We are very fortunate to have a great deal of talent within the Gangplank community who are so willing to contribute their talents to help us grow.
When Susan Baier of Audience Audit suggested Gangplank consider doing a segmentation survey, I leaped at the chance. While our monthly Open Forums garner some good discussion, it was often from a small group and not measurable. So we turned to our community expert and gave her our blessing. Continue reading
Join us for the annual Gangplank Town Hall. Gangplank founders Derek Neighbors and Jade Meskill will give the State of Gangplank Address, followed by extensive time to answer questions and explore new ideas.
The Gangplank Community is continually experiencing radical change. We are a movement impacting communities around the globe. We need your help to challenge the status quo. We want you to make meaningful change in your community.
Show up. Bring your most dangerous ideas. Be part of Gangplank’s future.
Gangplank’s Town Hall will be held on Wednesday May 15th at 6pm in Gangplank Headquarters (260 S. Arizona Ave, Chandler, AZ 85225). Gangplankers from all communities are invited to participate. This event will be live streamed to include those in other communities. You can access the livestream here: http://new.livestream.com/
For years we have struggled with creating a site that helps people all over the world engage with Gangplank. Having multiple locations, each with a different set of initiatives, numerous events, and so many things happening in the Gangplank movement can be intimidating.
Instead of waiting to be perfect, we are going to Be Dangerous. This month you will see some major changes to our site. We will be launching a new, extremely simple, theme. We can figure out what is and is not working, and quickly iterate to improve the site for everyone.
Visit our github project to get involved and make the Gangplank experience better for everyone. Any and all skillsets are welcome.
When Shon Burton and Trevor Olson first launched Hiring Solved, who could’ve guessed that in less than six months they’d be accepting a startup scholarship from Tallwave?
Flashback to Gangplank’s Startup Weekend 2011. “I pitched him my idea and he thought it was shit,” as Burton recalls his first encounter with Olson.
Now their recruiting tool is running at full force. So much so, they’ve just accepted their first international client. And it couldn’t have happened without Gangplank. In fact, Burton eloquently writes in previous posts (Something Crazy, HS Launches) about how the culture at GP is the reason for the season of Hiring Solved.
“I’ve been searching and longing to find a group of passionate people, people that inspire, create, hack, and love what they do,” wrote Burton.
So what makes Burton and Olson unique? They’re really working. It seems simple but it applies to everything. One of the first things they’ll tell you about Hiring Solved is that times have changed. People are writing their resumes everyday, with everything they do. That couldn’t be more true for the founders. Take Olson’s for example. Only a programmer would write theirs in code.
If it wasn’t for Gangplank, Olson and Burton might not have met. As they say in Hiring Solved’s tagline, it’s “The Fastest Way to Find Talent”…. after Gangplank that is.
Become a better photographer over the summer at Gangplank Chandler!
We all know you’ll be Instagramming your day at the beach or grilling out, so why not take your skills up a notch?
Gangplank Studios is offering a workshop for all skill levels. From intro lessons for aspiring photographers, to master tips for seasoned professionals.
How Do You Picture Your Summer runs May 29 – September 25. Students will meet Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Gangplank.
Instructors Kameron Williams and Andrew Ruiz are sharing their skills as part of Gangplank’s Studios Initiative.
“I’ve learned so much at Gangplank, this is my way of paying it forward,” says Williams.
As Creative Director of Lillimedia, Williams knows the importance of visuals in today’s marketplace. He also understands the hurdles.
“Photography is expensive enough, spend it where it counts, on gear. Learn for free.”
When asked about helping competitors in his field, Williams says teaching helps him grow artistically, and believes in Gangplank’s mission of collaboration over competition.
In fact, the course is designed with collaboration in mind. Each class begins with students sharing and critiquing each other’s photos. By working together, whichever skill set you’re starting from, your photography is guaranteed to jump to the next level.
The course is divided into three 6-week sections.
Section 1: How To Take a Good Photo
Section 2: Ambient vs. Studio
Section 3: Break-Away and Shoot
Students will need to use their own gear; including but not limited to a DSLR Camera, SD Card, and USB thumb drive.
Sign up here, and good summer shooting!
For more information, contact Williams at Kameron@gangplankhq.com.
Our philosophy is built on sharing. Sharing of ideas, expertise, and now a meal. Nothing connects people more than breaking bread, so join us for a monthly lunch in Downtown Chandler.
We’ll officially get together the last Wednesday of every month. We say “official” because we know a lot of you are networking every day at Gangplank. This is just an excuse for us to enjoy a great meal with like-minded individuals.
Brownbag presentations enlighten and educate, but they’re just the social appetizer. Join us for the meat (or tofu) part of the lunch at a local restaurant afterwards. We’ll go Dutch of course.
This is our way of keeping the Brownbag momentum going. So whether you’re an entrepreneur, foodie, or just want to make connections, check out Gangplank DC Lunch.
Here is the restaurant schedule. Meet at 1pm, after Brownbag Soapbox. (The last Wednesday of the month.)
And if you haven’t had enough, stick around for Hack Night when Gangplank is open late.
Let’s call it dessert. Hey, we might as well keep this metaphorical meal going!
Guest Post by: Francine Hardaway
First let me tell you that I’m not what you think of as the average Gangplanker. (BTW, there isn’t one.) I don’t code, I’m a woman, and I’m probably twenty-five years older than everyone else. But they never allow me to feel that way, and they inspire me every day.
I discovered Gangplank back in its beginning, when the offices were in Integrum’s space over the candy distributor. But that’s not what drew me in. As a long-time member of the Phoenix tech business community, I was attracted to the crazy atmosphere, the pirate trappings, and the “be dangerous” attitude. The “be dangerous” was something that fit my own lifestyle.
When Gangplank moved into a bigger space, Ed and I decided to be anchors, whatever that means. I think it means you give more back to the community, both within Gangplank and surrounding it, than you get. And you do that because you know nothing can happen if you are working alone. Derek, Jade, Josh, James, Chuck, Chase – some still at Gangplank, many now graduated – made me feel like we were all in this together, whatever it was. It was like going on a scary Disney ride with a group of friends. Nothing bad could happen if you were with them.
The third location appears to be the charm. By this time, we sort of knew what we were doing and who we wanted to be. We didn’t want to be an incubator. Others could do that. Rather, we wanted to be an open collaborative workspace, reaching out into the community.
I my own case, I mentor at Gangplank at least once a month for an afternoon. That’s my way of reaching out to the community. Anyone can make an appointment to come see me, and I will try my best to set them on a path to success – or a pivot.
I also try to develop business for others in Gangplank, because that’s my skill set. I’m a referrer. And Gangplank is my trust network. If you’re my client, and I recommend someone from Gangplank to you, I feel I can guarantee you will be happy, because whoever at Gangplank is performing the service or selling the product will make sure to do their very best to make me and my client happy.
To me, Gangplank is a place very similar to the yoga studio where I practice – a “safe” place where I can grow and learn without feeling stupid, and where I feel embraced by welcoming hands. It didn’t happen overnight, but Gangplank is my family.
Hey, I’m Trish, Gangplank’s Executive Director.
Many of you know that Gangplank’s first employee, Katie Hurst headed off on new adventures in October. At that time, I was given the opportunity to challenge myself as the Executive Director for Gangplank. Many of us have already shared meals, ideas, questions, stories, and challenges. However, with a community that now extends globally, I know there are many more community members I have yet to meet. Hopefully this introduction provides a little background.
I am passionately curious. I love meeting people, exploring, and challenging myself. I started college as a parks and recreation major with an emphasis in experiential education. I had the opportunity to practice as an experiential educator while exploring team dynamics and promoting pro social behavior on NAU’s Challenge Course. It turned out team dynamics and social psychology fascinated me more than recreation. I still try to bring an element of play to everything I do, but I found myself taking social psych classes and graduated with a major in psychology.
Upon graduation, I spent several years in career and academic advising. I love seeing people pursue their passions and find meaningful employment. However, I still hoped to do something related to team building or community building. I was also starting to take an interest in under resourced communities. Two years ago I left academic advising to pursue these interests. I obtained a certificate in community development and spent my time visiting under resourced communities. It was a year full of learning and exploring the unique challenges and assets of communities around the country.
After returning to Chandler, my hometown, I came across Gangplank’s website. It completely baffled me, but piqued my interest enough that I stopped in for a brownbag several days later. I still vividly recall that day. With little idea of what I was walking into, I showed up for an open forum brown bag on the topic of “Getting involved in Gangplank”. The good thing about an open forum is engagement was expected and thus I had the chance to make a few immediate connections. The uncomfortable part was that I found myself diving into a brainstorming session on the topic of Gangplank initiatives within my first hour at Gangplank. In the spirit of giving before you get, I went ahead and offered to volunteer my skills in event planning. Katie however contacted me several days later and asked me to join the GP staff as a marketing and events intern (in this instance intern was purely a code word for unpaid staff member). I never would have imagined that this scenario of diving in during uncomfortable situations would come to characterize my time with Gangplank. It often feels like my role with Gangplank changes daily. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with intelligent and capable individuals as I continue to take on this challenge. A few fun facts:
I would love the chance to meet you you as well. If we haven’t met yet, please introduce yourself if you see me around or feel free to shoot me a message.
Guest post by Greg Taylor
I will be first to admit Gangplank is flawed. We cannot be all things to all people, I admit it. We are a group of organized unorganized people who are trying to make a difference. We seek better ways to run companies, new avenues to launch projects, a different avenue for professional networking and most of all challenging the status quo.
I was introduced to Gangplank by Jeff Moriarity in 2008. I had just been fired from a job I hated, working for people I didn’t like. I needed a place to go and be around other “professionals” and work on some ideas I had for a business, which later became Marketing Press. I walked in Gangplank soon there after and never really left.
Although, I took on another job I grossly underperformed at, sorry Ted – the Gangplank mentality was instilled in how I conducted myself. What if I tried to help, more than I sought to be helped? What if I gave away all my “secrets” on how I want to run a business? What if I tried to collaborate with other people I once thought of as competitors? What if I… the list went on and on.
I was able to break free of traditional thinking with this cast of characters and say, “It’s time for something different.”
Fast forward to 2013. After many years of working at Gangplank, I can look back and see that I’ve received exactly what I’ve put into the community. Now these people are not only contemporaries, but they are also friends – and together I don’t think there is anything that’s impossible.
If you are looking for something different, check us out. If after checking us out, you decide our culture is not for you, don’t give up on the collaborative coworking model – find (or create) a spot that’s suited for you. Just do something.
Guest post by Katie Hurst
The past two years have been an incredible period of growth for both Gangplank as an organization, and myself. When Derek asked if I was interested in coming on board in the summer of 2010, I never expected the job to change my life. Gangplank has challenged me in ways I never imagined and for that I am very grateful.
But everything good thing must eventually come to an end.
Next month, my husband and I will be moving to Portland and I will be leaving my full-time role with Gangplank. I say full-time role because I will never leave Gangplank entirely, just as it will never leave me. Gangplank is a philosophy – a set of values I’ve so fully embraced it would be impossible for me not to carry them into the next step of my journey. I plan to continue volunteering from a far, proving Gangplankers can be a part of the community no matter where they go. Who knows? Sometime in the near future you may be able to visit me at Gangplank Portland!
The best part of my “retirement”? I get to pass along this amazing leadership opportunity to Assistant Director and former Gangplank Event/Marketing intern Trish Gillam. Trish has been my right hand for awhile now and has a passion for community development that will greatly benefit Gangplank. She is the perfect individual to be leading our organization into the next phase of growth.
I will greatly miss all my Gangplank friends and our partners across Arizona. Yet, I know I’m leaving Gangplank in great hands – those of our local Directors, Initiative leaders, program volunteers, Anchors and drop-ins. You will all help make Gangplank great and spread our manifesto throughout the world. It’s truly been an honor.
Check out my brownbag talk on the lessons I’ve learned through my time at Gangplank and how they can help you.
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. These activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors—introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities.
Gangplank hopes to bring together the creativity, innovation and communities from our locations across the U.S. for GEW, November 12-18, 2012.
We are looking for individuals from each site who are passionate about promoting entrepreneurship as a way of life to join Gangplank’s GEW Planning Committee. If you are interested, please fill out the form below and our Global Operations Director will be in touch with you shortly. We look forward to working with you!