The Resident Difference: Community Management Done Right
Why Our Community Managers Change Everything
The difference between a coworking space that works and one that doesn't comes down to one thing: the people running it. Here's why we invest more in our team than our furniture.
The Coworking Industry's Open Secret
Walk into most coworking spaces and you'll meet grumpy faces at the front desk. They'll show you where the coffee is, help you print something, maybe remember your name after a few visits. They're office managers and receptionists keeping the lights on.
They were hired to build a community, but they weren’t given the tools, training, or authority to do it.
The typical coworking space invests heavily in design, furniture, and their amenities. Then they staff it with people who aren’t paid well, give them no budget, and wonder why their "community" never materializes beyond awkward happy hours with leftover pizza.
A Services Business, Not a Real Estate Play
Most coworking companies think they're in the real estate business. They lease space, subdivide it, and collect rent. The community manager is an afterthought and basically someone to field maintenance requests and restock the snacks.
We think we're in the services business. You're not paying for square footage. You're paying for an environment that accelerates your success. That requires exceptional people with the skills, autonomy, and resources to make things happen.
How We Hire Differently
Top 1% Talent, Generously Compensated
We hire community managers the way venture-backed startups hire their software engineers: selectively and with compensation packages that attract exceptional talent.
Our community managers have backgrounds in hospitality, event management, and community building. They've hustled at top-tier startups, managed high profile client relationships, and built strong relationships with members.
We pay them accordingly. Our compensation is 50-100% above industry standard for coworking community managers, with incentives aligned to member satisfaction, retention, and the quality of connections they facilitate.
When your community manager is paid like the strategic asset they are, they show up differently. They care about outcomes, not just tasks. They remember the details. They take initiative.
Empowered to Act in Your Interest
Real Budget, Real Discretion
Every Resident community manager has a discretionary budget to spend on you. Not "request approval and wait three days" budget. Real authority to make decisions in the moment that improve your experience.
- Not feeling well? Your community manager might call you an Uber home…on us.
- Closed a major deal? You might get a bottle of champagne on your desk with a handwritten note.
- Pulled an all-nighter? Don't be surprised if breakfast from your favorite spot arrives unannounced.
- Mentioned you're hosting out-of-town investors? Your community manager might have recommendations, reservations made, and a curated list of talking points about why Flatiron is the right home for your next chapter.
These aren't scripted gestures. They're human responses from people who are empowered to see you as an individual, not a ticket number.
What This Means for You
You'll notice the difference immediately.
Your community manager knows your business.
Not just what you do, but your current challenges, goals for the quarter, and who in the space might be valuable to know.
Introductions are strategic, not random.
"You both should meet" becomes "I think Sarah could help with your enterprise sales strategy. She just scaled a similar motion at her last company. Want me to intro you both?"
You have an ally.
Someone who's genuinely invested in your success, who will go to bat for you, and who treats your wins like their own.
"I've worked in five coworking spaces across Manhattan. Resident is the first where the community manager actually knows my business well enough to make valuable introductions. She's connected me with incredible founders and like-minded people.”
- Andrea Simon, Founder at bbg