Special for The Republic

Nov. 15, 2006 12:00 AM

Advantage Office Suites
4805 E. Thistle Landing Drive
Ahwatukee Foothills

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Information: (480) 346-4200

www.advantageofficesuites.com

Kind of business: Owners and on-site managers of office suites and virtual office services.

What they do: Lease office suites, and offer and manage amenities and services for small businesses or home-based businesses.

How they do it: Six-month to five-year office leases with phone and Internet setup. Two receptionists greet visitors and answer phones by company name. Companies receive an address for mail and meetings.

Products/services: Suites 125 to 1,500 square feet, conference rooms of different sizes, janitorial services, café, satellite TV, copy center, workout room with equipment, restrooms with showers and lockers, building security and company name on hallway sign, mailbox and outside monument listing.

Extras: For a fee, set up phone and Internet services, office furniture, arrange catering, locker rental for virtual offices, secretarial services. Free extras include conference rooms, training rooms, 24/7 key cards for back door.

Facility: One building with 25,000 square feet, 27 suites. A second building with 30,000 square feet, 45 suites.

Customers: Small businesses or home-based businesses that don't want to pay for the overhead of a traditional office but want a professional image and presence.

Owners: O. Mark DeMichele, who headed Arizona Public Service from 1988 to 1997, and Judson Ball, chairman and chief executive officer of Plumwood Corp. Lisa Franz, 29, is the on-site vice president and general manager.

Beginnings: Started in May 2004 under the name Phone Jockey.

DeMichele and Judson, who formed Urban Realty Partners, developed the office park and began to offer services for virtual offices in May 2004 under the name of PhoneJockey. In July 2004, they took over management of the office suites and last month changed the company name to reflect the suites and company growth.

News flash: Advantage plans to open a 40,000-square-foot building with 40 office suites in January at Cooper and Ray Roads in Chandler.

Quote: "I like helping people realize their business dream and seeing them grow from a virtual office into a suite and then into multiple offices," Franz said. "It's also nice because all the businesses in the building use each other."