For the third year in a row, Coworks will sponsor the Community Manager Awards at the Global Workspace Association FlexForward conference. This year will be in Phoenix, Arizona.
And I cannot wait to stand on stage and announce the finalists — one from the US and one from an international organization.
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As with year’s past, the team at the GWA put out a call for member organizations to nominate the managers who went above and beyond.
The nomination process is tricky: is your manager a host first and foremost, who makes each member feel seen and appreciated? An operations wizard who keeps things running smoothly and handles surprises with grace and competency? Is your manager both?
It’s hard to compare, but we got to talk with each semi-finalist, and one thing stands out to me: each manager loves their community.
Sure, they could each talk about their day to day, how unpredictable their job is, and how they’ve handled crazy situations from floods to forgotten children (really!). But each person we talked to visibly lit up when talking about their community.
It’s a word we throw around with great frequency. But community is a big concept, no matter how big your member count. It's why our software is, first and foremost, a good experience for members and a delightful experience for managers — they are often the folks who log in everyday and run invoices, set up plans, update resources, create events, check on bookings and more. And it would be great if that was the only thing they had to do, but it isn’t.
These interviews are more proof they are human multi-tools, with a stretch to fit capacity that makes a community manager so integral and so important to every coworking and flex space. The community manager is often the factor that differentiates a coworking space from executive suites.
So here they are: the semi-finalists for Community Manager of Year 2024. And I know it’s cheesy to say, but they are all already winners to me. I can’t wait to meet them in person.
Her dedication to building community and her exceptional problem-solving skills have earned her this prestigious recognition. Castruita shared her journey, experiences, and insights into the world of coworking.
When Michelle Stiegler of Premier Workspaces dialed in for an interview with Chelsea Dietz, Community Manager at The Post Workspaces, the conversation was more than just a routine check-in.
Francisco Gutierrez, a semi-finalist for the Community Manager of the Year award, has spent nearly a decade as a Community Manager at IOS Offices. His career didn't start in the coworking industry.
Imagine a space where entrepreneurial dreams take flight and community thrives. At the helm of one such dynamic hub is William Hatfield, the Community Manager at The Work Well.
In the coworking world, a Community Manager is that magical element, ensuring that the space runs smoothly and members feel at home. Jen Michelik is Community Manager of Office Evolution Ann Arbor.
Jess Thomas began her career in the advertising industry. She shared how she initially connected with the world of coworking through a colleague at the agency, who happened to be the wife of Ben Von Drehle, the founder of The Root Coworking.
Blaize Randell's journey to becoming a community manager at Fractal Workspace in Kingston, Ontario, is a testament to her diverse professional background and her passion for people.
Tune into a fascinating discussion as Sandra Sierra, Community Manager of Tinkko Coworking & Flex Office, shared her journey and experiences in the coworking industry.
The world of coworking is where flexibility and community converge. And in this world, one individual stands out for her exceptional dedication and warmth: Shelly Wahl, the Community Manager at Office Evolution in Golden, Colorado.
Meet Chelsea Dietz, Community Manager at The Post Workspaces and a Global Workspace Association Nominee for Community Manager of the Year 2024.
Meet Shelly Wahl, community manager at Office Evolution and a Global Workspace Association Nominee for Community Manager of the Year 2024.
Meet Jessica Thomas, community manager at The Root Coworking and a Global Workspace Association Nominee for Community Manager of the Year 2024.
