Bio

With 15 years’ experience, Ira has become an expert in nonprofit online communications and online fundraising. Working with hundreds of organizations, Ira has managed and executed many web projects that have resulted in increased funds and resounding engagement. Since Cornershop’s founding, Ira ensures that all projects are successful by providing our clients with the best possible final product. Ira also manages all of our strategic engagements and helps guide nonprofits to determine their long-term strategy goals for online communications.

Prior to founding Cornershop, Ira was the Senior Project Manager at Firefly Partners and has also served as the Online Organizer for Free Press. Ira executed campaigns at Free Press that were awarded the 2007 People’s Choice Webby Award for Best Activism Website and the 2008 Convio Innovator Award for Best Advocacy Campaign. Ira has also previously served at American Jewish World Service, Fund for Public Interest, and Grassroots Campaigns, Inc.

Ira received a BA in Economics and Political Science from The Ohio State University and currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife, son, daughter, and two awesome cats.

Why do you use WordPress?

I use WordPress for three main reasons: (1) it is easy to use for everyone involved in a web project; (2) it is so flexible that you can run a tiny brochure site on WordPress just as easily as a complex news site; and (3) the community is so vast that it makes expanding functionality on a site as easy as possible.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I first began building sites on WordPress in 2008.

What would you tell someone to convince them to attend a WordCamp?

WordCamp is a great opportunity to learn from experts about WordPress to expand your usage of the platform, as well as network with others who are a similar position and want to improve their knowledge and skills.

Tell us about something awesome you’ve experienced at a WordCamp in the past.

n/a

Give an example of a cool WordPress project you have worked on recently.

http://globalhealthgrades.org/, http://orionmagazine.org/, and http://www.fortwashingtonchurch.org/

What advice do you have for anyone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?

As with an business, make sure you have a viable market and audience for your product and service. If so, jump in!

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related.

I was a lead organizer in getting 100,000 people to DC for a rally to Save Darfur in 2006.

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

We do a lot to improve the backend security of our sites. Of the 200+ projects I’ve helped build at Cornershop, no site we have built has ever been hacked.

How have WordCamps impacted you and your business in the past?

It has given us an opportunity to share what is working well for us and implement new features, suggestions, and improvements based on what others are doing.

Fill in the blank for other attendees: “If you __________ then you should come talk to me at WordCamp”.

work for a nonprofit or small business

What should someone learn before attending your talk at WordCamp Ann Arbor?

nothing, it’s fairly intro.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

Envato Marketplace

Where can we find you online?

• Twitter: @ira_horowitz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irahorowitz
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/horowitzira

Bio

Sara Cannon is Partner and Creative Director at Range, A WordPress Design & Development Agency. She loves design, typography, user experience, and art. Sara loves giving talks around the globe on web design, web typography, user experience and more. A seasoned designer, Sara has done work for clients such as Disney Publishing and Flickr. She loves open source, her pets, traveling, and WordPress.

Why do you use WordPress?

I use WordPress because it is secure, reliable, adaptable, and free. WordPress can fit anyone’s needs, large or small — from high traffic WordPress.com VIP clients, to local urban farms. WordPress isn’t just for small blogs — it is the backbone of large businesses, tight knit communities, web apps, and everything in between. Most importantly, WordPress is free and open source. Thanks to its license, the GPL, WordPress will remain free forever. The GPL allows you to build on the shoulders of others, granting you the freedom to reuse whatever you want, mold it, and publish it at your will.

WordPress can do anything. Not many platforms can say that and have the flexibility to scale and adapt. Some have proprietary code that you can’t touch and remake into your own. With WordPress you can remake and reuse — and you’re not alone. WordPress is a community: there are millions of people just like you sharing their code, ideas, and innovations.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

Back in 2007/2008 – I wanted to help a non profit get an manageable web presence and started with Joomla but it just was not cutting it – so I searched and found WordPress and have been hooked ever since! Little did I know at the time that this incredible platform will shape my shape career!

What would you tell someone to convince them to attend a WordCamp?

If not for the knowledge, come for the community!

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

The Community of People. WordPress is an incredible open source project that brings all sorts of people together – from users to developers. I’m always meeting interesting and passionate people at WordCamps from all walks of life. It is very inspiring.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?

Grow slow and do great work – don’t cut corners. Let a passion for quality over quantity drive you to bigger and greater things.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related.

I am an artist – I love painting and the constant process of creation. I love how making something physically with my hands adds to my design creativity and keeps me in balance with the digital world.

Name someone in the WordPress community who inspires you.

Helen Hou-Sandí – this woman does it all – she has incredible programming and leadership skills all while being a talented musician and incredible mother and wife.

How have WordCamps impacted you and your business in the past?

A WordCamp is where I first met my Business Partner – Pete Mall. The rest is history!

Fill in the blank for other attendees: “If you __________ then you should come talk to me at WordCamp”.

Love Typography

What should someone learn before attending your talk at WordCamp Ann Arbor?

You don’t need to learn anything, just come with an open mind about the process of learning, seeking, & doing. 🙂

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

poststat.us

Where can we find you online?

• Twitter: @saracannon
• Range: Ran.ge
• Original Artworks: Saracannonart.com

Bio

Kyle is the co-founder of a Jackson, Michigan based firm called Real Big Marketing which specializes in using WordPress to solve complicated problems for businesses. He is also the author of and a contributor to dozens of WordPress plugins, is the co-organizer of the Jackson WP meetup, is a co-organizer of WordCamp Ann Arbor, plays in a band and is an aspiring beer snob.

Why do you use WordPress?

Because my clients have complicated needs and I want to make all their dreams come true. WordPress empowers me to easily develop powerful, robust solutions to complex problems with incredible flexibility and community support. It also empowers my clients to get a lot done on their own thanks to its usability and the ease with which I can tailor their publishing experience to their unique needs.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I was employed at some crappy place and needed a way to power our company blog. Someone suggested WordPress so that’s what I used it for. Eventually I decided that I could run a business better than my employers so I set off on my own and started making sites for clients. Out of all the options I had available, WordPress seemed like the one with which I could do the most with the least effort. Joining my local WP meetup validated my choice and I’ve been all WordPress since.

What would you tell someone to convince them to attend a WordCamp?

Dude. You gotta go. Seriously. WordCamp is awesome. Not kidding.

Tell us about something awesome you’ve experienced at a WordCamp in the past.

Some of the most awesome experiences I’ve had that I look back on fondly are the comments I’ve received after giving a presentation that truly helped someone. Also, meeting and hanging out with experienced members of the community that I highly respect has also been exciting.

Give an example of a cool WordPress project you have worked on recently.

I made a plugin that used the wordpress.tv API to dynamically present videos in the wp-admin. That was kind of fun.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Meeting first timers and helping them with the challenges they are facing that I know I was facing only a couple years ago.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?

I’ve learned that the success of my business directly correlates with my involvement in the community I’m working in. The more people I meet, people I help and relationships I build, the better off I am. Relationships pay out a hundred fold in the long term which is what I care about.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related.

I’m addicted to situations which involve me, an audience and a microphone.

Name someone in the WordPress community who inspires you.

I’m inspired constantly by Joel Worsham’s ability to master anything in ridiculously short periods of time.

I’m inspired to run a better business by other business owners I know like Ross Johnson, Ian Wilson, Rebecca Gill, Cory Miller, Chad Warner, Justin Ferriman, Jason Crawford, Becky Davis, Pippin Williamson and many others.

So many awesome friends in the community inspire me in many other ways. Too many to name here. Would literally fill this page.

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

I’ve felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment many times when I’ve done things like released a plugin, sold a premium plugin, closed a deal with a big client, given a presentation that meant something to someone, etc. But probably the biggest has simply been keeping a business growing and making enough money to support several households. Not that easy to do, let me tell ya.

How have WordCamps impacted you and your business in the past?

Without a doubt, WordCamps have made a huge impact on my business. I’ve learned so much from them, built relationships, developed a strong network, honed my skills and also increased my sense of fulfillment and passion for my work since I’ve started attending WordCamps.

Fill in the blank for other attendees: “If you __________ then you should come talk to me at WordCamp”.

• Like craft beer
• Are into home brewing
• Want to learn to make plugins
• Are getting started with freelancing
• Are a first time WordCamp attendee
• Have tickets to a U of M football game you want to get rid of

What should someone learn before attending your talk at WordCamp Ann Arbor?

My session won’t be assuming very much but it might help to have at least experienced the backend of WordPress and played with a theme and a plugin just a little.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

Our local meetup.

Where can we find you online?

brashrebel on WordPress Slack, Github and WordPress.org

• MrKyleMaurer on Twitter
• realbigmarketing.com
• realbigplugins.com
• wproundtable.com
• clientdash.io
• kyleblog.net

We’re excited to announce our second round of speakers! Make sure to check out the other speakers and see who else will be sharing their knowledge this year.

Seth Alling

Seth Alling is a Detroit-based developer turned designer turned developer, who has been working with WordPress since 2009 and currently works as the Lead Developer for Ranch House Designs. When he’s not developing (or designing), you can find him running, playing soccer or spending time with his wife and sons.

Peter Shackelford

Peter first started using WordPress in 2005 when he was making a little website for the non-profit his wife was starting. In 2009 he did my first project as a contractor and have been building platforms, microsites, multisites etc… on WordPress ever since.

Bobby Bryant

Bobby is a Web Developer at 10up. He have been working in and around WordPress for close to two years. Prior to working in WordPress, he spent 13+ years in the US Marines as a Communications Technician.

Kevin Skarritt

Kevin is ranked as a “Top 100 Social Media Influencer for 2015” (soon to be published in Forbes Magazine) and is a ten time winner of Forbe’s “Best of the Web.” His Michigan-based digital agency, Flock Marketing, has been helping SMBEs for almost twenty years to develop powerful brands, amazing web sites and supercharged marketing campaigns.

Kyle Maurer

Kyle is the co-founder of a Jackson, Michigan based firm called Real Big Marketing which specializes in using WordPress to solve complicated problems for businesses. He is also the author of and a contributor to dozens of WordPress plugins, is the co-organizer of the Jackson WP meetup, is a co-organizer of WordCamp Ann Arbor, plays in a band and is an aspiring beer snob.

Secure Your Spot Today!

Last year we sold out… twice! Tickets are going fast, over half of them have already been sold. Purchase your ticket today and make sure you can attend.

We’re very excited to announce that John Eckman the CEO of 10up will be the keynote speaker at WordCamp Ann Arbor 2015. 10up is one of the most well known and respected WordPress agencies in the country. They have 40+ WordPress core contributors on staff and produce great open source WordPress solutions like Varying Vagrant Vagrants (VVV.)

Previously to 10up John was a Managing Director at ISITE Design, a Senior Director at Optaros, Director of Application Development at PixelMEDIA, and held a number of different roles (across front-end development, software engineering, and user experience) at Molecular.

He also blogs at Open Parenthesis on many things related to work: open source, web design, and general internet culture stuff.

Stay tuned for more information about John’s keynote session.

We have an exciting update about WordCamp Ann Arbor 2015! We’ve being researching, talking to and selected speakers and would like to tell you about some that are confirmed for this years WordCamp Ann Arbor.

Brian Hogg

Brian’s a custom software developer, WordPress trainer, podcaster and community supporter running multiple free events in the Hamilton Ontario area.

Rebecca Gill

Rebecca is founder and president of Web Savvy Marketing. She has as a well-rounded business background within SMB and enterprise organizations, as well as over fifteen years of experience in sales and online marketing. She provides one-on-one coaching, teaches group on-site boot camps, and speaks at various WordCamps throughout the country.

Angela Bergmann

Angie has been developing websites since 2000 and using WordPress since it was b2- in other words, a very long time. Additionally, she’s skilled in SEO, PPC, accessibility, and usability.

She is passionate about video games, web dev, cooking, public speaking, and german shepherd dogs. She’s responsible for the WordCamp website and is also a co-organizer for the local Northeast Ohio WordPress Meetup.

Sara Cannon

Sara Cannon is Partner and Creative Director at Range. She loves design, typography, user experience, and art. Sara loves giving talks around the globe on web design, responsive design, web typography, and more. A seasoned designer, Sara has done work for clients such as Disney Publishing and Flickr. She loves open source, her pets, traveling, and WordPress.

Adam Silver

Adam teaches A WP101 course, is the man behind ConciergeWP and runs the Southern California WordPress meetup.

Topher DeRosia

Topher has been using and developing for WordPress regularly since 2010. He’s used it to freelance, launch a successful startup company, work with an agency, and he currently works on Easy Digital Downloads.

Brian Richards

Brian Richards is the creator of WPSessions.com where he dedicates his energy to providing the best WordPress education from the best and brightest WordPress experts. He has been working with WordPress since 2007 (version 2.3).

Over the years, Brian has helped develop custom solutions and web apps for hundreds of different companies, most recently including Disney, Nginx, Microsoft, and YMCA.

In everything he does with WordPress, whether it be building custom solutions or providing live training through WPSessions, Brian’s goal is simple: to help others be empowered by WordPress.

Now is a great time to purchase your tickets, last year we sold out early (twice!) Don’t miss this years event, it will be even better than the last time. Make sure to subscribe to the mailing list below to stay in the loop and be notified of other exciting updates.