Bio
I’m a husband and father from Grand Rapids MI. I currently work for X-Team WP building awesome web sites with WordPress.
Topher will be presenting “Site caching, from nothing to everything” at 1:30pm in Henderson Room.
Why do you use WordPress?
Initially because it provided so much of what I was looking for out of the box. Before WordPress I was building admin areas for clients so they could maintain their content. WordPress takes care of that for me.
Now the community is a big part of it as well.
When and how did you start using WordPress?
I looked at WordPress when it came out and I didn’t like it, so I wrote my own. I used that for 11 years and recently switched my own blog to WP.
Then in 2009 a client asked me to work on their WordPress site and I saw it was much cooler.
Then 3.0 came out and everything changed, and I haven’t really used anything since.
What would you tell someone to convince them to attend a WordCamp?
It’s a tremendously fun, rewarding, fulfilling experience. You’ll learn, you’ll teach, you’ll almost certainly have yummy food, and make some good friends.
Tell us about something awesome you’ve experienced at a WordCamp in the past.
Every lunch is amazing. They’re always impromptu and always filled with exciting conversation about where WordPress is going, what people are doing with it, etc. Lunches are great.
Give an example of a cool WordPress project you have worked on recently.
Last winter I helped a lot on grammys.ca. We experimented a bit with some code patterns with great success and it was fun.
What is your favorite part of WordCamps?
The open discussion. It happens between sessions, at meals, at the parties, and everywhere else.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
“Business” is much harder to do than WordPress. Being awesome at WordPress may make you think you’re ready to jump into business for yourself, but make SURE you understand what’s going on in the business side or you’ll crash and burn.
Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related.
I own a flintlock muzzle loader.
Name someone in the WordPress community who inspires you.
Pippin Williamson
What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?
“Big” is tough to define. Releasing my first plugin was huge for me, despite the fact that it’s not a huge plugin.
How have WordCamps impacted you and your business in the past?
I’ve made a zillion contacts, and that’s gotten me clients.
Fill in the blank for other attendees: “If you __________ then you should come talk to me at WordCamp”.
Want your site to respond faster.
What should someone learn before attending your talk at WordCamp Ann Arbor?
How to install plugins, and who to talk to at their host about making changes to their server.
What is your favorite WordPress related resource?
The codex.