BOULDER, Colo. – Office Evolution, the largest coworking franchisor in the U.S., is further expanding its footprint with a new location in Walnut Creek, California.
Located at 1990 N. California Boulevard, Suite 20, this coworking business is owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Rhett Bratt and Dawn Lopshire and will service small-business owners and clients in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Alamo, Danville, Pleasant Hill and Concord. The couple has signed a development deal for three locations in the Diablo Valley area, with the Walnut Creek location already open.
“We had a checklist in mind when we wanted to pursue a small business,” Bratt said. “It had to be in a growth industry, it had to operate during normal weekday business hours, and it had to be with a brand that considered us part of their team – as a partner rather than as a vendor or as a subcontractor. Office Evolution checks all those boxes. From our very first interaction with them, the relationship has been supportive, responsive, transparent, and equal. We couldn’t have a better partner.”
Bratt, a 20-year finance veteran at Charles Schwab, and Lopshire said they were both drawn to Office Evolution’s family culture and the formula given to franchisees to succeed as first-time business owners.
“It’s a perfect fit for Rhett and me,” Lopshire said. “We absolutely love what Office Evolution stands for with the Ohana culture (meaning family in Hawaiian) and their ability to develop such a wonderful community; it fits with our personality. We appreciate the flexibility this opportunity will provide, and we feel Office Evolution will be an excellent fit in our community.”
Lopshire, who worked as a project manager before stepping out of the workforce to raise the couple’s now two adult daughters, grew up in a family that owned and operated a flower shop. Neither Lopshire nor Bratt had direct experience running a small business.
“Franchising offered us a level of support that helped us feel confident that we could successfully launch a business,” Bratt said. “It’s been incredibly helpful to have Office Evolution’s level of expertise to guide us.”
Office Evolution, with 62 locations open and nearly 80 in various stages of development, is the largest coworking franchise and the fourth largest coworking network in the U.S. The model is based on local owners who are committed to serving their community, backed by the resources and distribution of a national brand and network is unique to the category. With more than 24 million non-employer businesses in the U.S. and more than 3.5 million U.S. businesses with four employees or less, demand for shared office space is high.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Dawn and Rhett into our Office Evolution family,” Office Evolution Founder & CEO Mark Hemmeter said. “Once I spoke with Rhett and learned of his vast business experience married with Dawn’s principled character and magnetic personality, I knew that the small-business owners and entrepreneurs who decide to walk into the Office Evolution in Walnut Creek are in good hands.”
With dedicated work spaces, including private offices, conference rooms and shared workspace, Office Evolution has solutions for every business. There are also phone-answering services, address & mail services and other professional capabilities to make each small-business owner exceed their goals.
“Dawn and Rhett reflect a growing number of first-time business owners that not only use our services, but also decide to join our Ohana and become franchisees,” Office Evolution COO and Global Workspace Association Board Member William Edmundson said. “They exemplify that the right time is your time – and your time is now!”
About Office Evolution
Founded in 2003 and franchising since 2012, the Colorado-based company is the largest coworking franchisor in the U.S. With 62 locations open and nearly 80 in various stages of development, Office Evolution is leading the workplace revolution that is projected to see nearly 30 percent of all office space become shared office space by 2030, according to a JLL report. Office Evolution is currently operating in 23 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. For more information, please visit https://www.officeevolution.com/
