.11

Have you heard of coworking? It is a phenomenon rising to meet the challenge of growing numbers of entrepreneurs or remote workers who need a more professional environment to work with and meet clients in than their home office or local latte house. More health club than office park, coworking spaces offer technology, conference rooms - and most importantly - the energy, input and support of like-minded colleagues.

Burgeoning technology and a sinking economy have been driving more and more workers from the office - either by choice, through layoffs, or because their employers are looking to save money on desk space. The virtual workers, a 2010 Microsoft Telework survey found, loved ditching commutes in favor of improved work-life flexibility, with one big complaint: the loss of face-to-face interaction. Seeking the buzz of other voices, some teleworkers were conducting business in coffee shops, but also doctors' offices and even bathrooms!) [Source: USA Today.

There had to be a better way. Two of my clients, Jason Omens and Leslie Schneider, co-owners of OfficeXpats, have something much more comfortable and collaborative in mind. They are currently seeking a space to support 50 or more people at one time on Bainbridge Island, where they plan to open in August. And here "support," means not just office support, but yoga classes, workspace treadmills, and networking events that will help build a community of people primed to do their best work.

"OfficeXpats looks at the whole person and the life you want to lead," says Leslie, who is also a health coach. "You're going to want a place to prepare food, chat on a cell phone, and take care of your body," she added.

Unlike your home office, which can suffer from either too many distractions -like the demands of toddlers, the guilt of pending laundry- or too few, as the deafening sound of silence or the lack of outside influences stifles inspiration. At OfficeXpats, Leslie and Jason say, members can choose interaction or solitude to suit their needs - and with various levels of membership, it's cheaper and more stimulating than renting an office on your own.

"We've heard over and over again the isolation from home can be deadening," Leslie says. "Humans are social animals; they want to be part of something bigger, and Office Xpats provides that," Jason adds.

As proof, they point to surveys in which a majority of coworkers say that they are more motivated, have better interaction with people, do more collaborative work, and manage their time more efficiently in their coworking space - which adds up to greater relaxation in their personal life and in 42% of cases, increased income.

Jason and Leslie, who are partners in life as well as in business, learned about coworking in 2010 and were instantly inspired. Jason has IT management and network administration experience for small to midsized companies that spans two decades, and Leslie is a marketing and communications consultant for Microsoft. The coworking concept dovetailed nicely with an idea Jason had been working on for virtual workers' IT support; he even had a registered name:"9to5Jammies". As they talked, the couple realized they were heading more towards serving people outside their homes and creating a communal meeting space. The word "expats" emerged when Leslie was brainstorming with a friend, and a new name was born.

Like expatriates in a foreign country, they say, virtual workers have made a conscious decision to forge an independent culture on their own terms, supporting each other as they develop it. (Jason hasn't forsaken his first name idea, however - he still wants to institute a pajama night featuring actual "9-to-5 Jammies".)

OfficeXpats will also offer reserve-able conference rooms. "Bainbridge Island has a lot of working professionals who need a nice place to bring clients. The de facto place lawyers meet right now is Roosters Cafe. So, it's possible they may come for conferencing and stay for the atmosphere," Jason says.

The pair came to me through a referral from graduate client of mine, Linda Lybert. Although both had entrepreneurial experience, neither had ever started a brick-and-mortar business. Asked about the main benefits of our work together, first they mention the counseling - personal and professional.

"We've never had to invest in a long-term lease, " says Leslie. "This is really scary stuff. We end up with differences of opinion because we don't know what's standard or optimal in this situation, and we get to a standstill. Lenora sometimes facilitates our differences and helps us come up with solutions we wouldn't have come up with on our own. Lenora adds information, gives us a perspective of what to expect reality-wise. Like negotiating, these aren't things you can just Google and get an answer, they are based on experience and relationships," adds Leslie.

"We call her 'Dr Lenora'," Jason pipes in.
- "I don't," counters Leslie.
- "I have," says Jason.
Finally Leslie concedes that either way, "I use Lenora to get him to see common sense."

Another positive impact, they say, has been through finding them resources to legal or professional services. "She comes up with great resources for us," says Jason.

"She's also very creative," Leslie adds. "We were spinning our wheels trying to make a spreadsheet for our expenses and projected income, and she was able to access services from an expert to get us what we needed."

"All of these connections we'd like to provide for our members, we are getting now through Lenora," says Jason.

They also appreciate that I help them see their strengths and remind them to fight for their needs. "In negotiating with landlords, I have a tendency to propose a compromise before I need to do that," says Leslie.

"Lenora shows us our position with the perspective of an outsider and it's usually stronger than we think. She pointed out that what we wanted to do on Bainbridge Island, and the amount of space we're looking for in a down economy is a big deal - we are in fact a hot commodity." (Their real estate agent agreed, by the way.)

Jason had one more thought. "Lenora has this uncanny ability to really relate to people to kind of know what they're thinking. I have a hard time doing that. Sometimes I even ask her what Leslie is thinking."

"He doesn't do that enough!" says Leslie, with a laugh.