SPEAKER_01 0:00

You're gonna be in a coworking space. You're gonna have a bunch of adults that have their own businesses, and you're gonna have to figure out ways to make them hang out with each other and like share their business.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

All right, welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we talk to the best Northern Colorado businesses and how they network and build connections to help them be successful. Today I have uh Jesse Rule in the studio. Welcome, Jesse. Welcome to the podcast. And this is my first ever Connections That Matter, where we have a multi-panel guest. So uh introduce, introduce your guest with us.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

This is Paisley.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Oh my gosh. Well, if you know Jesse, you know about Paisley. I see uh uh your whole team on the desk chair, like recommended workers and all that good stuff. Oh, look at that smile.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

She's distracting.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Well, Jesse, if if somebody hasn't been to an event at the Cleveland room or on the awesome rooftop or something that you've helped coordinate, tell us a little bit more about what you do.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Yeah, absolutely. So um we have two event spaces that are located inside of a four-story co-working space um in downtown Loveland. And uh we really do anything, whether that is a wedding, corporate function, um training sessions, retirement parties, birthday parties. I mean, honestly, any kind of event you can have, we can really do it. Um, our rooftop, I would say, is more of like the fun, flashy um entertainment. And then the Cleveland room is a little bit more corporate because we have a 16 foot by nine foot screen that's perfect for presentations and things like that. So um yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

Well, awesome. And you have a lot of different things that come through. Each of them has a different vision. Yeah. Um talk to me how you transform a space with a vision for an event and make that come to life.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Yeah. So um my background is actually weddings. Um, and weddings are probably gonna be the most um complicated with the most vendors, you know, all of the elements that you really are transforming, you know, fields um into events. And so my I think I always have, because of that, maybe have had been able to, you know, take that skill set and what I've had to do in organizing those and like simplify it, I guess, um, with the event spaces. So I really get down to details with the nitty-gritty of like, you know, is is your mom braining something? Is it, you know, are you the one coming to set up? Is it staff coming to set up? How many vendors are you gonna have? Um, you know, who are we partnering with? And then what after they book with us, I actually just take that piece from them and then I connect with their vendors directly. Or I should say my employee Katie does that as well. And, you know, we really kind of simplify it for them where they don't have to deal with those details anymore and kind of give them more of like a hospitality experience.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

Yeah. So if you're managing a space and you talk about the different vendors, people bring in their own different teams. How do you coordinate uh with the different industries to make sure that the event goes flawlessly?

SPEAKER_01 3:06

Yeah. Um, so they of course give us, you know, who they've already booked, or some people, you know, aren't even from the area and they're like, uh, Jesse, do you know a good catering company? Do you know a florist? You know, whatever that looks like. And uh based on our experience with the people that we worked with, there's people that we don't necessarily want to recommend. And then there's ones that we're like, you know, we know they're gonna give you the best experience. They're gonna dive right in and we, you know, pass along that information. Um is that what you're asking? Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

Well, how uh how does someone get on your list? And for the people that you, you know, if I had to ask you for a photographer or a caterer of some kind, the person who comes out of your mouth first, or maybe you give me a short list of three or so, how do you how do you cultivate those relationships?

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Um, I would say that we do we work with them at least two to three times first um to make sure that you know it wasn't just a really good day for them. Sure, sure. Um, and then from that, um, we kind of have a little running list that we update periodically um to make sure that we're all kind of communicating the same things and um, you know, keep that list going. And I mean, I can certainly sit here and list the ones that I know off the top of my head. We always work with Fresh Plate Catering in Loveland. Um, we really like Door 222, we like Sando's, which is the restaurant um directly in our co-working space, um, which really makes it a one-stop shop because then they get everything in the building. Sure. Um, DJ's, DJ Brian Howe is the best. Um and then photographers is actually a really interesting um vendor because you have to like a certain style. Sure. So um, you know, that one comes with more questions of like, do you like dark photos? Do you like them to be light and airy? Do you want it to be um, you know, a little bit more traditional photography? Do you want it to be candids, you know? So there's a lot more that goes into that. But um, yeah, there's a lot of good photographers in the area. And then really, too, that one is more specific on budget. Yeah. Because photographers have gone up a lot. Um, I think almost you put the wedding um price tag on there and then it adds uh zeros. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Well, uh, let's talk about the co-working space because it's the world headquarters of business networking on right. I'm a resident of the second floor. Um, but you've really built a community through there, people who are doing a whole bunch of different things. Um, talk to me about that and the vision for desk chair and what you're doing with those spaces.

SPEAKER_01 5:34

Yeah, so um, like I said, I came from the wedding industry. Um, and to like make a long story short, the CFO's daughter and I went to high school together. And so she used to have a florist um business, and we worked a couple of weddings together one summer. And she was like, hey, I just started working on this project with my mom in downtown Loveland. Um, it's gonna be a coworking space. Of course, I didn't know what coworking is, so she had to give me a little, you know, background on that. And she was like, Would you ever be interested in running a venue? And um, for the people that, you know, go to school for hotel management like I did, and you know, you're kind of deciding what you want to do in the event industry. Um, it's almost like a dream to work in a venue because it makes things a little bit easier. You don't have to travel as much. Um, and you know, it's uh like a good income coming in, you know, monthly. You're not like chasing the business. So I, of course, I was like, yeah, sure, let's see it. So one night we went and grabbed some beers and uh she took me to the space and it was when it was fully under construction. It actually took seven years for the project um to finish. And uh when she took me in, we literally put hard hats on and we're climbing on ladders. And like I said, it's four stories, so it was like we're just like maneuvering through the building. And you know, at that time too, the event space was gonna be on the third floor connected to the rooftop. So the spaces were gonna connect. And that's actually what it was for the first six months that we opened. Um, anywho, again, long story short, um, I took the job. Uh, Jim and I worked in this tiny office together for six months where we, you know, started everything from the ground up. You know, how much is it gonna cost? What are we gonna include? What equipment are we gonna invest in? You know, like every little detail that you wouldn't think of is what we had to kind of plan through. Um, and then along with that, after creating the spaces, then it was like, okay, Jesse, now you're gonna be in a co-working space, you're gonna have a bunch of adults that have their own businesses, and you're gonna have to figure out ways to make them hang out with each other and like share their business. Um, so of course, my first thought is like, let's get alcohol involved. Um, because everybody gets out of their shell a little bit. You have a drink and you kind of like let loose and you don't get as nervous about networking. Um because it's I mean, it's hard to kind of repeat yourself and kind of sell yourself, especially like in a setting where you don't necessarily have to. Um, so that's when we kind of developed our little our program where we make sure we get the members together twice a month, um, whether that's a happy hour or breakfast or lunch. Um and it used to be a little bit more formal in the beginning where we made everybody introduce themselves, go around, say what their business was, um, and you know, give them almost like a guidebook on like how to get it going. And then it what happened from there really is um then we kind of got a core group of members that then became friends and then they became inviting. So then it was like they almost made my job easier in the way of like, hey, we meet every uh every day at four o'clock at the bar and have a cocktail. And um, I don't know, it it honestly happens organically, and I know you know that as a member, it's really cool how our group has kind of become like a family. And I don't know, I think Jim and I really naturally are like that because we enjoy it so much, we enjoy each other so much. So it almost kind of creates that family dynamic, I don't I guess naturally, right?

SPEAKER_00 9:06

Um I think when you're developing uh a sense of belonging uh and community that helps with retention, a lot of people with membership-based business or people who are on some kind of service, if there's nothing holding them there, then the there's not as much loyalty. And uh uh some people don't know about co-working options as a way to um have an office space or to to grow and to collaborate. But from the conversations that I had around Sando's or around uh you know the kitchen up in the second floor, it's it's the community that really holds people, people there.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Yeah, no, and I think that's so true. And um, I know that that's something that him and I are really proud of is like making people feel welcome and genuinely meet meaning it, you know. Like, of course, they know all my children, but we know all their children too. We know their spouses if they brought them in. Um, and I think that Loveland still is that small town vibe where it really fits that, you know. And not to mention co-working. Co-working is way more um like I don't know, engaging, obviously, than sitting in your basement or in your home office. So awesome.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

We did through the magic of editing, we just did a diaper change, Jesse. So let's get um uh you know, being a being a mom uh of three and um running a family and running a business. A lot of entrepreneurs who are parents often struggle with that balance. How do you make it work so seamlessly?

SPEAKER_01 10:35

Seamlessly, huh? Um honestly, first of all, being an event planner is weird hours. It's weekends, you know, it's kind of flex, you have to be flexible with your schedule with that. So I've been able to, you know, maneuver my schedule around events, and um, my husband has like a nine to five job, so that really helps. Um but it's not easy. And I feel like I my staff always tells me, like, Jesse, you'd never know that you're so stressed. And I'm like, that's great. I'm glad. But maybe that's part of like because of events, because you know, if there's like a if there's a fire in the kitchen at an event, right? Like my job is to make sure that nobody knows that that's happening. Right. So like maybe that um, you know, having to put things in perspective like that, maybe I'm doing that with my life. You know, like there's like maybe, you know, I maybe only got an hour's sleep like yesterday, huh? Um and I'm having to like do that naturally, maybe. I don't know. It's hard though. I certainly always wanted to be a mom. Always. Um but you know, when you choose what your career is, you're not like okay, in 10 years, this is how I'm gonna be able to balance it all. Um so I think I'm just flying by the seat of my pants at all times. Um but I'm really thankful because I love what I do. Um, I have a really good support system with my staff. My husband's very supportive, our family's supportive. Um, Jim, you know, is like my partner in crime at desk chair, and we're a really, really good team. Um and it's you know, it's a friendship outside of, you know, work life. So it's really, I think I'm blessed in that way.

SPEAKER_02 12:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

Um, and you just have to give yourself grace. You know, there's days when it's hard and you just kind of have to like take a deep breath and be like, it's okay. Like it's it's just a job, you know, or it's life. Um, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 12:36

I guess that's that's truly uh, you know, entrepreneurs, uh there's a lot of passion in whether you're a plumber or an event planner, and you always find out like what what do what gets you up and work so hard? Well, a lot of it is family situations, be able to make sure that they have a phenomenal life. And um, if all you're doing is working and not taking care of family, that doesn't work. But yeah, uh let's let's talk about um Loveland. Yeah, because as Loveland's uh you know a really awesome community and uh being downtown right off 4th Street in Cleveland, there's a lot of what happens in Loveland that's happening right at your venue. So are people finding you or do you do a lot of um prospecting for business, or how does that work?

SPEAKER_01 13:20

Yeah, so um I would say the first couple of years that we um opened, we partnered with anybody and everyone that we could. So, you know, we hosted a lot of chamber events, we did a lot with the downtown partnership. That's when it was really starting to ramp up and like kind of grow the community that they have downtown um with all the small businesses down there. Um truly any kind of networking group that we could be a part of. I mean, we kind of did it all. Um, and then I think from there it was like word of mouth, like, hey, we had this really awesome event here. You're looking for a space, great. Like this is the one we'd recommend. I also think, like, not to sound bad about it, but like there isn't a lot of options in Loveland. So, you know, venue-wise. Um, but it also helps that we have over 150 businesses that are co-working in our space. Um, so that alone, you know, they're helping us with like the amount of events that we have because they're all booking events, if not an event, a meeting, or some kind of corporate training, or um maybe they like are somebody that um what's the word I'm looking for? Um remote works. And so like their boss is coming in from Austin and they need to give them a conference room where they can work together all day, you know. So um I think that really kind of helps the cause. Um also like Loveland is all about the community. Like truly, it really is one of those um really cool environments where most of the businesses, you know, know each other and we really are able to like kind of help each other out in the way of like, oh, you need a good florist or you need a good cater, or you need um somebody that does really good printing or you know, SEO or whatever. Yeah. If we don't have those in our building alone, like we all have at least met somebody that can do that. And um, I feel like that community is really cool. And you'd hear Jim say, he always says that we're like the hub of Loveland.

SPEAKER_02 15:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

Um and I believe that. You know, I really think that uh we kind of house a lot of really cool businesses, and um that is a little bit of luck, but again, um we I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

No, if you put yourself in an environment where people who are community-minded, especially if you're in a networking sense, you don't just want to network with people who are great at what they do, you also want to network with people who are great at what they do and want to be collaborative.

SPEAKER_01 15:40

Right.

SPEAKER_00 15:41

And I think people find them way in a co-working situation. You know, that's a that's a rich target market.

SPEAKER_01 15:47

Totally.

SPEAKER_00 15:48

Um so you talked about if the if the fire's happening, I don't want the people to know about it. Yeah. You know, and and part of it could be you putting on great events, but really it's you having great communication with with all the different teams before the event, after the event. Um for any business, communication is a is a really part of success. Uh, what do you do to make sure that your communication is uh top-notch?

SPEAKER_01 16:12

Yeah, um, I would say I'm a little bit of an over-communicator. Um, I take a lot of notes, um, and not like uh I do it in a traditional way. You if you saw the amount of sticky notes that I have of like making sure I'm making checklists and I'm like, okay, you know, I've talked to every single one of these vendors. I've had my first introduction, I've had my middle of the event check-in, you know, like we're leading up to it. I've had the one a week prior, and then I usually do one like one day before as well. Um I would say that specifically in the event industry, I can't tell you how many people like aren't good communicators.

SPEAKER_02 16:49

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

And so you almost like as the person that's like, you know, kind of in charge of everybody logistically, it's like you have to be that person that's like on top of them. Like, I know maybe I'm being annoying at this point, but I want this to be perfect. And if I'm not checking in with you, like we both can't make this client happy, you know? Um, and I'm pretty like, I don't know, I'm pretty laid-back person. So it's not like I'm over the top about it. It's just I want to make sure that we're all on the same page. Um, and that they know too that I'm there to support them. And like, I can't tell you how many times that a cater or a busser or somebody didn't show up, and I grabbed a tray and just jumped in. Um, and I don't know. I think you just kind of have to do those things to make sure that you know the client doesn't feel it.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Yeah. Well, Jesse, uh, thanks for what you do for the desk chair magic for hosting my events. I know the luminaries love uh being in the Cleveland room. And then also the Daddy Daughter doll-up, which was a you know, kind of out of the box idea that you guys made it so seamless to pull off.

SPEAKER_02 17:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:48

Um, for those who want to maybe experience a day pass at desk chair or talk to you about their next event, what's the best way to get a hold of you?

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Yeah. Um, so you can go to the desk chair workspace website. So it's literally deskchairworkspace.com. Um, and then there's like an info sheet that you can fill out, or you can also um give us a call and just Google us and we'll answer me or Jim.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

All right. Well, uh Jesse, thanks so much for coming on the show and bringing in our first uh multi-panel guest.

SPEAKER_01 18:17

Yes, thank you for being patient with us.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

All right, thank you. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me, or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh, go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule. And maybe uh you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.