DAVIS COWORKING
Updates
&
Events
Next Women in Business Networking event on April 22!
Hey there!
Are you a female entrepreneur looking to connect with other like-minded businesswomen in your community? If so, mark your calendars for our next Women Entrepreneurs Networking Event on Saturday, April 22nd at 3PM!
This event is taking place at the Davis Coworking space located at 720 Olive Drive, Davis. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet and mingle with other female entrepreneurs and build meaningful relationships with other women who understand the challenges of running a business.
There will be plenty of time for networking, sharing ideas, and learning from each other. Plus, you'll get to experience the cozy and inviting atmosphere of Davis Coworking.
Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to connect with other women entrepreneurs in your community! We hope to see you there.
Second Women in Business Networking Event
I am pleased to invite you to our second Women in Business Networking Event, taking place on Thursday February 16, 5:30-7:30Pm at Davis Coworking, 720 Olive Drive, Davis. This event is designed to bring together like-minded women in business to connect, share ideas and build relationships that can lead to valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Elissa Kennedy will be leading a workshop to help create a vision for a phenomenal 2023. This promises to be an inspiring and informative session that will give you a fresh perspective on your business venture.
Throughout the evening, there will be opportunities to network with other attendees, exchange ideas and learn more about each other's businesses. Whether you're just starting out or you're an established entrepreneur, this event is for you.
Please RSVP by this Monday to secure your spot. We look forward to seeing you there!
Best regards,
~Do
P.S. Don't forget to bring business cards to share with other attendees!
Sisterhood Community Wellness Network Launch Party
Owning or starting a business can sometimes be a lonely endeavor, and make you wonder if you are the only one who experiences the struggles that come with creating something new. This can be especially salient for women in business.
It doesn’t have to feel that way, you are not alone! Do you want to learn from other women who have built and are building local businesses? Whether you manage a company, own your own business, have an idea for a start-up, or are self-employed, this community is for you!
On Thursday December 8 from 6-7:30PM we are hosting the launch party of Sisterhood Community Wellness Network, a business network for women in Davis and the surrounding area. This network will organize exciting and recurring events to help encourage female business leaders to create and share their best work.
Who are we?
Elissa Kennedy is a ICF Certified Holistic Wellness, Mindset and Mental Fitness Coach. She supports women to discover how to awaken their visionary mindset, connect to their true self, and take focused action.
Do Tromp, PhD is the owner of Davis Coworking, the sponsor of this launch event. Davis Coworking has two locations in Davis and offers shared workspaces that include floating and dedicated desks, meeting rooms, and other facilities that support productivity.
When: December 8th, 6-7:30 pm
Where: Davis Coworking @ Olive, 720 Olive Drive, Suite D1, Davis CA 95616
What: Launch party and mixer with snacks and beverages
Cost: Free!
Everyone with a ticket will be entered into a drawing for prizes!
Celebrating the Opening of Davis Coworking @ Olive
We are thrilled to announce the opening of our newest coworking space, Davis Coworking @ Olive, on November 7th, 2022. Our latest addition to the Davis Coworking family offers a modern and inspiring work environment for professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. In this blog post, we'll give you a sneak peek into what you can expect at our new location and invite you to join us for the grand opening celebration.
1. A Modern and Inspiring Workspace
Located at 720 Olive Drive, our new coworking space features a contemporary design, ergonomic furniture, and state-of-the-art amenities. We've carefully curated the space to inspire creativity, boost productivity, and foster collaboration among our members. With a variety of flexible workspace options, including floating desks, dedicated desks, and meeting rooms, Davis Coworking @ Olive caters to diverse needs and work styles.
2. All-Inclusive Amenities
At Davis Coworking @ Olive, you'll enjoy access to top-notch amenities designed to support your work and help you thrive. Our members can take advantage of privacy booths, standing desks, monitors, lounge areas, fridges, coffee, tea, filtered water, Wi-Fi, free parking, and color laser printing. In addition, our meeting rooms are equipped with large screens, HDMI cable/Airplay/Chromecast, and whiteboards to facilitate seamless presentations and brainstorming sessions.
3. Commitment to Community
Our mission at Davis Coworking is to create a supportive and collaborative environment that fosters growth, innovation, and success. With the opening of our new location, we are excited to expand our community and welcome new members who share our values and aspirations.
Conclusion
The opening of Davis Coworking @ Olive on November 7th, 2022, marks an exciting new chapter in our journey. We're looking forward to welcoming you to our inspiring new workspace and celebrating this milestone together. Discover how Davis Coworking @ Olive can elevate your work experience and help you achieve your goals.
Davis Coworking at University Mall moving to Olive Drive on Nov 7, 2022
I am sad to share that Davis Coworking is closing the original location at University mall due to the planned remodel of the mall. I received notice from Brixmor, the owners of the University Mall building, that Davis Coworking has to move out early November. This means that Davis Coworking at University Mall will close permanently on Thursday night November 3rd! Much much sooner than expected 😪.
However, I am grateful that I can also share that I signed the lease to a new location at 720 Olive Drive (just a minute south of downtown Davis, and right off of highway 80). So if everything goes to plan, on Monday morning November 7th Davis Coworking @ Olive will open and have all the amenities that are currently available at Davis Coworking at U-mall (plus a coworking bike you can borrow to grab some lunch downtown). This new location is right by Dutch Bros Coffee, Rocknasium and the Smart Axe Davis. If you haven’t been at The Smart Axe yet, they have excellent beers by Movement Brewing Company from Sacramento.
With this news comes the reminder that day passes are available again, and going forward all day pass holders will be able to use their passes at any location they choose. As always, just make sure to sign in. If you have questions about how to get started with day passes, don't hesitate to reach out. I am more than happy to help.
Furthermore, Davis Coworking @ International House now offers dedicated desks, in addition to the existing memberships for floating desks, meeting rooms and day passes. Dedicated desk are a great option if you like your own spot, or if you would like to have private access to your monitor.
All together this has been sad but also exciting news, and I look forward to organizing events at both DC@Olive and DC@I-House!
As always feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Pizza & Beers at Davis Coworking
Thursday September 29! Drop by and say hi, there will be pizza and beer. Current members, former members, potential member are all welcome!
Thursday, September 29, 2022
4:30 PM 6:30 PM
Davis Coworking at U-Mall (map)
Meet up with new and “old” coworking members. Join us for pizza and beers at Davis Coworking (U-mall location) on September 29 starting at 4:30pm.
No need to bring anything, unless you want to share your favorite beverage. You can let me know if you’ll be joining or you can just drop by.
Davis Coworking at I-House open house!
On Friday, July 23 we will host an open house together with the International House to celebrate the expansion of Davis Coworking and the reopening of I-House’s amazing event spaces. Everyone is welcome to attend.
As you may have heard, Davis Coworking has opened a second coworking space at the International House in Davis! This basement addition features a main room with 18 shared workspaces and a conference room that seats 8. The new space is located right by UC Davis main campus and close to downtown Davis.
When: Friday, July 23, 2021, 5-9PM
Where: International House, 10 College Park, Davis CA 95616.
It promises to be a great event with the Comunidad portrait exhibit by Stephanie Thayer, music, and there will be snacks as well!
Pre-registration is encouraged due to Covid-19!
Despite the false start of the previous expansion, I feel incredibly thankful for how Davis Coworking has survived the pandemic and is now, in collaboration with the I-House, able to continue to grow. This would not have been possible without the incredible support of so many members throughout the past year!
I hope to see you all at the opening!
~ Do Tromp
Owner Davis Coworking
Davis Coworking opening new location at the International House!
Exciting news! Davis Coworking is opening up a second coworking space at the International House in Davis!
This new space will provide 18 affordable coworking spaces that come with fair use access to a conference room, WIFI, 24/7 access, printer, kitchenette and outdoor patio. All included with a monthly membership.
The new space is only a 6 minute walk from UC Davis campus, and a 5 minute bike ride from downtown Davis. Contact us now to book a tour!
Furthermore, this collaboration with the I-House provides great opportunities for Davis Coworking members to organize events in the beautiful event spaces of the I-House as well. For more information contact I-House at https://internationalhousedavis.org.
We can only celebrate as more and more signs point to the retreat of COVID in our area. Davis Coworking and the International House have been waiting to go ahead on this project, until we felt it would be safe for members to start sharing a space again. Given the current vaccination rates and the drop in COVID levels, it seems like that time is here.
That doesn’t mean caution can go in the wind, Davis Coworking still encourages wearing a mask as much as possible, vaccinations when eligible and general respect for fellow members.
For now, join me in the cautious optimism that comes with a new start and virtually celebrate the opening of the new Davis Coworking space at I-House!
Embrace the freedom and flexibility of our Floating Desks at Davis Coworking @ International House. Perfect for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and professionals who desire a dynamic work environment, our floating desks provide access to various workspaces and resources to support your productivity and creativity.
With a Floating Desk, you'll enjoy:
1. Access to shared desk spaces, allowing you to choose the perfect spot each time you work, depending on your needs and preferences.
2. 24/7 access to Davis Coworking @ I-House, 10 College Park, Davis, offering the flexibility to work according to your schedule, just minutes from the UC Davis Campus.
3. Access to an outside patio and standing desks, ensuring a variety of workspaces to suit your needs.
4. Monitor availability, improving your work efficiency and comfort.
5. Access to our lounge area, fridge, coffee, and tea, keeping you refreshed and energized throughout the day.
6. High-speed Wi-Fi to support your work and communication needs.
7. Free parking for a hassle-free experience.
8. Laser printing for all your document needs.
9. Fair use access to conference room, perfect for meetings and group discussions.
10. Option to invite guests to join for meetings in the conference rooms.
11. Optional storage cubby for $5/month, providing a space for your belongings.
Your Floating Desk membership will automatically renew every month, and you can manage your subscription under "My Account" when you sign in. We'll send you access information after we receive a purchase confirmation.
Experience the freedom and flexibility of Floating Desks at Davis Coworking @ I-House. Enhance your productivity in a dynamic, professional workspace that adapts to your ever-changing needs.
Update on what I have been up to…
When I started Davis Coworking last year, my eyes were opened to all the amazing small business owners in Davis. I was immediately struck by the heart that many of them have put in their business. You can tell how these owners truly care about their clients, their products, and take personal pride in being a good community member.
Then, as the pandemic shut everything down, I wanted to do something that had been brewing in the back of my mind. I wanted to gather all the online resources that I found to build my business and share them with others. So I started the development of start-a.business, a website and iOS app with curated resource and step-by-step actions that aim to help anyone get their business idea off the ground on a shoestring budget. By leveraging these tools individuals minimize the startup capital necessary to build their business (thus reducing debt and personal risk). Furthermore, by using the app people can make an informed decision on the risks and rewards of starting a business, thus empowering inexperienced entrepreneurs to build a solid base for their business.
To explain my reasoning further I wrote a Medium post: In Support of Creating a Small Business. It discusses how upward mobility is fundamental to the American dream yet for many is out of reach. That is why I asked; can the creation of a small business help bridge that gap?
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, and feel free contact me if you would like to know more or have tips!
~Do Tromp
Owner Davis Coworking
Member Spotlight: Mike Prachar
Member Spotlight: Mike Prachar
Mike Prachar is the Chief Operations Officer at Big Green IT, a Cloud Services company located in Rocklin, CA. Mike started out his career in telecommunications on the sales side, eventually moving into technical and operations. With a further shift in stride in 2010, Mike focused his career on IT, specifically cloud computing, and joined Big Green IT in 2015 with the purpose of building a first-class Microsoft cloud practice.
Big Green IT is a California-based professional services IT organization. They work with clients to choose and deploy the best technology solutions. With their expertise, Big Green IT has helped hundreds of companies shift from purely on-premise systems to Office 365, Microsoft 365 and the Azure Cloud.
What sets Big Green IT apart from other IT companies?
Generally, I think it’s the amount of time and effort that Big Green IT puts into understanding how our customers do their business, and finding solutions that are not just specifically good for their business, but also trying to design solutions that make the most sense for any given client of ours.
Note: Just a quick look on their website revealed how great their client service is! Listen to Jeff’s Philosophy on Business on their Career Page to hear about Big Green IT’s emphasis on providing the best customer support.
What business tips do you have for those just getting started?
Be smart. In my opinion, when you are just getting started, that’s the time where you have to be the most impressive with your clients and/or supervisor— this your time to make the best impression. I think it’s important to take the time out, in whatever you are doing, to do it right and do it better than everybody else. Whatever it is, from flipping burgers to designing integrated circuits, just do it well, do it right, and do it better than anyone else can.
What do you love most or find most rewarding about your job?
The most rewarding part for me is actually the back-end stuff that nobody sees. It’s creating systems, automating processes, building something in such a way that, when I’m done, there's an easier, faster, and more accurate way to accomplish tasks that somebody used to have to do by hand. Sometimes, it’s even simpler than that; sometimes the “easy” stuff is rewarding too. It’s kind of like the work equivalent of washing dishes— when you’re done, the stuff on the left-hand side of the sink is now on the right-hand side of the sink, and it makes you feel like you accomplished something. And finally, one of the most rewarding goals we strive for is realizing business goals for our clients that make our customers’ experience better, especially when we are able to provide just the right results, exactly when the customer needs them or before they even have to ask.
What inspired you to get involved in your line work?
I used to be in telecommunications. My main designated role running the organization, was operations, and there were often times when I needed to do stuff with computers. A lot of different tasks would bubble up to me because we didn’t have anyone that was officially trained do it. So, I would just learn how to do it. And over time, those efforts trained me; showed me what could be done, and what was out there, and I found it all interesting. As voice minutes, and people having top pay for phone calls, started to go away, I knew it was time to start doing something different. I recognized that I enjoyed this back-end side of the business and it kind of evolved into everything that I do today.
How has Big Green IT been dealing with the pandemic and do you have any stories or struggles that have occurred amidst our shelter in place?
From our company’s perspective, all of the infrastructure to work remotely has been in place for years; because of the information technology industry that we’re in. However, we do miss out on face-to-face customer interaction. While we’re doing just fine, that whole piece of the sales mechanism is just broken. We can get it done of course, but it’s missing the extra human touch. But other than that, everything has been really fine. A lot of the tools people use [to work from home] has been out there forever and has been slowly gaining traction. Now, suddenly, everyone’s started using it. I mean, everybody’s grandma knows what Zoom is now. So, the need for what we do has only gone up, because we design and deploy those solutions. The business that we do has been dramatically accelerated by COVID-19. Microsoft is our primary cloud solution, and we’ve had tons of forward progress in the past two months. As a rule, what we do in our daily work, is only in more demand than it was prior to the pandemic.
What we are concerned about, a concern that is very real but keeps getting delayed by stimulus packages and other things, is when clients start being unable to pay us. A big part of our business model involves us extending services to client. And we have to pay for those services regardless of whether or not the customer pays us. We've been very fortunate so far that none of our clients have gone under, and there are a lot of businesses that look like they're going to be in the right line of work to survive. However, some of them may not come out of this at all. In another few months down the road we could be hit with a big wave of bad debt.
How have you been adjusting to working at home now?
For me, I've been working from home for over 20 years, sometimes more and sometimes less, but I developed the work ethic, patterns, and routines I need in order to be effective at that a long time ago. So personally, it’s been great. I’ve been getting all kinds of stuff done. I enjoy this much more than a 3-hour commute and sitting in meetings. Often, travelling for a one-hour customer meeting could derail my productivity for the entire day.
Do you have tips for those that struggle to work at home?
Everybody’s got their own routine. Some people dress nicer on work days than they normally would to just hang around the house. I learned pretty early on that getting up in the morning and taking a shower as if I was driving to the office, and not sitting in my pajamas at my desk all day, just because I could, was my ticket to being productive from home. It’s been hugely helpful to me to do the whole nine yards every morning. It’s the rhythms and patterns, all the same things that make people more efficient and productive in their daily lives regardless of whether they're at home or commuting somewhere.
Another important thing, I think, is to invest in your workspace. Whether investing means spending an afternoon just moving furniture around or actually buying specialized furniture (it depends on what your work consists of). Having a workspace that is work-oriented helps greatly. And, depending on what your home environment is like, you may need some sort of isolation to help others understand that that space, whatever it is, is your work environment. My kids are old enough now that it’s no longer an issue, but I remember working from home when they were younger. Little kids don’t really understand how to respect work boundaries very well, or if they do understand it, they know a great button to push when they want ALL their parent’s attention is to completely ignore those boundaries. If you can make it happen, I strongly recommend an office door you can close!
Why did you decide to go to start coworking?
When I was doing this 20 years ago, coworking places didn’t really exist. Working in coffee shops doesn’t really work when you need to communicate professionally with other people. Many times, you’ll need a more professional environment like Davis Coworking. For plenty of people, that could be how they choose to invest in their workspace. At Big Green, we have a handful of workers that are nearly 100 miles apart, and Davis Coworking has been the perfect compromise between driving all the way into the office and just having video calls.
What do you enjoy most about working in Davis Coworking?
About a year ago, we started trying different places to have an offsite meeting where Jeff [CEO of Big Green IT] and I could meet outside the distractions of the office to get some focused work done. I must have tried a dozen places, from big expensive conference room facilities, all the way down to small coffee shops with an extra room. Many coworking spaces have an open design. Those can be very economical and are just fine for working with headphones on. But, if you need to communicate with another person in the same space as you, it's uncomfortable and can be disruptive to everyone around you. Davis Coworking’s facility turned out to be perfect because it’s got two actual conference rooms with doors where we can speak freely. The monthly subscription model also works well for us and it's almost exactly right in the middle [location-wise] between Jeff and I. So it turned out to be awesome!
Contact information
If you would like to contact Mike about his work or are interested in Big Green IT, check out their website at biggreenit.com or contact their company at (916) 787-3223.
Or you can find Mike on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mikeprachar!