Metro Merge Office
imagining and working together
by Nate Ledbetter on June 1st, 2009
Jeff Shinabarger, a friend and partner, recently asked Nate 5 questions about Metro Merge.
Jeff is a social entrepreneur, experience designer and is always concepting new cause marketing ideas. He is gifted at creatively communicating the needs of the poor to the greater culture and is actively launching macro and grassroots campaigns for many more-than-profit organizations. He is the co-founder of Fermi Project and spent three years as Brand Manager at Catalyst, the Next Generation Leadership Conference. His latest projects include starting a local coffee shop and launching GiftCardGiver.com. Jeff is actively restoring his neighborhood, East Atlanta Village with his wife, Andre, and boxer, Max.
Feel free to email Jeff with any questions or thoughts at jeff@jeffshinabarger.com
by Andrej Ciho on March 11th, 2009
We just posted some new pictures of Metro Merge on Flickr: here.
by Andrej Ciho on March 10th, 2009
Yesterday
- completed all furtniture assembly
- completed proposal and business forecast
- finished cleaning
- ordered lockers
- got internet, phone and fax lines
- printed an article to hand out at the night of the grand opening
- confirmed the flow of the grand opening for 3/19
- spoke with the Lock Doctor (front door buzzer), scheduled an appt. for Friday
Today
- purchase and install wireless router
- final touch-ups
- submit proposal and business forecast
- share vision with partners
by Andrej Ciho on March 9th, 2009
Friday (and Saturday and Sunday)
- furniture almost all assembled
- all painting completed
- story boards hung
- music selection for grand opening night in process
- business forecast/pro forma almost complete
- contacted The Lock Doctor about front door buzzer
- contacted Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (helping us with waiver form and agreement)
- worked more on pricing of buckets
- spoke with some volunteers for the grand opening
- worked on language for sub-urban.org
- worked on agenda for grand opening
Today
- finish language sub-urban.org and proposal
- complete business forecast/pro forma
- complete furniture assembly
- speak with The Lock Doctor about the quote on the front door
- measure signs and provide text to Kris
- create a copy of sub-urban.org for Black Inc.
- clean/vacuum
by Andrej Ciho on March 6th, 2009
Yesterdray
- contacted the locker company (it’s in process)
- worked more on language and proposal
- met with Alethia (accounting) about key codes for cash/credit processing and brainstorming about legal issues (liability, insurance, leases)
- sent out the invitation for the grand opening
- met with Selina and spoke about the grand opening event, connected her with a few people
- spoke with Kris about web strategy
- received all furniture from IKEA (except 7 table tops, due next week)
Today
- confirm locker order
- contact property manager about how prepaid bucket of hours can be described in leases, if at all
- meeting with partner to reconnect and share vision
- confirm proposal and SEND TODAY
- phone appointment with Selina about the process of event planning
- find volunteer to paint the stairwell
- get the next awaken neighbor out
- touch base with Mr. Jackson again about the story boards
- contact Alethia about removing the hanging phone line
by Andrej Ciho on March 5th, 2009
We are very grateful to Carrie, our interior designer that has been helping us with Metro Merge. You can see some sketches she created in this album on flickr:
Carrie’s contact information is:
b|enhanced
carrie allen
creative consultant & implementer
enhancing environments. decor. fashion. events. concepts.
carrie@b-enhanced.com
770.855.5127
by Andrej Ciho on March 5th, 2009
Yesterday
- went to and purchased furniture from IKEA
- purchased couches from Craig’s list
- sent an email to Comcast wondering if they could come install connection before 3/11
- spoke with Kris from Black Inc. about metromerge.org and sub-urban.org phase 2
- worked on language for proposal and web
Today
- Meet with Selina who’s going to help us with planning the grand opening (3/19)
- Order Lockers
- E-invite to go out today
- Finish proposal numbers and language
- Schedule furniture assembly dates with Mike
- Inquire about any legal matters and processes
- Send proposal if the above details fall into place
by Andrej Ciho on March 4th, 2009
Yesterday
- met with Katie (realtor) and change the approached to the rent rates (from monthly to prepaid buckets of hours…)
- added more clarify to language for the proposal and website
- sent out another working draft of proposal to Sub-Urban’s advisors
Today
- contact Comcast
- meet with a volunteer that will potentially help us with planning the grand opening, administration
- go to IKEA to pick out and submit the furniture order in person
- nail down budget for Black Inc. for metromerge.org for short term until we hear back from the foundation (fronting the cost for now)
by Andrej Ciho on March 3rd, 2009
Yesterday
- adjusted furniture order
- spoke with the folks that shot the walk-through video to check on status
- spoke with Mr. Jackson about story boards
- worked on proposal
Today
- meet with Allison to talk about grand opening date, even plan
- talk to potential partners and schedule walk-throughs
- work on proposal
- run rent numbers but Katie, Jared, possibly James (all advisors)
- touch base with Comcast to check on status
by Andrej Ciho on March 2nd, 2009
Friday
- Signed contract with Comcast
- Sent an email to Mike Vizdos of www.implementingscrum.com
Today
- Contact Allison (event planner) about grand opening
- Contact Carrie (interior designer) about possibly adding a few more barstools and tables to the order to be able to accommodate larger groups of people for events etc.
- Confirm grand opening date
- contact potential partners and schedule walk-throughs with them
- final touches to proposal
- finalize rates (Katie & Jared)
- contact the church that made the short video on metro merge
- contact Mr. Jackson about story boards