Susan Baier of Audience Audit, has donated her services to help us learn more about our audience and messaging. Your feedback will help us better understand the Gangplank community.

You do not need to be a regular, or even a fan to participate. We’re looking for feedback from anyone that’s heard of us, so please pass the link along to others throughy our networks. Your responses are completely anonymous.

Here’s the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Gangplank

If you complete the survey by the end of the next Friday (5/25) will be entered in a sweepstakes to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card. The survey will close on June 1st and results will be presented in a blog post, as well as the June 20th Gangplank Chandler brownbag.

The more responses we get, the more statistical significant the data – so take 15 minutes of your time and help us learn more about this fantastic movement.

Original Source: Take the Gangplank Community Survey

This year, Gangplank will be hosting our first event focused exclusively on immersing others in the Gangplank philosophy on Friday, June 22nd, 2012. The ‘Walk the Plank’ Unconference is open to individuals interested in learning more about the Gangplank model, as well as discussing the impact of collaboration on various industries. The event will take place in Downtown Chandler, Arizona.

‘Walk the Plank’ is ideal for:

• Economic Development professionals
• Nonprofit leaders
• Small business and entrepreneurial support groups
• Educators
• Gangplankers!

For those unfamilar with the unconference format, the event is held a large open space instead of individual break-out rooms. The agend is participant-driven and discussions are participant-lead, with time left at the end of the event for sharing of insights and solutions.

Schedule

8:30-9:00am — Check-in & Light Breakfast
9:00-9:50am — Opening
10:00-11:00am — Session 1
11:15am-12:15pm — Session 2
12:15-1:15pm — Lunch
1:30-2:30pm — Session 3
2:45-3:45pm — Session 4
4:00-6:00pm — Presentations & Discussion

The event is free, but space is limited! Registration is below. Also, please visit our Sponsorship page.

Original Source: ‘Walk the Plank’ Unconference

Gangplank’s growth over the past year has created a fantastic network of talent, mentors and Gangplank culture, allowing Gangplank to continue to innovate.

With this growth, we’ve been making changes in order to better serve the local Gangplank communities, as well as give you the opportunity to learn about HQ’s larger vision.

As part of this mission, we have been separating Gangplank HQ updates and notifications from local Gangplank information. The latest improvement has been to our websites.

GangplankHQ.com will no longer be posting events and news local to Chandler, Arizona. Instead, this website will be a portal for those looking to connect learn more about the Gangplank Vision, or become more involved with the movement.

Local Gangplank information will be posted to location-specific websites, listed below:

Gangplank Avondale – Avondale.GangplankHQ.com
@GPAvondale | Facebook.com/GPAvondale

Gangplank Tucson – Tucson.GangplankHQ.com
@GPTucson | Facebook.com/GPTucson

Gangplank Chandler – Chandler.GangplankHQ.com
@GPChandler | Facebook.com/GPChandler

Gangplank Henrico – Henrico.GangplankHQ.com
@GPHenricoCTY | Facebook.com/GPHenrico

Gangplank Sault – Sault.GangplankHQ.com
@GPSault | Facebook.com/GPSault

Please be sure to update your networks to reflect these changes. Additionally, be sure to sign up for neighborhood Gangplank updates, as the GPHQ newsletter won’t advertise local events.

Original Source: Pardon Our Dust

This week at Gangplank:

Wednesday, April 25th

• (12:00-1:00pm) Gangplank Brownbag: Gangplank Open Forum
• (1:00-4:00pm) Mentor Office Hours Writing [RSVP]
• (6:00-11:30pm) Hacknight – Open
• (6:30-8:00pm) Learn Python the Hard Way Study Group
• (6:30-9:00pm) Beta Testing Night
• (7:00-8:30) Gangplank Street Hockey – Open
• (7:00-8:30) Intro to Video Studio – [RSVP]
• (7:00-9:00pm) Storytellers AZ – Open
• (8:00-10:00pm) Software Engineering Reading Group

Friday, April 27th

• (4:00-5:00pm) Gangplank Mile

Saturday, April 28th

• (9:00pm-12:00pm) Welcome to the Real World

Original Source: Weekly Roundup – April 24th – April 30th

This week at Gangplank:

Wednesday, April 11th

• (9:30-12:30) Mentor Office Hours Sales, Marketing and Leadership Mentor Office Hours [RSVP]
• (12:00-1:00pm) GP Brownbag: Exercise at Work
• (1:00-4:00pm) Mentor Office Hours Writing [RSVP]
• (6:30-8:00pm) Learn Python the Hard Way Study Group
• (7:00-9:00pm) Mentor Office Hours Stage, Leadership & Team Development [RSVP]
• (7:00pm) Street Hockey
• (7:00-9:00pm) Storytellers AZ
• (8:00-10:00pm) Software Engineering Reading Group

Thursday, April 12th

• (5:00-6:00pm) Chandler Small Business Association
• (6:30-8:00pm) WordPress Meetup

Friday, April 13th

• (1:00-4:00pm) Bookkeeping & Beers Meetup (All welcome!)
• (4:00-5:00pm) Gangplank Mile

Monday, April 16th

• (1:00-6:00pm) Mentor Office Hours Legal/Sales [RSVP]
• (6:00-8:00) Craft Hack Meetup

Original Source: Event Update for April 11-16

This week at Gangplank:

Wednesday, April 4th

• (11:30-12:00) Intro to Gangplank
• (1:00-2:00pm) Lunch with Gangplank Staff
• (1:00-2:00pm) Startup BBQ
• (1:00-4:00pm) Mentor Office Hours Writing [RSVP]
• (4:00-5:00pm) GP Studios Initiative [Open]
• (5:00-6:00pm) GP Jr Initiative Meeting [Open]
• (6:00pm) Hacknight [Open]
• (6:30-8:00pm) Learn Python the Hard Way Study Group
• (7:00-9:00pm) LEGO Madness for Adults
• (7:00pm) Street Hockey
• (8:00-10:00pm) Software Engineering Reading Group

Friday, April 6th

• (4:00-5:00pm) Gangplank Mile

Monday, April 9th

• (9:00am-12:00pm) Mentor Office Hours Finance/Leadership [RSVP]
• (5:00-6:00pm) Podcasting Class #2
• (6:00-7:00) Guitar Lessons – [RSVP]

Original Source: Weekly Roundup – April 3rd – April 9th

We’ve noticed the past few months more demand for our space on the weekends. So beginning Saturday, April 7th, we’re doing an 8-week trial run of Saturday hours for those with different work schedules.

Drop ins will be welcome from 9:00am-6:00pm. We’ll throw on some music or a movie to keep things in the weekend spirit =)

Original Source: Gangplank Chandler Open Saturdays Starting April 7th

Though many of our mentors make their living as professional consultants, they choose to donate their time to give back to the Gangplank community. Many startups and small companies can refer to the help of one of our fantastic mentors as a game changing moment in their business. We are incredibly grateful for their contribution and want to show them how much their donated time and services means to us.

If you’ve found the advice of our mentors useful in your business, please thank them by:

LinkedIn Recommendation
As we said, many of our mentors do this for a living. Give them a shout out they can add to their public LinkedIn profile. Click the links below for the respective mentor’s profile:

Ward Andrews
James Archer
Melissa Balkon
Mike Benner
Phillip Blackerby
Chris Conrey
David Cosand
Alan Dayley
Kevin Dixon
Michael Gillette
Jim Goulka
Ben Hall
Francine Hardaway
Mike Hawksworth
Michael Kasten
Justin Kroop
Amy Lamp
Brian LaPan
Bimal Merchant
Jeff Nielsen
Ed Nusbaum
Stuart Preston
Chuck Reynolds
Christie Simmons
Randy Spencer
Greg Taylor
Mark Wright

Tweet it to the World!
Use the #thankamentor or #whyGP hashtag when you send a 140 thank you note to the mentor of your choice. All the Twitter handles we could track down are below:

Ward Andrews
James Archer
Melissa Balkon
Mike Benner
Phillip Blackerby
Chris Conrey
David Cosand
Alan Dayley
Kevin Dixon
Ben Hall
Francine Hardaway
Justin Kroop
Amy Lamp
Brian LaPan
Ed Nusbaum
Stuart Preston
Chuck Reynolds
Christie Simmons
Randy Spencer
Greg Taylor

Write a Testimonial
Don’t have a LinkedIn profile? Email us a testimonial for your mentor to include on their website. We’ll make sure to pass it along.

Original Source: Thank a Mentor

The City of Avondale and Gangplank Avondale are hosting the grand opening of Gangplank Avondale on Tuesday, March 20 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Gangplank Avondale is located at 525 N Central Avenue in the former City Hall.

Following approval of agreements in August 2011, the building has been renovated with a focus on energy efficiency and a goal of creating an open and collaborative working environment. Updates to the building include installation of energy efficient windows, installation of four new heating/cooling units, upgrade of lighting fixtures, and demolition of interior walls to make better use of the space. Within the space, Gangplank Avondale will provide learning and networking opportunities for area small businesses, as well activities for youth, musicians and artists.

“Avondale is preparing for the 21st Century workplace by committing to an investment in education, people and innovation,” said Gangplank co-founder Derek Neighbors. “We are delighted to be working with the city to bring infrastructure, programming and opportunities to achieve this goal.”

“Avondale is proud to open Gangplank Avondale to the talented and innovative individuals of the West Valley. It is the work space for them to come together and collaborate with other entrepreneurs and small businesses owners to grow and express their business ideas,” said Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers.

Gangplank Avondale will provide West Valley small businesses and budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to work in an open and collaborative environment without the overhead costs associated with opening a business. Instead, Gangplank Avondale participants are expected to contribute by volunteering by leading workshops, weekly brownbag presentations, and mentoring fellow entrepreneurs.

Gangplank Avondale will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Gangplank Avondale, contact info@gangplankhq.com. You can also RSVP on the Gangplank Avondale Facebook page.

Gangplank is also located in Tucson and Chandler.

Original Source: Gangplank Opens Third Arizona Location

Gangplankers share their struggles and triumphs maintaining their personal relationships while running a business.

Panelists:
James and Katie Archer
Tim Agersea
Francine Hardway

Original Source: Panel of Love – Balancing Life and Work