From Lawyers to Screenwriters, and Everything In Between: Welcome to W@tercooler

Today, there are about 2,500 co-working spaces globally, and over 80 in New York City alone. Yet, despite the concept’s numbers, most people still have no clue what co-working truly is.

For years, modern technology has allowed for employees and self-run businesses to work from home.  But typing on a laptop in a coffee shop or making phone calls from your kitchen table can get stale. For many, the solitude and lack of inspiration make working in a non-office setting a struggle.

A few years ago, Tarrytown’s Jenifer Ross was one of these at-home workers. As a consultant, Ross had the flexibility to make her own hours, and work from anywhere. But Ross missed a sense of community and creativity that you get when working around others.

“I thought to myself, there must be a better way,” Ross said. So, three years ago, Ross began doing research on the relatively new idea of co-working space. The gist: people who work from home can come into an area and work independently, but communicate with each other, and form a synergetic group.

Ross loved the idea so much she decided to create W@tercooler, a co-working space of her own—and the first of Westchester. Ross bought an old tae kwon doe studio and redesigned the area herself, emulating the look of a New York City loft rather than an office.

W@tercooler opened in June of 2011.

A little over two years later, Ross has found herself in the midst of a successful business venture. Since it’s opening, W@tercooler has had between 120 and 130 members over the course of its two years, and  currently serves 55 members.

Members include start-ups, self-employed workers, remote employees and even the unemployed, who are seeking for inspiration. Non-for-profit and for-profit businesses alike work at W@tercooler.

Ross believes that The W@tercooler can offer much more to an independent worker than a local Starbucks.

“There is daily inspiration and fuel from people who are living their dream here,” Ross said. “The members have access to one another’s knowledge, the ability to ask questions to people in similar situations, a constant exchange of ideas, a second set of eyes, and human to human support.”

In addition the mental stimulation, W@tercooler also offers tangible elements, as well—like toner, printing paper, coffee, snacks, a desk, office supplies and countless workshops.

W@tercooler has held around two workshops a week since it’s opening, on both social and educational topics. Speakers have brought in to teach members and others about subjects including intellectual property, marketing strategies and how to use Evernote.

Members are also privy to a discount card for downtown shops and restaurants in Tarrytown—some 35 merchants in town are part of W@tercooler advantage program. Members’ co-working visa also grants access to global workspaces, allowing them to set up shop in a co-working space abroad, free of charge.

Currently, Ross is in the process of opening a second location in White Plains. Additionally, she is trying to attain an expansion license, so that new locations around Westchester and Rockland can be opened and self-managed.

“At Watercooler, there’s no office politics or competition,” Ross said. “Everyday is just such a great day.”

W@tercooler is and has been home to an extremely wide variety of professionals, including lawyers, freelance writers, marketing strategists, a DJ, a reverend, a wedding photographer and a college essay coach.

Bob Levine was unemployed when he started working at W@tercooler.

Inspired by all of the self-run businesses he was seeing, he started his own travel agency. Todd Gordon was a retired lawyer who decided to become a screenplay writer; now, he spends his days writing and reaching out to agents and studios. Karen Khun works from the space as theManaging Director of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

Stay tuned as Patch explores the venue’s various professionals.