NOTES FROM LORI

Today is the 40th Anniversary of OffiCenters. It is amazing to think about all that has transpired through the years. I reflect on the members who have passed through our doors and I’ve tried to “guess-timate" how many that might be. Pulling records from the computer billings are easy but what about the times we did things manually? My guess is that thousands of people have started up, wound down, overloaded and, in general, Worked Awesome here in our work spaces. I think of the team members who are here now and the ones who have been part of our growth and our story. A few memories make me tear up. I am so grateful for the good work and years of service given to me over the past four decades. OMG, I feel ancient!

The early years were exciting and fast paced. We spent our days typing, faxing and making coffee. The workspaces have changed so much. I feel like that familiar cigarette jingle that says, You’ve Come A Long Way Baby! Today we book rooms, answer phones and make coffee. I guess that’s about the only thing that hasn’t changed. We still provide the FUEL (coffee) that runs the office. It’s essential.

This month we welcome more new full-time members, more new coworking members and even new team members. And, will hold our first in-person event this week, Park CONNECT Monthly Networking at our St. Louis Park location. It has been well over a year since we have welcomed this group into our space. I hope to see you there as I reminisce about our 40 years of office service to our community and beyond. I promise, we'll have a great celebration in August (during coworking month) to mark this milestone event.

Forty years is quite an accomplishment! Times change. People change. Our spaces change. The only constant is the feeling I have when I look at the services we provide to our members, and that is PRIDE. I am so proud of the work we have done. I am so proud of my team today, and all the team members throughout the years without whom 40 years could never be achieved. This place, created to do your best work, is my home and everyone here like a family member. I know that it is cheesy to say, but for me it is reality. The truth is I still love what I do. Another truth is that I know there are more years behind me than ahead of me. I plan to make the rest of my years at OffiCenters, the best of my years at OffiCenters. I hope to see many of you at 9:00AM this Thursday morning for a networking to remember. Cheers to 40 years!
Amy Lokken of Mud Modular is much more than a visual brand expert. She's an inventor, designer, speaker, Union Plaza Member and now, a 2X award winner for her work on The Advisors (Season 1), streaming on the Notoriety Network. In each episode, entrepreneurs are given the unprecedented chance to receive real-world solutions from top experts whose only motive is your success. Read more about the awards Amy received and get a link to watch The Advisers, now in its second season HERE.
Tim Voit, Woodbury Member, has been named the Minnesota Area Director for Center Sphere, a business networking group providing a network of local support for businesses through trusted, proven and profitable relationship building. Both independent as well as chapter memberships are offered with Tim being your "Go to Guy" to ensure your time in The Network is a success. For more information on Center Sphere contact Tim Voit: timvoit@centersphere.com or visit their website: https://www.centersphere.com.
Ryan Shiek, CoWorking Member at our Edina location said, “After a year of my spouse and me working from home, coupled with intermittent school and daycare closures, I needed to find a workspace out of our home. I was initially interested in OffiCenters based on the pricing and flexibility. Now that I've been here a month, I have been impressed with the great work space, attentive staff, and respectfulness of my fellow "officemates." OffiCenters has provided me an environment to be more productive as well as a sense of normalcy in this pandemic.” Thanks for the kind words, Ryan. Work Awesome!
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LIVE From OffiCenters, IT'S IN PERSON NETWORKING!
That's right! A true sign that things are beginning to return to normal is going back to in person networking. We're beyond thrilled to be able to host our two most popular monthly networking groups in person AND in our spaces. It's been a long time coming! Our last LIVE event was Park Connect way back on March 5, 2020. And now, 15 months later, we'll kick off the return of LIVE events with Park Connect on June 3 at our St. Louis Park location. Then head over to the east metro on June 15 for the return of Slice of Woodbury, in person and with free pizza!

Look for the return of more events in the coming months. For instance, AGC will return in July to host events at Minnetonka and Woodbury. And then get ready for August and CoWorking Month. We'll have plenty of events where you can connect with our Work Awesome community all leading up to our 40th Anniversary Bash! Stayed tuned for more details!!
What's OPENING UP
As the state of Minnesota begins to lift the mask mandate and dials back the restrictions on bars and restaurants, entertainment/sports venues and other social gatherings, we're starting see the restrictions lifted in most of our buildings, too. Union Plaza has opened their rooftop deck and food trucks are scheduled to be on site Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30AM to 1:00PM. Also, the Signature Market Classic Café has reopened in the lower level of International Plaza Building.
Getting Back To Business!
The salesEDGE, Minnetonka Members, reunited their team on May 18 for the first time since COVID- 19. They brought in food and drinks, rented the building conference room for some team building that included watching the Minnesota Twins play ball! What a fun way to get back into the swing of things at the office. We are thrilled to see so many of our Members coming back to Work Awesome!
A Message from Dr. Verna Price, founder of Girls Taking Action:
Wow!! We did it! Together we made our 9th Annual Fundraiser possible for our girls, community and world! Your investment in our girls means that we can continue to mentor and empower them to succeed in school and life. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you joining me on this journey of 16 years to empower our girls to find their power and positively change their world. We raised $50,000 so far which is just shy of 50% of our goal. Let's continue to invite others to join us in our effort to reach our goal of $125,000. Next year I want to reach 200 new girls with the program and this fundraiser helps to make that possible. I know that we can do it!! We now have the feature "Text to Give", making it easier to donate. Text GTA2021 to 41444. Thank You,
Walk This Way
Team OffiCenters not only talks the talk, they WALK the WALK! On June 8 OC team members will head out on a walking trail in Lake Elmo to take on the Shaver 5K Shuffle, which is virtual for the second year. By walking with us, or even on your own, you help the Randy Shaver Cancer Research & Community Fund continue their good work supporting Minnesota cancer research and community programs in 2021. To get more information on the Shaver Shuffle, or to register, click HERE.
The Jeff Robinson Football Camp
A Non-contact summer football camp for boys and girls ages 8-14. Jeff has been hosting Football Camps since 2000 after some parents complained that they couldn’t afford to send their kids to summer camp. They don’t turn people away if they can't afford the cost. All skill levels are invited. Donate, sponsor or register HERE.