Meet Our Team: Who is Brix Coworking?

Who you work with can be just as important as where you work, so we feel it is necessary to let you know who we are first, both professionally and personally.

Jocelyn Dornfeld

Owner, Founder

Read Jocelyn’s Story

Ashley Wiggins

Downtown Madison Manager

Read Ashley’s Story

Meet Our Team: Who is Brix Coworking?

Who you work with can be just as important as where you work, so we feel it is necessary to let you know who we are first, both professionally and personally.

Jocelyn Dornfeld

Owner, Founder

Read Jocelyn’s Story

Ashley Wiggins

Downtown Madison Manager

Read Ashley’s Story
Jocelyn Dornfeld, Founder & Co-Owner of Brix Coworking in Madison, Wisconsin

Jocelyn’s Story

“There will be a day when I can no longer do this. Today is not that day.”

- Unknown

MY EARLY YEARS

If there is one quote that I’ve had stuck in my head for years, it’s that one. I looked it up to see which famous athlete, actor, or historian said it, but my search came up empty. I know someone said it, but a big part of me is satisfied that no one has claimed those words as their own.

Growing up I was an outgoing kid. I had lots of friends but rather than a leader, I was a follower –and that sometimes…okay, most times, got me into lots of trouble. I made my decisions based on what everyone else wanted to do.

When I was a sophomore in high school, our family uprooted and moved to a significantly smaller town. Talk about a major shift in this girl’s life. I only had three years left until graduation and I was basically starting over. Except, I wasn’t outgoing anymore. I shut down.

During my sophomore year at my new school, I barely talked to anyone. In that first year, many of my classmates thought my name was Jasmine, and I didn’t correct them. I didn’t have my license yet and “long distance” phone calls were not allowed due how expensive it was. MySpace and Facebook weren’t around and a cell phone was out of the question.

I eventually pushed myself to break out of my shell and finished out high school back to my old self –including getting into lots of trouble!

When I began college, I remember walking from my car to the building and giving myself a pep talk. I told myself that this was NOT going to be a repeat of the last time I was new to a school. I told myself that I was going to walk into the classroom and sit next to someone who looked friendly and –just start talking.

I didn’t stumble across that quote until my mid-twenties but whether I knew it or not, I was making that decision my entire life. I started to see myself less as a follower and more as a leader. Pushing myself to make the first move, ask lots of questions, reach out for help, and listen to the wisdom of those who’ve walked the gravel road before me.

Fast forward to now and I can tell you that every time things get hard or I don’t think I can do it, I repeat that mantra to myself, and push past the uncomfortable moment.

EMPLOYEE TURNED ENTREPRENEUR

In 2015, I had made the decision that I wanted to own and run my own marketing agency. With the full support of my amazing husband, I dedicated every morning, night, and weekend to building my company. And in the spring of 2016, I began phasing myself off a steady paycheck and onto the rollercoaster ride of being an entrepreneur.

Now, you might be thinking – a marketing agency? Don’t you mean a coworking company?

Well, insert mantra…again. As if growing a marketing agency wasn’t hard enough, I soon found that I needed a space for my growing team and local clients to go and my home was NOT an option! I loved the concept of coworking and that inspired me to venture out and open up my own shared workspace.

I had a small wish list. A space that inspired people but didn’t just cater to start-ups and tech companies. No long-term leases or high rent costs so if you choose to work from home or come into the office, and it wasn’t an “all or nothing” expense for someone. An atmosphere that is bright and colorful to spark creativity and bring a smile to someone’s face. And a coworking community full of individuals that may not be doing what you are, but are there when you want  to ask a question, vent your frustration, or celebrate a big win.

WELCOME TO BRIX COWORKING

So, in the fall of 2017, Brix Coworking in Downtown Madison opened! We were welcomed into the community with open arms. So much so that, in 2019 we expanded to two additional floors downtown!

Bright and colorful, warm and inviting, Brix is home to many freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, small businesses and organizations, and creative professionals. Some days are quiet, some days are busy, and some days we wonder who spiked the coffee!

But no matter what day it is, I hope you say to yourself “there will be a day when I can no longer do this, but today is NOT that day” and join our Brix community.

Jocelyn Dornfeld, Founder & Co-Owner of Brix Coworking in Madison, Wisconsin

Jocelyn’s Story

“There will be a day when I can no longer do this. Today is not that day.”

- Unknown

MY EARLY YEARS

If there is one quote that I’ve had stuck in my head for years, it’s that one. I looked it up to see which famous athlete, actor, or historian said it, but my search came up empty. I know someone said it, but a big part of me is satisfied that no one has claimed those words as their own.

Growing up I was an outgoing kid. I had lots of friends but rather than a leader, I was a follower –and that sometimes…okay, most times, got me into lots of trouble. I made my decisions based on what everyone else wanted to do.

When I was a sophomore in high school, our family uprooted and moved to a significantly smaller town. Talk about a major shift in this girl’s life. I only had three years left until graduation and I was basically starting over. Except, I wasn’t outgoing anymore. I shut down.

During my sophomore year at my new school, I barely talked to anyone. In that first year, many of my classmates thought my name was Jasmine, and I didn’t correct them. I didn’t have my license yet and “long distance” phone calls were not allowed due how expensive it was. MySpace and Facebook weren’t around and a cell phone was out of the question.

I eventually pushed myself to break out of my shell and finished out high school back to my old self –including getting into lots of trouble!

When I began college, I remember walking from my car to the building and giving myself a pep talk. I told myself that this was NOT going to be a repeat of the last time I was new to a school. I told myself that I was going to walk into the classroom and sit next to someone who looked friendly and –just start talking.

I didn’t stumble across that quote until my mid-twenties but whether I knew it or not, I was making that decision my entire life. I started to see myself less as a follower and more as a leader. Pushing myself to make the first move, ask lots of questions, reach out for help, and listen to the wisdom of those who’ve walked the gravel road before me.

Fast forward to now and I can tell you that every time things get hard or I don’t think I can do it, I repeat that mantra to myself, and push past the uncomfortable moment.

EMPLOYEE TURNED ENTREPRENEUR

In 2015, I had made the decision that I wanted to own and run my own marketing agency. With the full support of my amazing husband, I dedicated every morning, night, and weekend to building my company. And in the spring of 2016, I began phasing myself off a steady paycheck and onto the rollercoaster ride of being an entrepreneur.

Now, you might be thinking – a marketing agency? Don’t you mean a coworking company?

Well, insert mantra…again. As if growing a marketing agency wasn’t hard enough, I soon found that I needed a space for my growing team and local clients to go and my home was NOT an option! I loved the concept of coworking and that inspired me to venture out and open up my own shared workspace.

I had a small wish list. A space that inspired people but didn’t just cater to start-ups and tech companies. No long-term leases or high rent costs so if you choose to work from home or come into the office, and it wasn’t an “all or nothing” expense for someone. An atmosphere that is bright and colorful to spark creativity and bring a smile to someone’s face. And a coworking community full of individuals that may not be doing what you are, but are there when you want  to ask a question, vent your frustration, or celebrate a big win.

WELCOME TO BRIX COWORKING

So, in the fall of 2017, Brix Coworking in Downtown Madison opened! We were welcomed into the community with open arms. So much so that, in 2019 we expanded to two additional floors downtown!

Bright and colorful, warm and inviting, Brix is home to many freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, small businesses and organizations, and creative professionals. Some days are quiet, some days are busy, and some days we wonder who spiked the coffee!

But no matter what day it is, I hope you say to yourself “there will be a day when I can no longer do this, but today is NOT that day” and join our Brix community.

Ashley Wiggins, Downtown Madison Location Manager of Brix Coworking in Madison, Wisconsin

Ashley’s Story

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."

- A.A. Milne

MY EARLY YEARS

Hi everyone! My name is Ashley and I am the newest member of the team here at Brix Coworking.

As a kid, jumping around (both in energy and moving from place to place) was a way of life for our family. Before you get too worried, I was a military brat for my first 9 years. As I was moving into 6th grade, we moved for the last time to a small town in southwest Michigan.

It was great to have a place to settle in and I really started to experiment with who I was and what I loved since I finally had the chance to develop it! I quickly found that I loved to coordinate, plan, host events and make friends with everyone I came into contact with. From helping my mom plan and run all of her holiday events to planning fundraisers with my school groups, I knew that this was what made me happy.

MICHIGAN VS. WISCONSIN

It wasn’t until I started college at Central Michigan University (Fire Up Chips!) that I was finally able to find the physical manifestation to send me off to my future; a B.A.A. in Commercial Recreation and Event Management. From there, I bounced around trying to find the perfect job fit. When nothing was working in Michigan, I decided to up and move to Wisconsin to pursue other opportunities and experiences. I have since become a true lover of cheese and cheese curds though I will always love the Michigan sports teams, particularly the Red Wings!

ANOTHER BRIX IN THE WALL…

Since moving and joining the Brix team, I have gained a newfound love and respect for the coworking industry and I truly believe that there are many parallels between it and the events industry. I have loved meeting and creating a positive relationship with all the members here at Brix and I can’t wait to continue to grow, not only personally or professionally, but the company together with the amazing team we have here!

A few other things that I think everyone should know: I enjoy reading and will consume anything fantastical as fast as possible, binge-watching my favorite shows and enjoying the sunshine. I also recently adopted a cat and love to talk about her and show everyone pictures, excessively. I also love to meet new people and enjoy chatting about coworking with everyone I encounter!  I would be thrilled to meet you so give me a call any time you want to learn more about Brix and coworking!

Ashley Wiggins, Downtown Madison Location Manager of Brix Coworking in Madison, Wisconsin

Ashley’s Story

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."

- A.A. Milne

MY EARLY YEARS

Hi everyone! My name is Ashley and I am the newest member of the team here at Brix Coworking.

As a kid, jumping around (both in energy and moving from place to place) was a way of life for our family. Before you get too worried, I was a military brat for my first 9 years. As I was moving into 6th grade, we moved for the last time to a small town in southwest Michigan.

It was great to have a place to settle in and I really started to experiment with who I was and what I loved since I finally had the chance to develop it! I quickly found that I loved to coordinate, plan, host events and make friends with everyone I came into contact with. From helping my mom plan and run all of her holiday events to planning fundraisers with my school groups, I knew that this was what made me happy.

MICHIGAN VS. WISCONSIN

It wasn’t until I started college at Central Michigan University (Fire Up Chips!) that I was finally able to find the physical manifestation to send me off to my future; a B.A.A. in Commercial Recreation and Event Management. From there, I bounced around trying to find the perfect job fit. When nothing was working in Michigan, I decided to up and move to Wisconsin to pursue other opportunities and experiences. I have since become a true lover of cheese and cheese curds though I will always love the Michigan sports teams, particularly the Red Wings!

ANOTHER BRIX IN THE WALL…

Since moving and joining the Brix team, I have gained a newfound love and respect for the coworking industry and I truly believe that there are many parallels between it and the events industry. I have loved meeting and creating a positive relationship with all the members here at Brix and I can’t wait to continue to grow, not only personally or professionally, but the company together with the amazing team we have here!

A few other things that I think everyone should know: I enjoy reading and will consume anything fantastical as fast as possible, binge-watching my favorite shows and enjoying the sunshine. I also recently adopted a cat and love to talk about her and show everyone pictures, excessively. I also love to meet new people and enjoy chatting about coworking with everyone I encounter!  I would be thrilled to meet you so give me a call any time you want to learn more about Brix and coworking!

Work Smarter, Not Harder

At Brix Coworking, our goal is to help people work to live—not just live to work. 

We’ve designed our coworking space with an energizing and inspiring atmosphere to attract and engage a growing community of like-minded, driven professionals. Our shared amenities make coming to work a pleasure, and our month-to-month memberships make it easy and affordable to invest in yourself, your career and the success of your business. 

We invite you to try out our space for one day, free of charge, to see if coworking is the right fit for you. Come see what all the buzz is about!

Schedule a Tour or Free Trial Today

Work Smarter, Not Harder

At Brix Coworking, our goal is to help people work to live—not just live to work. 

We’ve designed our coworking space with an energizing and inspiring atmosphere to attract and engage a growing community of like-minded, driven professionals. Our shared amenities make coming to work a pleasure, and our month-to-month memberships make it easy and affordable to invest in yourself, your career and the success of your business. 

We invite you to try out our space for one day, free of charge, to see if coworking is the right fit for you. Come see what all the buzz is about!

Schedule a Tour or Free Trial Today