The Boardroom may have just opened a few months ago, but owners Brit Szymoniak and Katherine Jernstrom have seen immediate success for their coworking space in downtown Anchorage. Coworking (a collective of individuals working in a shared space independently) is not an entirely new concept- spaces similar to The Boardroom have been around for almost ten years and have grown in popularity in the last five- but Anchorage has not had the benefit of such a workspace until now. Along with the coworking atmosphere, Members are also able to take advantage of high speed WiFi, free Kaladi Brothers Coffee, fresh daily snacks and comfortable work spaces. 
Szymoniak and Jenstrom met in a leadership course two years ago and began brainstorming on innovative ways to bring coworking to the 49th state. They first came to the Alaska Small Business Development Center in Anchorage in August of 2013. Lynn Klassert worked with Szymoniak and Jenstrom on the final preparations before their launch, including assistance with their business plan and financial projections.
“The SBDC was essential to the successful launch of our business in a timely manner” said Jenstrom, “Our advisor, Lynn Klassert, acted as a safe sounding board and provided relevant, tailored advice. The support, encouragement and guidance we received from the SBDC team has been a game changer and gave us the confidence and tools we needed to turn our business plan into action”.
Now that The Boardroom is up and running, Klassert is able to check in periodically to discuss any questions they have and collaborate on ways that the AK SBDC and The Boardroom can assist other Alaskan entrepreneurs.
The Boardroom provides users with an accessible and affordable alternative to traditional office space with the additional benefit of being surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurs and endless networking opportunities. The Boardroom has several membership options to fit everyone’s needs and also boasts two meeting spaces available for rental. You can find them online at http://theboardroomak.com or visit the space in person in the Key Bank building in downtown Anchorage (601 W 5th Ave, Floor 2).
