by David Chapman
Staff Writer
So many businesses under one roof.
That’s what The Crexent Business Centers houses, as numerous lawyers, brokers, health care professionals, real estate agents, developers, Web site professionals and other businesses of all industries and sizes call the Southside business a work home.
Like an upscale hotel, though, being a tenant doesn’t mean just getting the room. It’s the additional services that are the lure.
“It’s a full service, all inclusive, plug-and-play, bring a picture of the family to the office, office,” said The Crexent Center Manager Lisa Gufford, who’s managed the Jacksonville office since December.
The Crexent offers different levels of space and service for varying levels of business, ranging from “corporate programs” that allow more space than an executive suite might offer and include perks like electricity, real estate tax, high-speed Internet and receptionist in the base price, to the more expansive “executive program” that might suit a larger business and include “corporate program” amenities in addition to private telephone lines, personalized answering services, day offices and more.
In addition, for the business owners who want the business address and services but don’t need the physical office space, The Crexent offers virtual office space. Services for the different virtual packages can include everything from mail, package and receipt storage to custom phone answering and hours of conference room time per month.
Gufford isn’t new to the industry, as she has held similar positions with other business center corporations before seeking other ventures.
Successful then, when the Jacksonville office opened, she took the position and came in with the same ambitious goals she had in previous roles: minimize vacancies and offer extensive business functions.
The goal is to be 90–95 percent full by the end of the year, she said, which she believes is attainable. Currently, occupancy is around the 65 percent mark, but July figures are strong so far and the trend is pointing up. Gufford said business center providers like The Crexent tend to fare well in both good and bad economic conditions.
As Gufford explains, when the economy sags and businesses downsize, companies and new small business owners look for affordable space. When the economy soars, larger companies often expand and look for places like The Crexent that can offer satellite offices without expensive overhead, while the local business owner might also look for additional space.
There are many reasons why some of the building’s tenants chose the center for a workspace.
“I was looking to relocate,” said attorney David Trotti, who moved to the center in April, “and they offer a lot of services. I have plenty of room and privacy for mediations with my clients and my overhead is low.”
As opposed to smaller buildings, parking is never an issue now, he said, as the building has numerous parking lots and the security features are a welcome amenity.
The location of the building — at the intersection of J. Turner Butler Boulevard and I-95 — also has opened up his business to areas all over the City.
One attorney who branched out on her own also uses The Crexent for her workspace, with reasons similar to Trotti.
“Primarily the low overhead,” said attorney Brenda Ezell, who was formerly with both Rogers Towers and the Office of General Counsel. “It’s a nice, comfortable space that meets the needs for both my clients and me.”
When she decided to branch out on her own, Ezell did research on other office spaces in Downtown and other areas, but liked the central location of The Crexent.
“There is a good mix of different people and businesses here, too, which makes for some fantastic networking,” she said. “It’s just so much nicer.”
It’s the networking, meet-and-greet sessions, roundtable discussions and courses — like an upcoming event about the benefits of social media — that Gufford believes sets The Crexent apart from other similar business service providers.
“We’re not just renting out an office space and saying ‘Here you go.’ We try to provide services and functions for everyone that brings additional value to their business, too,” said Gufford.
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