It’s a big day here at Vibe Coworks. Please join us in welcoming about Leah Persinger as our new Community Manager!
Leah has worked and volunteered in Kitsap County for the last 30 years, directing dinner auctions, 24-hour walks and company events; advocating for access to locally grown food; giving people keys to their dream homes; and even managing bars.
Lucky for us, she’s no stranger to Vibe either… she’s been roaming our halls since 2018, when she and her fellow board members at Kitsap Cancer Services began using Vibe regularly to hold board meetings. By the time she launched her own real estate practice, Leah Persinger Professional Realty Services, in 2020, she was hooked.
It was then, in the spring of 2020, that Leah became a true known fixture within the Vibe community. Undeterred by the unknowns of life in a pandemic, she took up the role of Space Captain through the Vibe Host program, helping to run the day-to-day operations at Vibe in exchange for the unlimited membership that she leveraged to run her thriving real estate practice from the space. Needless to say, if you’ve enjoyed a cup (or 10!) of coffee, or appreciated the most sanitized of sanitized workspaces over the course of the last year, you’ve got Leah to thank!
In her new role as Community Manager, Leah will be stepping up to be the ultimate keeper of the Vibe member (and guest!) experience, constantly serving as a connector of dots between members, sparking conversations, facilitating introductions, and serving as the Face of the Space and Keeper of the Culture.
You’ll also find Leah spearheading valuable member gatherings and workshops, and supporting you and your business in holding five-star training meetings, retreats and conferences at Vibe Coworks and our at building, The Centennial, as we get beyond COVID19 and are able to gather in person once again (huzzah!!!)
When she’s not at Vibe, be sure to look for Leah over at the Bremerton Farmer’s Market, where she serves on the board. If she’s not there, she’s likely either: A) showing houses and properties to potential buyers, B) elbow deep in her garden; C) out for a stroll with her rescue dog, Duke or D) catching a wave on her surfboard somewhere along the Washington coast.
Ready to meet her? If you haven’t already, it’s time!
You might remember a terrific profile story on Leah that ran awhile back on our blog, written by fellow Vibe member and professional writer, Susan O’Meara, titled Bremerton’s Leah Persinger on real estate, giving back and living life. Start there! Or, for the nutshell get-to-know-Leah version… read on.
What’s your funniest Vibe moment to date?
Leah: The dishwasher. I was “initiated into Vibe”, as they call it. It’s so sneaky, so quiet, that when the dishwasher is running, you can’t hear it. So if you happen to accidentally open it during a cycle, WHOOSH. You’re totally sprayed. I got soaked in front of a bunch of people!
Do you have a favorite nonprofit organization that you wish more people knew about?
Leah: Oh, man. That’s SO hard. I’m uber passionate about philanthropic work and there are sooooo many organizations that I wish people knew about. If I had to pick just one, I think it would be First Descents. It’s a nonprofit that provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults (ages 18 – 39) impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions.
I’m a cancer survivor myself, and I went on one of First Descents’ adventures in 2015. Meeting 20 other survivors on that trip really impacted my life. Since then, I’ve volunteered as a “camp mom” on several trips. We’ve gone rock climbing in Leavenworth, kayaked the San Juans. It’s wonderful how these experiences take your mind off cancer but also connects you to others and the world.
Got any phobias you’d like to break?
Leah: I have a phobia of trying international foods. So I’m working on it.
Do you collect anything?
Leah: I collect mugs. I break them often, though, so collection may be a stretch. Ha! But, I love collecting them from different places.
What’s something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?
Leah: I want to travel outside of the US and go to Germany. My stem cell donor lives in Germany and I cannot wait to finally have the chance to meet her in person. Making that trip happen is my #1 goal for this year.
Tell us about something you’re learning right now.
Leah: I’m learning how to play the guitar…slowly. I have a baritone ukulele and acoustic guitar that were passed down from my grandparents. I’m hoping learning the guitar will lead to some uke jamming!
What are you most excited about seeing / doing / trying in your new role as Community Manager?
Leah: I’m excited about seeing the Vibe community growth, and member relationships build. I am stoked to be able to bring events back to Vibe again, and be able to attend the Coworking Manager University program, which includes community managers from coworking spaces all across the country. Vibe is such an incredible place, and I’m really excited to be a part of this next chapter in the company’s growth. I’m looking forward to testing out new processes and ways of doing things, and really expanding our community outreach.
Also: we’re currently recruiting for two new Space Captains as part of the Vibe Host Program! I’m really excited about that. If you’re at all interested in being more deeply involved in the community here, and trading front desk time for an unlimited membership, please come talk to me!
And last but not least…
How can members and community partners to introduce themselves and share ideas with you?
Leah: Come by and say hi! I’ll be here at the front desk often and would love to learn more about what you do, what makes you tick, and what you’re truly passionate about. Have an idea about a workshop, event, speaker or volunteer activity you’d like to see here at Vibe—or that you would like to offer to our members? Did you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about something that would make your experience here at Vibe even better? I want to hear about that, too!
In addition to catching me in person at Vibe most days of the week, you can also find me on the Vibe Slack workspace, or reach me by email any time.