Coworking spaces have become the go-to office space solution for many businesses in recent years and that’s likely because they are the perfect solution for the changing needs of businesses that are growing. The flexibility offered by coworking spaces such as Venture X gives these businesses the chance to add more space as they need it without the long-term commitment. Amanda Kozell, a member at Venture X Palm Beach Gardens – City Centre, is Director of Operations for the Florida Association for Child Care Management (FACCM). FACCM is a non-profit, professional organization of child care providers dedicated to ensuring the highest quality in the early learning industry through accreditation, education and legislative advocacy.
We spent some time getting to know Amanda and her story.
What made you want to get involved in this line of work?
I have always been involved in the early learning community. I started when I was a teenager and my mother had just purchased a preschool in West Palm Beach. I spent the evenings and weekends helping out. After graduating from Florida State University, I started working at a preschool as their Assistant Director and started hearing about FACCM in the community. Through a series of fortunate events, I ended up at FACCM and am grateful to be part of such a passionate community that values early childhood education.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your job?
FACCM is comprised mainly of small business owners who own and operate child care centers. Sometimes being a small business owner can be isolating and it is very rewarding when they find community with each other. Whether it’s at one of our events or in our member forums, it’s great when we help facilitate the conversation. I enjoy when owners get answers from other owners who want to help each other. We currently have over 1,000 members that have found a community through our organization.
What’s the biggest challenge that you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
Staff transition. It is natural for any company to have staff transitions. The only way to overcome it is to make sure your existing staff feels supported and valued. If you pretend nothing changes, you’re fooling yourself
What business tips would you like to share with others?
Do not listen to respond, but listen to understand and determine if a response is needed. It’s okay to say, “Let me think about that and get back to you.” Everyone wants to prove their worth at a company and sometimes we feel we need to respond at lightning speed to everything that comes across our desk, but that is not always the best strategy.
What has been your favorite part about working at Venture X? And how long have you been a member at Venture X?
I love everything! The atmosphere, the people, the unlimited coffee, and how helpful the Venture X team is to our organization. We have bi-monthly Board meetings that are held at the offices and the Venture X team is so helpful in making sure we have everything set. I became a member in September 2019. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
A Personal Look at Amanda Kozell
As a South Florida native, Amanda loves the year-round warm weather and spends most of her free time outdoors enjoying the climate. She spends time gardening, visiting local Farmer’s Markets, going to the beach or enjoying a bite at outdoor restaurants. Palm Beach Gardens is certainly one of the most beautiful parts of the country so we can’t blame her one bit.
When we asked Amanda what has been her inspiration, she shared that her inspiration is trying to be better than she was the day before, adding “If I compare myself to others, I will spend my time focusing on them and not on what I need to do.” We found this to be a unique take on the question but weren’t surprised one bit because Amanda has a very positive vibe and there’s no doubt that’s why she’s been so successful.
Are you looking for a place that you’ll love working from? Venture X should be at the top of your list. You’ll be able to network and share ideas with other professionals in countless industries. New locations are opening every month which means our network is growing, offering members more places they can work from across the country while traveling. Our easy to understand membership plans make working at Venture X even more attractive.
Contact Venture X today and schedule a tour!
