Looking to check us out? Get a FREE First-Timer Day Pass in December

Working from home starts out okay but over time, it leads to a very monotonous day-to-day. That’s before you even start to think through all of the things that distract you throughout the day.

If you’ve been thinking about checking out a coworking space, December is your month to do it here at The Mill Coworking. We’re offering FREE Day Passes for first-timers to check out any of our Memberships for the day. We have Dedicated Desks available where you can have you very own space to spread out or a private office where you can claim a whole space as your own! Whatever type of space you’re interested in working in, we have it.

How to claim your FREE Day Pass for December:

1. Click HERE to get to our Day Pass page
   

2. If you aren’t already Registered with an account, it’s free. Simply click “Register Now”
   

3. Enter the Discount Code “FREEPASS” and then click Activate Membership

If you have any questions at all, just Contact Us HERE.

Member Spotlight: Assaf Weinberg

It’s time for our #MemberSpotlight! This month we’re excited to introduce you to Assaf Weinberg. Assaf joined us here at The Mill Coworking a couple months back and has been hard at work ever since.

Assaf is a software engineer working remotely for StackRox, a Silicon Valley based startup. StackRox develops an information security platform for cloud native applications - or as Assaf calls it, "computer stuff". He was recently given the opportunity to open a new office in Charlotte and chose The Mill as a perfect spot for the new team.

Assaf has been doing "computer stuff" professionally for over 20 years, most recently  founding and managing the Design practice at Levvel, a national IT consulting firm serving  F100 companies. While he's spent the past 5 years in big company consulting, he's a startup guy at heart. He's founded several early stage startups in the travel and political space, serving as CTO of DC based Ruck.us and UI/Product lead for NYC based Routehappy (Sold to ATPCO).

Assaf enjoys sharing his knowledge and mentoring young developers. He designed the curriculum for Tech Talent South's 60 lecture-hour JavaScript course and taught it to the inaugural class. If you're interested in learning JavaScript, just ask him!

He got his bachelor's from Bucknell University with dual majors in Computer Science and Economics. That was a long time ago, but he's still interested in the intersection of technology, economics, and society. Bring up any of those topics and you'll find yourself talking  philosophy in no time. He's interested in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and the future of energy distribution. He even once created and launched a rogue Tesla shopping website as a weekend project.

When he's not working, reading, listening to podcasts, or otherwise learning about his latest topical obsession, you'll find him biking the rail trail with his two boys (6 and 10) or writing applications together. Check out this Roblox app designed by his 10 year old - https://roblox-shirt.now.sh/about.

Feature Friday: Camp North End

It’s officially February and we’re putting a twist on feature friday and going outside the neighborhood. This week we’re talking about a little hidden gem placed perfectly in the middle of Charlotte’s major neighborhoods, Camp North End.

Photo: Brittany Pilz

This 76-acre historical site known for once making army missiles and Model Ts is now home to 31 different tenants from art galleries to coffee shops. The moment you step out of the car you realize you’re somewhere special. Once you’re done gazing up at the giant water tower, the old warehouses immediately catch your eye, covered in bright, incredible murals. Fire pits and plenty of seating are scattered throughout the Boileryard (including 2 giant tire swings!).

Photo: Brittany Pilz

Photo: Brittany Pilz

Camp North End really knows how to put on some great events as well. Head out to the Boileryard on Friday nights (March-October) for live music, drinks from NoDa Canteen, and a great time with friends. The first Saturday of each month (March-October) you can also head to Morning Markets from 9am-1pm. Besides the steady events, you can check out their event calendar for tons of different ideas for a night out. Think anything from food classes to art galleries (rumor has it that Paint Along with Bob Ross will be back for Valentines Day this year).

Photo: Brittany Pilz

Photo: Brittany Pilz

If you’re looking to step out of South End for a bit and have a truly unique experience, we highly recommend planning a night in the Boileryard! March can’t get here quick enough.

Photo: Brittany Pilz

Member Spotlight: Jameka Whitten

It’s time for our #MemberSpotlight! This week we’re excited to introduce you to one of the very first people to tour The Mill Coworking & start their journey with us, Jameka Whitten!

 Jameka S. Whitten owns and operates JSW Media Group, a boutique brand management and public relations firm focused on the entertainment, fashion, music and publishing fields. JSW Media Group is headquartered in Charlotte, NC with satellite offices in Atlanta, DC and New York City. JSW Media Group current and former clients include professional athletes, celebrities, Emmy and Grammy Award winning music artists, well known charitable organizations and other community groups. JSW Media clients have been seen in a wide variety of local, regional and national media platforms including Essence Magazine, Heart & Soul Magazine, Redbook, TV One, VH1 and Black Enterprise.

Prior to working at JSW Media Group full time, Jameka served as the Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director for SOTAC (State of the Arts & Culture) Magazine and worked in digital media and events at ESPN, Inc. Jameka is also a lifestyle blogger and freelance writer with 18+ years of experience.

 In addition to owning JSW Media Group and serving as CEO, Jameka was the National Communications Director for The Red Pump Project®, a national nonprofit that educates women and girls of color about HIV for close to 10 years.

Because of her efforts as a member of Team Red Pump since its inception in 2009, Jameka received the 2015 Red Ribbon Leadership Award from Regional AIDS Interfaith Network for leadership and service in Charlotte’s HIV/AIDS community. Another notable honor includes being named one of the “Emerging Leaders” in the 2017 Edition of Who’s Who in Black Charlotte.

She holds a bachelor’s in Communication Studies with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University and a master’s in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix. She is the vice president of the Northwestern University Alumni Club of Charlotte, president of the National Association of Black Women in Music and Entertainment’s Charlotte chapter, and a member of Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists, an affiliate chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Believe it or not, Jameka is afforded spare time occasionally. And she uses every second wisely by catching up on a good book, writing or investing her time back into the community. She is committed to philanthropic causes and esteems the idea of making a significant difference in the lives of others. She is an avid coffee drinker who believes that a night out on the town is not complete without a properly chilled bottle of champagne on the ready.

Photo by Joshua Galloway

Feature Friday: Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

Happy Feature Friday, guys! This week we’re excited to be featuring one of our favorite breweries in South End, Lenny Boy Brewing Company. We had the pleasure of talking to Nathan Villaume, owner of Lenny Boy Brewing, about why they chose South End for their location, what inspires them, and so much more.

Photo provided by Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

Located on S. Tryon St, Lenny Boy Brewing Co. is known for their delicious array of drinks like kombucha, sours, wild ales, and of course, good ol fashion beer. However, Nathan filled us in on some history and we discovered that their first retail location was opened on Hawkins St. back in 2012. “At that point, - we looked at various properties around town and settled on South End because of real estate trends and the culture we were beginning to see built out within the community. In 2016, we had to make another real estate decision. We settled on to 3000 South Tryon in South End. We choose to stay in South End for the exact same reasons -  the young, uplifting vibe in the community, the growing population, and we didn't want to move away from our awesome local customers.”

Photo provided by Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

The culture you find at Lenny Boy is one that is hard to beat. On top of delicious drinks and food, Lenny Boy Brewing constantly has something exciting going on in the Taproom. Check out some of their can releases or even their live music. Looking for something to do weekly? Try out their yoga on Saturday or their trivia on Wednesdays. The Hunter’s Wife food truck is also on site most days of the week if you’re feeling hungry! One of our personal favorite things about Lenny Boy is the viewing windows they have that allow you to get a sneak peek at their hard work in action.

Photo provided by Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

One of our favorite questions to ask our neighbors is what inspires them. When we asked Nathan he responded, “seeing a new customer or Lenny Boy regular smile after sipping on one of our beverages. Or that moment when you overhear someone say "Holy crap, their kombucha is awesome" or "Citraphilia is my go to local IPA" - that is where the magic happens for us. These sights and sounds play a huge role in staying motivated every day - and make even better products.  Our team is able to walk into work each day ready and inspired to build a brand known for our high-quality beverages.” Nathan continued on stating, “we could not be more proud to be a part of the growing South End community. We are truly thankful for the continued support we receive from people in our community. Lenny Boy has steadily grown each year since 2011 - all thanks to the support of people in our community. We look forward to seeing more new faces at the Taproom as the South End community continues to grow.”

Photo provided by Lenny Boy Brewing Co.

If you aren’t already looking at your calendar to see when you have time to stop by and say hi to our friends at Lenny Boy, we highly suggest getting on that! ;)

5 Ways to Better Your Business with Coworking

January is one of our favorite months! It’s the start of a new year which means new goals to crush and new ideas to bring to life. Ultimately, everyone’s goal is to do or be better at something which is why today we’re talking about 5 ways joining a coworking space can better your business for the new year!

• Cost effective

As a business owner, you know how tough it is to protect your overhead. For many, your biggest expense is likely your office. That’s where coworking comes into play! Coworking opens the door to flexible memberships for each members needs along with tons of included amenities. With coworking, some of your biggest expenses are already included in your monthly membership fees. No more worrying about footing the bill for WiFi, electricity, parking, printing, meeting space, or even coffee! What could be better than everything being packaged up into one price?!

• Motivation

Everyone is at least somewhat competitive, right? We’re all just trying to make sure that we’re keeping up with the next big move. That being said, nothing is more motivational than being surrounded by a room of like-minded individuals. Consider it a little positive peer pressure. You will find yourself wanting to keep up with the pace of your peers, ultimately making sure that you’re staying on track to achieve your goals.

• Networking Opportunities

For many, networking is one of their biggest challenges. This can be due to a multitude of things, such as not being able to find the time or even having anxiety towards being around lots of new people. Networking becomes so much easier when you join a coworking space. You’re immersed into a community of people that are all after the same thing you are- success! Even better, they’re even here to help cheer you on. Find support from people you may never even have had the opportunity to encounter.

• Healthy Work-Life Balance

It can be difficult to separate work and home when you work where you live. With coworking experience the feeling of balance again by having a space dedicated solely to work and a place dedicated to relaxing! Crush your to-do list and head home knowing that your desk will be ready and waiting for you when you’re ready to get back at it!

• The Next Big Idea

One of the coolest part of being a member of a coworking community is seeing all your peers ideas coming to life. This helps light a fire inside yourself to achieve all your goals as well. You never know, seeing how your peers tackled adversity with a new challenge could help you find the answer to tackling yours! This also comes into play with the expansion of your network. Maybe one of your fellow members is also your next business partner?

Statistics show that 50% of large companies will be utilizing some form of shared workspace by 2020. What are you waiting for? Start your year off strong and watch your business flourish! For more information on a membership at The Mill Coworking, head here! https://www.themillcoworking.com