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.

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

Member Spotlight: Amanda Tomlinson, Owner of Zest Marketplace

Everyone say “hello” to Amanda Tomlinson! Amanda is a Flex Member here at The Mill Coworking and the Owner of Zest Marketplace.

Zest Marketplace is a new fashion format that blends the concepts behind a traditional consignment store and Rent the Runway. Instead of making one commission selling an accessory at a consignment store, investors can earn multiple commissions renting their accessories over a finite or indefinite amount of time. They are building a closet full of fabulous fashion accessories that borrowers have access to on a short-term, guilt-free basis - for game day to wedding day and every occasion in between!

Be sure to check out Zest Marketplace and follow their journey as they continue to grow!

Member Spotlight: Ryan Lugabihl

Everyone say "hi" to Ryan! Ryan joined us here at The Mill a few months ago. Check out what he's got going on!⁣

Ryan Lugabihl graduated from Miami University with a degree in Psychology and focus in Adolescent Development in 2010. Since then, he has been using his undergraduate education and leadership experience to work with students and professionals primarily in the higher education industry all across the country. In 2015 he started his own company, The Catalyst Agency, managing a roster of the top speakers in the Higher Education industry operating their business and executing contracts.⁣ ⁣

Ryan lives in SouthEnd with his dog Barc Jacobs and loves to travel, cook, and brunch! When not traveling for work, he finds time to make a positive impact on the Charlotte community volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Humane Society, Leadership Charlotte, and the United Way of the Carolinas.⁣

Member Spotlight: The Penrose

Everyone say hello to our friends from The Penrose! 👋 Alex and her team have made our semi private loft at The Mill Coworking home while the construction of The Penrose is completed! 

The Penrose is a brand new apartment community off West Tremont Avenue expected to open December 2018. Featuring one and two bedroom luxury apartment homes and a wide variety of amenities.Their unique amenities will include a salt water pool, 24 hour fitness studio, club/game room, multiple courtyards with grilling stations, makerspace, rooftop lounge, bike maintenance and storage, and an onsite event planner. Did we mention that they’re doing FIRST MONTH FREE?!

If you’re in the market for a new place to call home in Charlotte, we highly recommend giving these guys a shout!

Member Spotlight: Lindsey Lay

Everyone say hello to Lindsey Lay, owner of LL Photo and one of The Mill Coworking's very first members! 👋
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Hi, I’m Lindsey - lifestyle photographer, dog mama and entrepreneur educator! I began the photography portion of my business (LL Photo) when I was 18 as a way to pay for college and express my creative side! I soon found out I’m crazy passionate about the business aspect of my business, weird for a creative right?! I decided to take the plunge and go full time after two years of building my client base and making connections with other business owners I was finally ready!
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It’s been 5 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of small business owners both one on one and through my workshops to go from surviving to THRIVING in their business! 🎉
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Last but not least, I want to introduce you to my fur babies - they are seriously the cutest, most delicious doggos ever! 😍 Misha (our black and white husky) literally showed up on our front porch back in January and joined our family! Thennnnn, a few weeks later we found out she was pregnant and she popped out 6, yes SIX fat and happy puppies a week later! Freyja is one of her puppies! Check out their IG 🐾 @chaconwolves
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Thanks so much to The Mill Coworking for featuring me, I HIGHLY recommend coming to check out their space - I love coming there both for client meetings and to hunker down and work!🤗