Describe more in depth what you work on while at 804RVA. I have two lines of work currently -- I'm a software developer and sysadmin at Sea Island Software, a small company that provides live hurricane data maps and visualizations to emergency managers working for local governments in tropical storm-prone areas. Currently, I'm re-writing the central data feed code to make it more flexible and to add some GIS features to it. At the same time, I still provide some consulting services through my personal company, Sorrel Tree, which mostly has been in system administration and devops. My focus there is mostly helping small companies work towards getting their systems (primarily Linux) running in a more sane and manageable way. I've also worked on projects involving code analysis, geoinformatics, and some plain old desktop tech support. I've particularly enjoy working for fellow 804RVA members Richmond Analytics. So, most of the time when I'm at 804, I either have my head in Python code or I'm bashing away on a Terminal window. How did you find out about 804RVA, or who introduced you? Google. I wanted a coworking space in Richmond with a good vibe. Found it! What challenges you most about your industry or craft? On of the most simultaneously rewarding and challenging things about the kind of work I do is how much continuous exploration it requires to keep an understanding of how the tools I use work and when to use them. It's rewarding because it means that there's a lot of value in trying out new tools and reading about new ways of doing things, which I really enjoy. The downside of that is that sometimes I'm on a limited schedule and a budget, and I really need to get a problem solved, but I'll end up spending weeks trying to make one solution work and end up having to throw all of that away and start over. In the long run, I find that time always ends up being worth it, when that experience means that I can solve a major problem in under an hour with some technique I've learned, but it makes it very hard to accurately estimate how long things will take. It's also a blow to my sense of work ethic, productivity, and accomplishment when I spend weeks on a task and have nothing to show for it. However, given the rate at which technology changes and the complexity inherent in solving complex computing problems, I don't know of any better way to stay current. Seminars, talks, and meetups are good, but nothing beats hands-on tinkering. What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Wolfpack? (As I always note, a lifelong UNC Tar Heels fan cannot in good conscience call himself a member of a "Wolfpack," but that aside...) For both Sorrel Tree and Sea Island Software, I spend a lot of time working by myself trying to solve problems. It is an enormous help to have other developers and Linux users both in person at the coworking space and on the Slack channels to bounce ideas off of and vent frustrations. Beyond that, the general industriousness and atmosphere of productivity always helps an attention deficit-stricken brain like mine stay on task and push through tough projects. What's one interesting, funny or weird fact no one knows about you? A year after I was born, the hospital I was born in closed and was converted to a public, statewide, residential magnet school called the North Carolina School of Science in Mathematics, which I attended and graduated from. I had biology classes on the floor where the maternity ward used to be. Go Unicorns! (Yes, that's actually our mascot.)
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by: Trevor Dickerson What is the name of your company, project, or hobby? Nyoo Co. & EXP CULTURE LLC Describe more in depth what you work on while at 804RVA. I am a wearer of many hats, who may seem utterly confused about what he should be doing more often than not, especially at 804RVA. As the founder of Nyoo Co., I work as a freelance Photographer/Videographer and Event Producer, utilizing underground culture to promote the immense talent that our artistic communities have to offer. My projects aim to utilize technology and visual content to promote local artists, and expose them to a larger audience. As a dancer myself, I teach various styles of urban and funk dances such as Breaking, Locking, Waacking, Popping, and House. With our newest startup, EXP CULTURE LLC, my team and I are attempting to graduate a whole community of college age dancers and artists into a self-sustainable market. At this early stage in the company, our team is ambitiously hoping to offer services that include events production, content production, fashion apparel, as well as talent management and representation. We believe that a strong community at the foundation of a group of people makes the difference between a passing trend and a healthy market. Additional projects that I'm working on at 804RVA include web design, graphic design, and web development, especially because I increasingly feel left out and un-hip midst a room full of web developers. I also teach Tae Kwon Do on rare occasions... How did you find out about 804RVA, or who introduced you? Google! ...Seriously. What challenges you most about your industry or craft? When entering into a relatively young market demographic, there is no precedence that you can base your business model on. Whereas some industries have remained the same over decades, artists and the communities that form around them are incredibly difficult to win over, especially over a long period of time. The urban dance and music culture seems to be in constant flux, and so far, there hasn't been a clear business model that prove to be successful while maintaining the integrity of the communities that are involved. What gets me up in the morning (or at least most mornings) is the challenge of coming up with a business model that is profitable, and at the same time, strengthens the market and culture over time. At the same time, this is what also keeps me up every night. With that said, if anybody disagrees with the above statement, please tell me so! What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Wolfpack? What I found at 804RVA from talking to and learning from the members of the Wolfpack is what I had been missing for years. For someone who has just taken the plunge into the world of freelance, startups, and small business all at once, the knowledge and advice that is graciously and freely given is invaluable! I can't thank you guys enough for helping me get to where I am now! I can't believe how thoughtful and caring everyone is at 804RVA. I only hope that I can pay it all back... and/or forward! What's one interesting, funny or weird fact no one knows about you? I carry around a metal bat almost everywhere I go because I feel like it helps me think, and also because I found it at a Goodwill for $4. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to come up with a better reason to why I carry around a metal bat with me wherever I go. So, now you know. Learn more about Ben's work >> by: Trevor Dickerson What is the name of your company, project, or hobby? VANCE. Describe more in depth what you work on while at 804RVA. I'm the head honcho and lead communications strategist at VANCE, a local PR outfit. PR isn't just about getting ink. We marry the art of storytelling with the science of digital strategy, helping brands delight and captivate their audiences, wherever they happen to be. I've been in the business for 15 years and haven't had a dull moment yet. How did you find out about 804RVA, or who introduced you? Trevor Dickerson. What challenges you most about your industry or craft? Albert Einstein said it best: "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." PR people must become fluent in the industries they represent. Even if it's not rocket science, every practitioner faces a learning curve when trying to understand the jargon and dynamics of a given industry. I spend a lot of time researching and asking questions, not only in the beginning phase of a project, but throughout the client relationship. It also means I get a lot of "behind-the-scenes" experience, from nuclear power plant tours to backstage antics. While research is among the most challenging aspects of my job, it's what I love most about it. What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Wolfpack? The camaraderie and creativity. After two years at 804RVA, I still get a friendly invitation to Tea Time every morning. I meet some of the smartest, most interesting people here. There is always a discussion about how to improve our city and I love being part of that. Plus, they make good coffee. What's one interesting, funny or weird fact no one knows about you? I'm a good travel companion. I can make small talk and get directions in 6 languages. Learn more about Kelly's work >> At 804RVA, we're always looking to get to know one another to find work and social connections. In this series, we ask some questions of 804RVA coworkers to help you get a better sense of who's who around 804RVA and how to work and engage with them. Next up, Tommy Nicholas, a web/mobile app developer What's a day in the life? Get up, try to be less afraid and more awesome, drink a few beers, stare into my dog's beautiful eyes, and go to sleep. Somewhere in there I manufacture some "internetz" and "appz" and meet with cool people. Favorite food and drink? Avocado (I put it on everything!) and Guinness because it's lighter than you think and it's delicious. And I love craft beers. Where can we find you on a random weekend? I’ll be at Urban Farmhouse during the day and Sticky Rice at some point at night. In between, hopefully I’ll be on an adventure. How did you begin coworking at 804RVA? My startup TheCitySwig had an office here in 2011. I usually spend my time at 804RVA networking (it's amazing the extent to which it's helped my business), coding, and drinking. What are you currently working on? A mobile app to help you remember people's names. And Coffitivity.com What's one thing the market's missing? So many things, are you kidding? The market has like NOTHING. Everything is wide open. Live in the future and build what’s missing, which is everything. Tommy Recommends:
Connect with Tommy on Twitter @istommydrunk and via email. At 804RVA, we're always looking to get to know one another to find work and social connections. In this series, we ask some questions of 804RVA coworkers to help you get a better sense of who's who around 804RVA and how to work and engage with them. Next up, Eva Colen, Director of Regional Recruitment at Teach for America! Tell us a little about yourself. I've been in Richmond for 3 years and when I'm not traveling for work, you can find me at Mekong's bar or watching live music. I'm currently working to open a Teach for America placement site in central Virginia. What's your food and drink of choice? Seafood - mostly shellfish and bourbon/ginger or any sour beer. What motivates you? Social justice, anti-oppression, anti-racism, equality, love, education and education reform. Virginia's had a 400 year history of States' rights over Civil rights and I'm interested in changing that. What keeps you busy while at 804RVA? Usually I'm clearing my inbox or working on special projects like creating training manuals for new recruiters. For example, how to use social media tools for networking and marketing. What's your favorite thing about coworking at 804RVA? I travel a lot in my current role, but I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone. And it's nice that there are no cats trying to help me type while I'm working. :-) Eva Recommends:
Connect with Eva on Twitter @EvaColen, or email her via Gmail or TeachForAmerica. 804RVA's Lead Coworkaholic We all know that Larkin Garbee, Chief Imagination Officer at 804RVA, is a little bit crazy. Crazy about craft beers – her current favorite is Copper Kettle’s Mexican Chocolate Stout. Crazy about pickles – the best homemade pickles are at Garnett’s. And of course, she’s crazy about co-working and entrepreneurship in Richmond. “Richmond is evolving and we’re seeing a creative class of people designing things they’re passionate about that also have a social impact,” Larkin said. To foster growth within this “creative class”, 804RVA is rolling out a series of mentor programs for start-ups and developing new collaboration methods for the 804RVA community.
“I’ve always loved technology and wanted to be around creative people,” Larkin said, describing her reason for founding 804RVA. She continues, “We’ve grown to 65 members in 14 months, and within five years, I’d like to see a community of 300 members creating products and technologies that have a significant impact.” And true to form, Larkin is focused on developing a solution to house her dream. She’s currently working to raise funds for a 30,000 square foot Innovation Hub located at the RVA Power Plant. Similar to innovation hubs in Portland, Atlanta and other U.S. cities, the RVA Power Plant is meant to engage and retain Richmond’s creative class. “We’ve had so many entrepreneurs move to other cities because they couldn’t find the resources here,” Larkin explained. “I want the RVA Power Plant to provide education and tools to help support start-ups through their early stages.” What exactly motivates Larkin to work so hard building the start-up community in Richmond? “Maybe it’s genetics,” Larkin laughed. “But I’ve been raised with the mentality of ‘if you believe it you can do it’. If I’m not creating something I’m bored.” Even on the weekends, Larkin is creating. CityScrapbook, Larkin’s Pinterest for neighborhoods, will let users build Instagram scrapbooks of their favorite neighborhood photos. “When people talk about their neighborhood, there’s a big sense of connectedness,” Larkin explained. “People see their neighborhood in a different light and with CityScrapbook they’ll be able to share what’s unique about their neighborhood. Eventually I’d like to overlay real estate searches into the app.” If you’re lucky enough to catch Larkin during the day, you’ll probably find her holding a meeting at Lamplighter, setting up an 804RVA Meetup, or hosting a business happy hour at The Camel. But regardless of where Larkin is, she’s always focused on her number one mission: building a stronger community for coworkers, start-ups, and Richmond’s creative class. As Larkin says, “Together, we can be actively involved in a community with people doing good things to make a difference.” Larkin Recommends:
Connect with Larkin on Twitter @804RVA and @iamLarkin, or meet Larkin in person. At 804RVA, we're always looking to get our coworkers to meet, know, and find work and social connections with one other. In this series, we ask five questions of 804RVA coworkers to help you get a better sense of who's who around 804RVA and how to work and engage with them. Next up, TribleWork's own Will Trible! What keeps you busy while at 804RVA? Freelance Graphic Design. How has coworking helped your job/business? Coworking has helped me by connecting me with clients and other talented professionals. How did you begin coworking at 804RVA? I'd been working from home for several months; after becoming a bit stir crazy I went in search of flexible options for working outside of the house. It happened to be right around when 804RVA was getting started, so I went down to check out the space and signed up that same day. Who is someone you would have likely never met, but have really enjoyed getting to know at 804RVA? Basically everyone, and the few who I may have already known I now know better. Since I was one of the first people to actually cowork here, I'd have to say Tim Martin. He was here with his wife for the filming of Lincoln, so it was cool to meet someone from out of the area who we got to show around town some. What's your favorite thing about coworking at 804RVA? I like the free flow of thoughts and ideas that occurs from getting together a group of people who would normally never be in the same room. It's great to be able to help others with things that I do daily that might take them more time to do. To learn more about Will Trible and his ability to bring creativity and technology together, through graphic design and SEO, be sure to check out his website TribleWork.com. Want something more substantial? Check out Will's open office hours, it's a chance where you can network or pick his brain about graphic design! Joey Figaro is a user-experience evangelist who has been known to love (and sometimes shout about) a number of different things. He recently was a part of the winning team at RVA's debut Startup Weekend and is now the Creative Director of Speakeasy, a local company that sprung from the resulting win. Current bearer of the 804RVA title 'Red Button Pusher, Seeker, and Enthusiast,' this man knows a thing or two about lockety locks, whiskey, and quiet-time. Twitter: @joeyfigaro Website: www.joeyfigaro.com Dan Kanach is the owner of One Duck Creative. He has video production experience on several network reality shows as well as corporate training videos. He has served as Associate Producer and Production Assistant as well as Head Logger on these various productions. One Duck Creative also offers services in design, photography, illustration, and animation. Prior to joining the creative world, Dan was head women's lacrosse coach at Randolph-Macon College and a high school English teacher and coach before that. While at Georgetown University, he majored in both English Literature and Studio Art. His senior project in photography won the Misty Daily Award for best of senior art show. Dan also played men's lacrosse at Georgetown and played in the NCAA Final Four his senior year. Dan then spent the following year at George Washington University getting certified to teach secondary eduction. Dan currently lives in Ashland, VA with his lovely wife Kate and two awesome kids, Darcy and Rowan. After spending 13 years as an educator for students with disabilities, Zach Sisisky founded Richmond Autism Connection as a place where people on the autism spectrum, their families, and members of their communities could receive individualized support to meet their specific needs. Zach was a public educator for seven years serving middle and high school students with autism in their neighborhood schools. He has provided numerous trainings for teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators as a Low Incidence Teacher Mentor for Richmond City Public Schools. Further, he has taught and provided teacher and parent trainings about autism in Africa and throughout Asia and also served in the Peace Corps as a teacher and teacher trainer. |
Larkin Garbee
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