When Sally O’Dowd got downsized from a Chicago advertising agency last year she launched her own business, SallyOnMedia.com. Like a lot of entrepreneurs she tried working from home in her pajamas but it wasn’t enough. She needed to be in an environment where she could share ideas with other people. A friend offered her free office space but it wasn’t quite the same. Then another friend recommended she try OfficePort Chicago, a new concept in coworking that brings people with different skill sets together in one place.
Coworking is an emerging trend that is perfect for the work-at-home professional or independent contractor. OfficePort Chicago offers ‘memberships’ which amount to a monthly fee less than $500 in exchange for a desk, telephone, internet connection and the use of conference rooms for business meetings. There are no security deposits to pay to get utilities up and running. OfficePort members simply come in, plug in a laptop and they’re ready to begin working.
Michael Edmondson and Shaul Jolles are the co-founders of OfficePort Chicago, the second largest coworking environment in the city with 15,000 square feet of office space near State and Washington in downtown Chicago. I had a chance to meet up with Michael and Shaul recently during TechThursdays, a weekly tech cocktail event for programmers, developers, designers, tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Michael explained why the coworking concept works.
In this new economy, the one to many concept is the future. Set ups like OfficePort Chicago foster a new breed of worker in the U.S., one that allows for socializing and collaboration on several different levels. It’s a better alternative than working from Starbucks. Just ask Sally O’Dowd. She’s making connections with the people who are right for her business at OfficePort Chicago.
If you are in the Chicago area and want more information about OfficePort Chicago, contact Jason Goodrich at jason@officeportchi.com or on Twitter @OfficePort.
Buzz
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Great idead…A wonderful alternative to working at Starbucks! :0
Yes, that does beat working at Starbucks! I wish it had been around when I first started working from home. I missed the interaction with other people so much that I went to the post office every single day just to have someone to “talk” to. Times have changed! Now i love working at home alone. But the initial transition from a corporate office environment to the silence of a home office was really tough. This would have ben an ideal situation. I hope it’s a great success!
Cathy, I like the way you included 30 sec clips in your posts. Also, it’s a reality that finding alternative jobs for adults who have been in the workforce is a must. I believe that we have to have at least three sets of skills to remain relevant and employable in these times. Great post.
Kathy,
Nice site! I like the officePort concept. Can’t wait to check it out.
Nice article also.