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Michigan Suburbs Alliance expands its office space virtually

Thursday, December 11, 2008

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Ferndale

The size of Michigan Suburbs Alliance is growing physically but its office space is expanding virtually.

The non-profit calls a 500-square-foot office in downtown Ferndale home for its eight employees. But that space has become increasingly cramped as the staff has grown, leaving the alliance with a choice � expand or go virtual. It choose to go virtual, expanding its staff's technical capabilities and its office's flexibility.

"We figured out we need to use out office space in a different way than we are right now," says Melanie Piana, associate director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance. "We already have a second office. It's the Woodward Avenue Brewers."

That's Piana poking fun at the idea of working in a public place, like a coffee shop, bar or library. The alliance has invested in new laptops, video-conference technology and cell phones for staff. The idea is to make the staff flexible enough to work virtually from home or a coffee shop.

It has also invested in furniture that allows the employees to easily rearrange the office to suit it needs to a specific circumstance.

The alliance will let its newest troop of 20 interns work virtually this summer. The interns will work from city halls across Metro Detroit, but keep in touch with the alliance's leaders through the Internet, phone calls and meetings.

Source: Melanie Piana, associate director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance
Writer: Jon Zemke