A Crash Course On Coworking: Meet Camp GCUC’s Speakers

Published on April 4, 2018 - By Cecilia Amador de San José

• GCUC will take place this April 22-25th in NYC.
• Camp GCUC will be a coworking boot camp for those interested in entering the coworking and flexible workspace industry.
• Speakers include industry pioneers and experts that will cover technology, real estate, design, community, and more.

For the past seven years, the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC) has been at the forefront of coworking trends and happenings. What started as a single event in Austin, Texas in 2011 has become the world’s largest coworking event, and as the coworking industry has grown and evolved, so has GCUC.

Three years ago, in 2015, GCUC hosted the first ever Camp GCUC. In their words, “Camp GCUC is the perfect opportunity for industry novices to learn everything about opening, managing, and growing a flexible workspace.” After all, the coworking industry is all about community, about inclusion, and just because you haven’t yet opened your first space doesn’t mean you can’t join in on the ‘juicy’ fun.

In November 2016, Liz Elam, Founder and Executive Director of GCUC, told Allwork.Space that GCUC is a constantly changing event, one that pivots based on current market trends and needs. “We change every year, depending on what’s happening and what attendees ask for.

As the industry has grown older, our content has evolved.(…)GCUC is no longer just for the beginner, but it’s also for those who have been in the coworking business for years.”

And this is why Camp GCUC was created, as a stand alone event. At Camp, attendees will learn all the basics for opening and operating a space: real estate, legal issues, design, fit out, building a community, finances.

Stormy McBride, GCUC producer, said that this year Camp GCUC is taking it up a notch. “Camp this year will be workshop and boot camp style; presenters will share content and knowledge, but we will also hand out worksheets and other takeaways that will help attendees grasp knowledge, but more importantly, know how to  implement it.”

Meet The Speakers

Liz Elam – Welcome Message

Liz Elam is the boss lady behind GCUC and she’s also the founder of Link Coworking in Austin, Texas. Elam has conducted a lot of research related to coworking and she’s the first-ever president of the League of Extraordinary Coworking Spaces. Elam is one of the pioneers of the coworking industry and she’s the first person you will hear speak at Camp GCUC, giving attendees the official welcome and officially starting Camp. Elam will also participate in the closing panel, where attendees will have the opportunity  to ask presenters questions.

Benjamin Dyett – Real Estate, Negotiations, and NNN

Benjamin Dyett was co-founder of Grind, a coworking space founded in 2010 and is now with Open Work Agency, a coworking consulting and advising company. Dyett has a background in law, which is why he has ample experience in real estate, corporate law, and negotiations. In 2015, Grind and Verizon announced a partnership where Grind would open and manage coworking spaces within Verizon’s real estate. At Camp GCUC, Dyett, alongside a fellow colleague, will be speaking about negotiating leases for flexible workspaces, how to raise money to absorb all the necessary costs, and how to turn your real estate into a profitable business.

Bill Jacobson – Technology: It’s Complicated, Learn From Our Mistakes

Bill Jacobson is the co-founder and CEO of Workbar. Founded in 2010, Workbar currently operates 8 coworking locations in Massachusetts and is also the  first operator to design a coworking location to meet the WELL Building Standards. An electrical engineer, before entering the coworking world, Jacobson worked as a software engineer at MIT/Lincoln Laboratories, he co-founded a database marketing company, and was part of PickupZone, a package pickup service. At Camp GCUC, Jacobson will be shedding light about the ins and out of workplace technology: what’s crucial, what’s not, and what can definitely never be missing. You will get a walkthrough the different hardware and software basics and options and learn about the tech infrastructure needed for your space to operate seamlessly and smoothly.

Ashley Proctor and Tony Bacigalupo – Community: How Do You Build It, Monetize It, and How Many Events Should You Host

Community is at the core and center of coworking. In fact, community is what coworking is about, it’s about having a network of friends, partners, colleagues, connections, and people who overall have your back. Community, however, doesn’t just randomly happen, you have to create the right environment and atmosphere to encourage people to open up, share, and collaborate. At Camp, you will not only learn about buzzing communities, but you will also be immersed in one.

Ashley Proctor and Tony Bacigalupo are the gurus of community in the coworking world. Bacigalupo is the founder of New Work Cities and works as a consultant, helping coworking operators establish, build, and nurture thriving communities. Proctor is the Executive Director of Canada’s largest coworking space 312 Main, and she’s also Executive Producer of GCUC Canada. She is known in for her collaborative and mentoring efforts in creating impactful communities, and for creating COHIP, the world’s first Coworking and Health Insurance Plan.

Vince Pan – Design: How to Design Your Space, The Elements You Need, and What Needs to be Left Out

Vince Pan is the founder of Analogue Studio, an award-winning architecture and branding firm. He’s worked with companies and businesses across various industries, including startups, education, and hospitality. Analogue takes an interdisciplinary approach to design, combining architecture, interior design, graphic design, exhibit design, website design, and branding into each project.  At Camp GCUC, Pan will talk about why it’s important to have a holistic approach to workplace design, what it takes to create an environment that’s inspiring and motivating, and why workplace design isn’t just about furniture and aesthetics, but a combination of how people interact and flow with the physical space itself.

Although Camp GCUC is a standalone event, attendees can chose to participate in the one day crash course or opt for the bundle package to attend both Camp and the Conference. Camp GCUC will take place Sunday, April 22. The Conference will be held April 23rd and 24th, and tours will be hosted April 25th.
See you all in NYC!  You can buy your tickets here.