Cubicle or open concept — which do you prefer?
Remote work remains a fixture of the post-pandemic workplace, but in 2026, hybrid roles are slightly more common than fully remote ones, and about 80 percent of Americans work in an office at least some of the time.
For hybrid employees and employers, the question is how to make those office days worthwhile. Space isn’t cheap, and who wants to spend eight hours under fluorescent lights just to log onto Zoom meetings they could have taken from home?
One of the biggest tradeoffs of working remotely has been the loss of everyday interactions with coworkers. In response, many offices have traded rows of private cubicles for open, communal spaces designed to encourage connection, while others have introduced designated collaboration days, team-building activities and other opportunities to bring employees together.
As hybrid work continues to reshape the workplace, we caught up with local businesses to learn how they’re fostering connection in the digital age.
And below, meet our five remaining Young Professionals.
– Dakota Morlan, managing editor
Comstock’s 2026 Young Professionals: Cameron Tyler Is Steering Big Ideas From Pitch to Production
Cameron Tyler is the 32-year-old vice president of operations for Misfit, a branding, marketing and advertising agency, as well as the head of production for Moonracer, its 2019 spinoff video company.
Robert Sarkisian Is Translating the Rules of a Changing Workplace
Once a translator for Russian-speaking customers at Best Buy, Robert Sarkisian now helps employers navigate the legal questions surrounding workplace artificial intelligence.
Ryan Sypkens Is Elevating Young Athletes On and Off the Court
Nearly 10,000 athletes have come through Ryan Sypkens’ academy, where basketball is the starting point for lessons that extend far beyond the court.
Anthony Uribe Is Creating New Traditions for Sacramento
Whether strengthening tribal operations or reviving a neighborhood festival, Anthony Uribe enjoys bringing people together around shared experiences.
Connor Westover Is Carrying a Family Business Into Its Next Chapter
An unexpected succession placed Connor Westover in charge of his father’s company years ahead of schedule, prompting a strategic shift toward healthcare and service work.
Some recommendations from our editors
Jennifer: This week I’m reading the novel “Alexandre Chenevert,” published in English as “The Cashier,” a midcentury classic by Canadian author Gabrielle Roy. What interests me most about the novel is its precise depiction of late-1940s city life, from commuting on the tramways to lunches in canteens done up in chrome and faux marble. While the novel, like many of its era, does its best to depict the city as a dehumanizing machine, I can’t help but think this version of working life — in which people actually interact with each other all day — is more human than the car-bound world we live in now.
Dakota: Last weekend, we took a nocturnal tour on Lake Tahoe through Clearly Kayak, which offers a range of self-propelled boat experiences. Ours was in transparent (plexiglass?) kayaks that were lined with LED lights, which we controlled with a remote. Once out on the lake, we grouped together and turned off the lights to take in the stars. We also got to see the beavers and muskrats working the night shift.
Odds and ends
Our July issue celebrates America’s 250th anniversary and the Capital Region’s emerging young leaders. Read it now on your computer, phone or tablet.
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