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www.HartfordBusiness.com • April 29, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 3 Newsmakers EDITORIAL Greg Bordonaro | Editor, ext. 139, gbordonaro@HartfordBusiness.com Gregory Seay | News Editor, ext. 144, gseay@HartfordBusiness.com Matt Pilon | News Editor, ext. 143, mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com Sean Teehan | Staff Writer, ext 145, steehan@hartfordbusiness.com Joe Cooper | Web Editor, ext. 127, jcooper@HartfordBusiness.com Stephanie Meagher | Research Director Heide Martin | Research Assistant Steve Laschever | Photographer BUSINESS Christopher Santilli | Publisher, ext. 124, csantilli@HartfordBusiness.com Donna Collins | Associate Publisher, ext. 121, dcollins@HartfordBusiness.com Lauren Stroud | Events & Project Manager, ext. 137, lstroud@HartfordBusiness.com Christina Zuraw | Events Coordinator, ext. 134, czuraw@hartfordbusiness.com Shannon Vincelette | HBJ Office and Events Coordinator, ext. 122, svincelette@hartfordbusiness.com David Hartley | Sr. Accounts Manager, ext. 130, dhartley@HartfordBusiness.com Kristen P. 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Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894 www.copyright.com HartfordBusiness.com (860) 236-9998 Annisa Teich By Sean Teehan steehan@hartfordbusiness.com A nnisa Teich traces her support for small business owners to her family's trials and tribulations falling victim to a "Madoff- like character." "I wanted to pivot my career and experience thus far to- ward helping small businesses make better decisions for their business," said Teich, who in 2017 founded The Small Busi- ness Collective in Hartford, which links entrepreneurs to resources like marketing and business-development experts. In her latest venture, Teich and her mother, Annette Fa- rese, established Bromleigh Ventures LLC, and bought West Hartford Coworking, or WeHa Works. The space, which hosts 25 tenants who pay between $199 and $349 per month, is currently 95 percent full, she said. While some industry lead- ers say interest in coworking spaces may dwindle as the market becomes saturated, Teich doesn't think it will be an issue in Greater Hartford. Who is best suited for coworking spaces? Because coworking is so much more than just a place to prop your laptop, we believe there is a fit for everyone. But the most obvious fits are remote workers or independents who don't have the luxury of a home office. Second are independents who are looking for a place and space to meet with clients, use the address and accept mail as a means of legitimizing their early stage ventures. Yet, our part-time membership is quickly becoming our most popular option as large cor- porations extend more flexible working arrange- ments that may allow employees to work from home or during flexible hours. Is there anything about the Hartford/West Hartford area that makes it especially conducive to coworking spaces? Suburban workers want to remain close to home. While workers and consumers in major markets are used to traveling long distances for what they want or need (growing up in northern New Jersey and getting my career started in Manhattan, I know the struggle), subur- ban workers and consumers want a shorter commute to and from work and their local amenities. Coworking facilities are no exception. However 'cool' a coworking facility may be, the likelihood of anyone trav- eling more than 30 minutes to join a space is rare. And so there is a need for smaller, more localized spaces to meet the demand. What unique challenges do small businesses in Hart- ford face? Right now there is a lot of attention on technology and specifically insurtech. While that is the cool, sexy, and newsworthy trend that is bringing a lot of attention and funding to Hartford, it's harder for smaller and non-technical businesses to stand out in that space. There is such an amazing ecosystem of artists, makers, unique services, family businesses, etc., and they all deserve visibility. How does Hartford compare to other East Coast cities in terms of opportunities for entrepreneurs? When it comes to small businesses or entrepre- neurial endeavors, I'm not a fan of saying there is a lack of opportunity in any given area over another. The very spirit of entrepreneurship is making it work and I see and feel a lot of that in Greater Hartford. Sure, there is opportunity in New York, but you're a little fish in a very big pond. In Central Connecticut, if you get out there enough, you can quickly find a network of your people ... and find a much stronger network of relationships. 860.871.1111 Toll Free: 800.741.6367 nemsi.com License #'s: E1-104939 • S1-302974 • P1-203519 • F1-10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 MECHANICAL • ELECTRICAL • PLUMBING • SHEET METAL • BUILDING AUTOMATION • FACILITIES SERVICES FACILITY SOLUTIONS…ONE SOURCE The company that builds and installs the critical systems in virtually every type of facility is the same company you can rely on to maintain them. For over 50 years, our clients have trusted us to deliver end-to-end facilities solutions, so they can focus on their core business. We design, install, maintain, and protect systems in: Industrial Facilities Manufacturing Facilities Commercial Facilities Higher Education Facilities Healthcare Facilities Pharmaceutical Facilities Founder, The Small Business Collective/ Co-founder, Bromleigh Ventures LLC Annisa Teich