Vast Coworking is the world's largest privately owned franchisor of coworking spaces, with locations across the U.S. and internationally. Our network of complementary workspace brands, including Venture X, Office Evolution, Intelligent Office, and Intelligent Assistant, is built to give entrepreneurs, teams, and growing businesses the space, services, and support they need to operate at their best.
Vast Coworking is the world's largest privately owned franchisor of coworking spaces, with locations across the U.S. and internationally. Flexible workspace demand continues to grow, with coworking now representing a multi-billion dollar segment of the commercial real estate market and no sign of slowing.
Vast Coworking is made up of a diverse, purpose-driven family of brands committed to the success of local entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities. Whether you’re launching Intelligent Office, Office Evolution, or Venture X, our ecosystem delivers premium workspace, advanced infrastructure, and a collaborative network at scale.
Intelligent Office pioneered the concept of flexible workspace.
Intelligent Office was the first brand to commercialize virtual office space.
Intelligent Office went under a major rebranding, continuing to pioneer the flexible workspace industry
Joining Vast means aligning with a top-tier coworking franchise in the U.S., integrated into a globally respected franchising empire.
Coworking in North America is booming—nearly 150 new spaces added in Q1 2025 alone, and Vast is primed to ride this wave.
Vast's infrastructure equips franchisees with scalable systems, global training, regional conferences, and multi-brand synergy.
Jason Anderson is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vast Coworking, where he leads a portfolio that includes Venture X, Office Evolution, Intelligent Office, and Intelligent Assistant. His background spans franchising, real estate, marketing, technology, and business development. Anderson served as President of Venture X from 2019 to 2021 and again beginning in 2023, while also holding executive leadership roles across Office Evolution and Intelligent Office. He brings an operator-focused approach to expanding flexible workspace brands and supporting franchise growth.
Paula Mercer is Chief Operations Officer of Vast Coworking, leading operational strategy and franchise support across the company's flexible workspace portfolio. She became Vice President of the Vast entities in 2024 and was appointed Chief Operations Officer in 2026. Her prior leadership roles include Vice President of Operations for Venture X and Office Evolution, where she supported franchise operations, new location openings, and system initiatives. Mercer holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Liberty University.
Chris Baszto joined Vast Coworking as Chief Marketing Officer in 2026, leading marketing strategy across the company's family of brands. Before Vast, he held senior marketing leadership roles at Industrious through its 2025 acquisition by CBRE and previously led digital planning, optimization, analytics, and media work at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Wavemaker, Razorfish, and Hearts & Science. His experience includes work for brands such as Microsoft, Barclays, P&G, and Amgen. Baszto earned a communications degree from Colorado State University.
Ozlem Soyturk joined Vast Coworking as Chief Financial Officer in 2026, leading financial strategy, planning, and analysis across the organization. Before Vast, she served as Chief Financial Officer of Endeavor Schools, where she helped support the company's expansion from 34 to more than 110 locations. Earlier in her career, she held technical accounting and finance roles at Hertz and worked across PwC's Istanbul, Toledo, and Detroit offices, including assurance and transformation leadership roles. Soyturk earned a B.S. in Economics from Istanbul University.
Ryan Harris is Brand President for Intelligent Office and Intelligent Assistant and has served as President since 2025. He brings direct franchise-owner experience as managing partner of Intelligent Office locations in Arizona since 2013 and Colorado since 2022. That operator background gives Harris a practical perspective on real estate strategy, local business growth, customer experience, and franchisee support. He was recognized as Intelligent Office's 2019 Franchise Owner of the Year.
Evan Opel is Director of Sales for Vast Coworking's workspace brands, a role he assumed in 2026. His franchise development career includes regional leadership across Venture X, Office Evolution, Intelligent Office, Intelligent Assistant, and other franchise systems. Opel brings a sales-focused perspective to identifying qualified franchise partners and expanding the Vast network.
Mike Speights is a Regional Vice President at Vast Coworking, supporting franchise development across the Southeast. His background combines franchise growth, business development, and entrepreneurship. From 2021 to 2023, he served as Director of Marketing and Business Development for Sunbelt Business Advisors, and from 2011 to 2020 he co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of The Foodery. That operating experience informs his work with prospective owners and growing franchise markets.
Jake Gerardi is a Regional Vice President at Vast Coworking, promoted to the role in 2026 after serving as Brand Development Manager for the company's workspace brands from 2024 to 2026. He joined franchise development in 2023 and has supported growth across Venture X, Office Evolution, Intelligent Office, and Intelligent Assistant. Gerardi graduated from North Greenville University in 2023 and holds a Six Sigma White Belt certification.
Darcy Masciotro, CFE, is VP of Strategic Partnerships at Vast Coworking, where she focuses on evaluating our existing partner and vendor network, strengthening key relationships, expanding our referral partner network, developing new strategic alliances, and implementing clear KPIs to measure the results and value generated through these partnerships. Masciotro brings experience in franchise operations, sales growth, business coaching, and small-business support.
Brad Johansson is Vice President of Franchisee Development at Vast Coworking. He supports growth initiatives across the company's flexible workspace brands, with a focus on franchise development and expanding the network of operators. His experience includes franchisee development leadership for Venture X and Office Evolution. Johansson studied at the University of Colorado Boulder and Liberty University.
Matt Cozza is Vice President of Development at Vast Coworking, leading real estate and development initiatives across the company's workspace brands. His corporate real estate background includes site selection, construction, financing, and development for franchise systems as well as schools, restaurants, grocers, and pharmacies. Cozza works across location strategy and project development to help new and expanding workspace locations move from opportunity to opening.
Mandy Jimenez is Director of Marketing at Vast Coworking, supporting marketing strategy and franchisee growth across the company's flexible workspace brands. Her experience spans paid advertising, social media content, search engine optimization, print and digital media, and content development for international brands. Mandy works with franchise owners and internal teams to translate brand strategy into practical local marketing programs.
Sarah Kittel is Technology Manager at Vast Coworking, supporting the technology function across the company's flexible workspace portfolio. She works within Vast's operations team to help maintain the systems and technology foundation that supports the organization's brands and franchise network.
Melissa Laing is a Franchise Business Consultant and Corporate Trainer at Vast Coworking. She joined the organization in a business development role for Intelligent Office and brings a background in customer service, management, franchise ownership, and entrepreneurship. Her experience also includes co-founding a charter academy, giving her a practical perspective on business operations, leadership, and community-focused growth. Laing is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Steve Choy is a Franchise Business Consultant at Vast Coworking, supporting franchise owners across the company's flexible workspace portfolio. He works as part of Vast's broader franchise support team, providing business guidance to local operators as they manage and grow their locations.
Assata Black, MS, is a Franchise Business Consultant at Vast Coworking with a background in flexible workspace operations, real estate, and business strategy. She holds an ARGUS certification issued in 2024 and a real estate broker/sales agent credential, and she studied at Georgia State University's J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Black brings an analytical, operations-focused perspective to supporting franchise businesses and local market performance.
Kianna Ford is a Franchise Business Consultant at Vast Coworking with a background in coworking operations, community management, and multi-market team leadership. Before joining Vast, she held leadership roles with Common Desk, including Area Director, after progressing through community management positions beginning in 2020. Ford earned her bachelor's degree from Baylor University in 2017, where she studied journalism and public relations and held student leadership roles.
