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Meet the team of awesome humans you’re connecting with to when you book a tour, or email us with a question. We’re here to look after the community, and help everyone make the most of their Indy Hall experience.
Want to learn a little bit about who we are, and why we’re a part of Indy Hall?
Read on – we’re just as excited to learn who you are too, so don’t be shy about saying hi if you see us around.
Director of Community
I graduated from Temple University in 2009 with a B.A. in broadcasting and not a clue in the world what to do with that. I spent a handful of years in ambling around northeast Texas, writing for a video game website called ScrewAttack.com and selling wine in a high-end steak house. I didn’t like the work, but I sure loved the people I was spending my days with.
When I came back home to Philly, I was splitting my time between teaching people how to log-in to iTunes at the Apple Store on 17th & Walnut, and writing social media copy for Red Tettemer O’Connell + Partners. That’s around the time I was introduced to Alex Hillman, a friend of a friend who managed to be an entrepreneurial-type-guy and a total iconoclast in the small business scene. He was running a “coworking space” called Indy Hall, and he needed a hand. So I said, “what the hell is a coworking space?”
And here I am.
“If you love something, let it go.”
When I say “let it go”, I don’t mean Frozen. And I don’t mean abandon it or strip it out of your life. Bear with me, here:
I love comic books, and the comic book community has taught me a lot about being passionate, generous, and curious. Comic book fans are known for ruthlessly defending the stories they love against those who don’t understand or deserve them. But that’s hogwash, and it’s no way to live.
If you love something, give it away so other people can enjoy it, too. The greatest way to love something is to invite others to love it with you.
I’ve always wanted to be the host of a late night talk show. I think a great deal of my role at Indy Hall is to effectively introduce people to other interesting people. That’s kind of what a talk show host does, right? They provide a warm invitation to be part of an experience together, but ultimately they’re only there to introduce you to other fascinating people. I love that.
It’s not so much a skill, but I only have one kidney! On October 11, 2016, my very close friend Octavius and I underwent a transplant surgery to give him my lefty. We’re even closer now, as you might imagine.
I can talk about being an organ donor for a long time (and I love to), but I’ll skip ahead to my favorite part, which is all the stuff I got out of the donation:
Ask me about it, any time. And ask me to show you pictures of Zuri. She’s perfect.
No better Sunday morning than sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee and a stack of comics from Wednesday. It’s bliss.
Admin & Operations Supervisor
I was looking for a great working environment to apply all my acquired knowledge and skills from my previous experiences and a wonderful team to work with. I am just so grateful that I got to work with people from Indy Hall and get to learn new things every day, while developing myself as well.
"Work with enthusiasm and passion, rest assured you will not regret the results."
I want to be able to travel in different places in the world with my kids and hubby 💛 ✈️
Digital art! But I still have a lot to learn and develop to become a great digital artist.
Having a cup of coffee chatting with my kids and husband during breakfast time.
Indy Hall Pro Program Designer & Lead Facilitator
In 2008, I officially opened my doors as a full-time, self-employed, small biz owner. I’m a visual brand strategist and designer. I always enjoyed working on my own, but even as a super introvert, working solo was getting a bit lonely.
I craved the feeling I used to get in my illustration studio classes in college where I’d spend six hours with the same people aiming to accomplish similar goals via different styles and techniques. Strong relationships naturally developed over time. The camaraderie was strong.
So, I began creating and hosting events (and some already established groups) bringing like-minded people together around common interests including art, self-employment, and creativity. Places where support and shared experiences were key.
In 2018, I began hosting one of those events at Indy Hall. The same year I officially became a member. I didn’t know it then, but Indy Hall quickly became the place I would turn to for that same feeling I described above. I found my people.
The benefit of intentional and slow living.
Oh, boy. There’s a lot to unwrap with this, but let’s just say, it took me longer than I would’ve liked to learn this lesson.
I’ve always bucked against the toxicity of “hustle culture,” but before starting my own business, I couldn’t seem to escape it. And wow, it eventually did a lot of damage. My body said, “nope!” and I didn’t have a choice. It made me stop and slow down. Once I did, I learned about the benefits, beauty, and power of slowing down and I’ll never look back.
It’s become one of my core values in life and business. Spoiler: Slowing down doesn’t mean things take longer to do. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Let’s chat and I’ll share more of my experience!
To finally get to Scotland to explore sites from my family history as well as meet some of my family.
I’m an amateur genealogist in my spare time. I love, love, LOVE, to get lost in civil records, stories, and research. In my own family tree, I’ve gone back to about the 1500s on one line.
A future plan is to get certified and help others research their ancestry.
Relaxing with my husband, Maki, at the dining room table engaged in some strange and interesting science, art, and/or political conversation. Our two pups (Cody, a 16yo Pom, and Ollie, a 9yo Rat Terrier/Chihuahua) are there with us. Ollie is daydreaming while looking out at the backyard – if it’s nice out, that’s where we’ll go next so he can sunbathe – while Cody is on patrol making sure we’re all doing what we’re supposed to (he’s my little Sir Didymus).
Member Newsletter Curator
I always had friends that were “one-offs” - individuals singled out from whatever world they belonged to. I never had a circle of friends that knew each other.
I’d pick one musician buddy I thought was awesome, one impressive fellow comedian I especially liked, or one special coworker that stood out to me. “I like YOU, let’s go do something.”
The cool thing about Indy Hall is it’s a grab bag of a TON of those exceptional outliers in one spot, and they KNOW each other! I still often have a special bestie or two in the Indy Hall Discord channels I haunt, but I actually have a friend circle now!
Figuring out how to communicate and collaborate with other people in a way that’s kind, clear, trustworthy, confident, diplomatic, and shows your good-faith, long-term investment in getting you BOTH what you need.
Transparent enthusiasm goes a long way too. Always explicitly let people know that you like them! Nobody can read your mind!
I’m already living my dream because I’ve gathered all the resources I need to be happy for now with enough to share with people who need my help.
But as icing, at some point I intend to deliver a TED Talk that hopefully will help someone feel empowered to take more shots at being great.
I’m over-the-top sensitive and empathetic to where I find it automatic to imagine what it’s like to be another person. That’s instrumental in being competently funny and a decent writer, and more importantly helps me be a good friend which is all I care about.
In what might be a bizarre contradiction, I’m also NOT self-conscious to a point that it’s almost impossible to embarrass me. This is an underrated talent/skill to have in everyday life and comes in handy for public speaking and doing standup.
On my deck in the shade of a huge muscle beech tree watching Instagram stories or texting friends if it’s nice outside.
If it sucks out, I’m under a blanket at my computer either writing out some idea I’m stoked on, brainstorming structure for new joke ideas, or making a lowbrow meme in Photoshop that, like, ONE other person will get. Connecting with people and making new things are intersecting constants.
Co-Founder & Fearless Leader
In 2006, I quit my job at an agency doing web development to freelance, and it was great. I had freedom to choose what I worked on, and when. I had the flexibility to arrange my work around my life (instead of the other way around). And I got to choose work that was interesting, fulfilling, and productive.
The only problem was that I missed having coworkers.
That’s why I started Indy Hall as a community of people who want to be each others’ coworkers even if we don’t work for the same company!
Karaoke isn’t about being a good singer, it’s about reading the room and trying to connect with the people in it.
Most bad karaoke isn’t bad singing – it’s what I like to call “selfish karaoke,” almost always a song that nobody except the singer wants to hear.
If you can pick a song that people will sing along to, you can’t fail at karaoke.
Also, this is a metaphor for business, and life.
To have dinner and drinks with Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters.
I’m not into worshipping celebrities and rock stars, but Dave Grohl is the kind of person I’d want to be if I was famous.
He’s notoriously kind and thoughtful, while also being a total rock and roll badass. He (along with his band) clearly love their fans.
For some reason – and this is probably delusional – I feel like a giant dinner and drinks with Dave would be like hanging out with an old friend.
Bulleit Rye on the rocks.
When I was really young I wanted to be a paleontologist. Then in 1993, I saw Jurassic Park and realized how dangerous it could be.
Then I wanted to be a professional magician. I actually performed magic professionally for several years in middle and high school…until I saw David Copperfield perform live and finally realized “hm, magicians can be kind of creepy.”
Thankfully I found technology and business. Good thing neither of them can can be dangerous or creepy.
