Heidi Lekan welcomes remote workers at WingSpace.
The web-touted “entrepreneurial ecosystem offering furnished, amenity-rich workspace to freelancers, small businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profits and remote workers supporting one another” has operated in Prescott for more than three years.
A smooth ownership handover has been assisted by Melanie Banayat, founder and owner of the enterprise. The pair hosted a transition mixer Jan. 13, at WingSpace, 371 Garden St., Suite A. Banayat said she intends to remain a WingSpace member.
“Having come from an Italian/Serbian family, I feel my life experience of hospitality is what is going to help me welcome and connect people,” Lekan explained. “I grew up knowing that the door is always open and everyone is welcome. I want WingSpace to feel that way for those in the working community.”
Lekan and her husband, Brian, and daughter, Ashley, had been seeking another type of business when Lekan’s friend and Whiskers Barkery Owner Beth Palermo invited her to a WingSpace mixer. It just happened to be the one where Banayat announced she was selling the business for a farmstead venture.
“While one might say this was a coincidence, I would say it’s a ‘God thing,’ as we were originally looking for an opportunity to open a coffee shop with our daughter,” Lekan said.
Also a realtor with United Brokers Group Real Estate (Prescott) and an employee at Whiskers, Lekan indicated that she will continue those roles as well.
“These are both areas that interest me greatly, so I will continue doing both. Real estate is a great way for me to build relationships with our community. It’s exciting to be able to help someone find a place to call their home. As for Whiskers, I love the interaction with people and their pups, so I will continue working there on a part-time basis. Having a total of five dogs between us and our daughter, I have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. And there’s always something new I learn from our customers as well. My position is considered a sales associate, but we love to refer to ourselves as ‘happy helpers.’”
Brian has been a remote worker in the software industry for 20 years; Heidi often manages real estate transactions from her home office. Of the pair, Lekan describes herself as “the social butterfly,” seeking more interaction outside the home.
“I’m all about relationships, and I believe the environment at WingSpace is a great way to build them,” she explained. “It’s hard to be involved in your community when everyone you interact with is all electronic. I need human interaction, and with what we’ve all experienced over the last year and more with the pandemic, it’s obvious we need each other.”
Raised in the Phoenix area, the Lekans moved in 2008 to Bend, Oregon. With the passing of Heidi’s mother in 2020, they came back to Arizona a little more than a year ago to be nearer to family, including her 99-year-old grandfather. Prescott was chosen for its similarity in size, climate and lifestyle to Bend.
True to her heritage, Lekan relies on family and friends to de-stress. “I’m always up for hanging out. That’s a way for me to recharge and have others pour back into my pitcher.”
Past career expertise includes serving as the “right hand” for a general manager in the country club industry and collaborating with a church team to create environments enabling people to build community.
Citing her late mother as her biggest mentor in hospitality, Lekan described Christmas open houses each year for friends and family. She also acknowledges mentors and life-long friends Jerry Olson, her former country club general manager, and Ted Baird, her pastor.
The Lekans, high school sweethearts, have been married 31 years. Their household includes an Aussie-doodle they adopted from the Yavapai Humane Society and a Westie mix they took in from the Humane Society of Central Oregon. They also loved and cared for two retired racers from Arizona Adopt a Greyhound. The couple has crewed for hot air balloon companies in the Phoenix area and owned a balloon at one time.
“The great thing about a place like WingSpace is that it brings together people from a variety of professions and backgrounds to build a community together,” Lekan said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the WingSpace community and build on the foundation created by Melanie.” QCBN
By Sue Marceau, QCBN