NOTES FROM LORI

It’s April and 2022 is speeding ahead! We are seeing more and more people coming into the workspaces. The last 24 months have made us be cautiously optimistic about the world around us, but the energy and the excitement prove that everyone is ready to break out of our bubbles and get back to business as usual. In that vein, we are BACK to hosting our in-person networking groups this month. Join us on April 7 for Connect Networking and Pizza Lunch at Park OffiCenter. For those of you who want to head East, our Slice of Woodbury Pizza Networking will be held on April 19 and that always promises a great group. It's time to get out, challenge ourselves, meet the newest members in our community and reconnect face-to-face with some familiar faces, as well. I know that I will be there to welcome all of you back into the workspaces. The weather is getting better, so it is easier to get out for a beautiful drive.

Although the workspaces are getting busier, we are still facing challenges. Our team is spread thin as we have been plagued with several staff medical issues. If you know of anyone who may want to join our Work Awesome Team, please let us know. We're looking for candidates with excellent communication and customer service skills. But, our number one priority: someone who loves working with our members.

We are getting inquiries and new members at breakneck speed as the hybrid work phenomenon is impacting virtually every business throughout the world. Post pandemic, there has been a shift in attitudes towards work and our business model is helping to create positive change. People can now work at home or in a flex workspace, with just an occasional visit to corporate headquarters. This shift is better for our members, for business and even the planet. Let’s all get out and spread the word about our Work Awesome Community. Other businesses in the Twin Cities need the biggest and best thing we offer: FLEXIBILITY. OffiCenters continues to offer the most flexible and affordable workspace solutions in our market. Thanks for being our number one cheerleaders! I hope to see this month in the workspaces. Happy Spring!
Awesome Foursome is our new monthly feature where we highlight 4 members that we think have something AWESOME to share with our community. Every month we will feature an awesome READ, WATCH, LISTEN and EATS recommended our Work Awesome members. Whether you've written a book or read a good one, made a video or appeared on television, created your own podcast or have a band you think we should hear, opened a new restaurant or even want to share your favorite local place to eat, we want to know! Send your suggestions to news@officenters.com and we will get in touch with you for more information. In the meantime, enjoy our first OffiCenters Awesome Foursome!
J. Allen, Park Member, is the founding partner of Masters Alliance Consultancy, LLC. His book, Bucketheads, answers the question, “What are you missing?” Take the bucket off your head and read this book which explores how to connect with game-changing opportunities. READ HERE
Amy Lokken, Union Plaza Member and Müd Modular Founder, shares a quick video on making an impact at trade shows and how it relates to your day-to-day business. Thinking differently about your space can help you make an impact that gets you noticed. WATCH HERE
Eric Brooker, new Woodbury Member, runs mergers and acquisitions for Bluewave. His “side hustle” podcast started 18 months ago focusing on culture and leadership. Counsel Culture guests have included the CEO of Chipotle, the founder of Reebok, as well as countless NY Times best-selling authors. LISTEN HERE
Jeff Brown, France Member, has done it again! Oakdale Burrow, his newest restaurant in the east metro, features artisan food, craft drinks and plenty of shenanigans. Axe throwing, min-golf, bocce, darts and more. Adult focused but family friendly, The Burrow promises to be fun and delicious for everyone. EAT HERE
87 Buy Homes
218 The Brand LLC
A+ Maintenance Services LLC
Accelerated Cloud Solutions
Almr Enterprises
Anchor North Realty
Badriya Care Company
Belt line Logistics
Ben Blazovich
Bluewave
Borgos Insurance Agency LLC
Chad and Rem LLC
Colour Pop
Currys Investors Group LLC
Day & Night Home Care Corporation
Ginger Jo Group
Handy Bikes Retail Store
Honey Jewel Boutique
Intentional Wellness Counseling
Knight Lites Foundation
Mindful Nature
Oz Home and Garden
PA Bilingual Communication Services
Patriotic ID
Profyle Travel
Quitas Eats
Rayhan Logisitics LLC
ReEnvoy Inc.
Saleem Bay LLC
Shari Bonneau
Softar
The Chatman Group
The Meta Counsel
The Riggs Janitorial Services LLC
ValueBase Consulting
19 Years
Business Law Center
15 Years
Dolan Mediation
12 Years
Shingle Creek Construction, Inc.
9 Years
Carlson Law Office
EMRA Alert
PEK Accounting
Soderberg Law Firm
8 Years
Advocare
Zaylore Stout
7 Years
Hunter Martin Law Office
6 Years
Carma Labs
Charles Good
The Retirement Asset Management Group
True Gravity
5 Years
Vilendrer Law
Celebrating OCTeam Awesome

Before there was an Administrative Professionals Day, there was a National Secretaries Day, created in 1952. We’ve come a long way since then with more than 3 million Admin Professionals currently in the U.S. workforce (Source: U.S. Depart. of Labor, 2020). While its moniker has changed, the purpose of Administrative Professionals Day remains the same: celebrate and shed light on the many contributions of these devoted and valued employees. At OffiCenters, we have some of the very best in the business that proved to be instrumental in keeping OC open every day during the pandemic to support our members and their businesses. They tackled new challenges with grace under pressure while helping our community stay connected and engaged. To our entire amazing Work Awesome Team, who positively contributes and dedicates themselves to the administrative profession, we recognize what you do on a day-to day basis that others can't. We honor and salute you! Stop in on April 27 (Administrative Professional's Day) or anytime this month and thank your OffiCenter staff for their hard work and dedication.
France Member, Mike Anderson Shares Important HealthCare News

Mike Anderson, Anderson Benefit Partners, helps individuals, families and employers navigate their insurance options. He also has a wealth of knowledge in the industry and is sharing some of that with our readers pertaining to the rising cost of prescription drugs. Something that we all have experienced, especially over the past 2 years.
As the cost of health care continues to rise for individuals, families and employers, unique ways to save and lower costs are welcome. Did you know that you can search for drug coupons through sources like intelligentrx.com and goodrx.com to instantly find savings on your prescription drugs? These prescription aggregators provide access to various Pharmacy Benefit Managers saving up to 85% off the cash value price and show you where the lowest cost pharmacy is to fill your prescription. Many times, these aggregators can provide a lower cost than your health insurance plan. It is important to note that when you fill with a coupon, your costs do not contribute towards your health plan deductible or out of pocket. Best of all, the prescription aggregators are free to use and are a great tool to benchmark the cost of a new drug. This ultimately gives you more control in your health care spending.
Justice 4 Katie, is holding their second Kicks4Katie Kickball Tournament on April 9 at SRO in Oak Grove, MN. Due to COVID-19, this event has been two years in the making and is back bigger than ever. Aside from fun on the field, they'll also be raffles, silent auction, a dj, food and more! We hope to see you out there Kicking Grass & Taking Names. REGISTER HERE

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and your support can help eliminate preventable deaths and injuries on our roads! Katie Burkey was killed in 2017 when a distracted driver took her life. The driver was speeding and swerving in rush hour traffic on highway 169, his semi-truck dumper was thousands of pounds overweight, and he carelessly slammed into the back of her car, not braking at all until after impact. Justice4Katie has been involved in driving legislative change and urges all drivers to do one simple thing - ARRIVE ALIVE, JUST DRIVE!
Girls Taking Action is thrilled to be back in person for their 10th Annual Fundraiser. Attend and see for yourself how Dr. Verna Price and her inspirational team motivate, mentor, empower, engage and educate girls to succeed in school and life. As of today, GTA has impacted over 3,000 middle/high school girls throughout Minnesota, Michigan, and Georgia as well as Guatemala, Kenya and Liberia. Over the years, GTA has raised over $1 million dollars to support the program. Their girls are twice as likely to attend post-secondary education and 95% graduate from high school on time, 75% attend college. REGISTER HERE