Angela Samuels is a WordPress and social media trainer for authors and small-business owners. Her passion is teaching to do it yourself small-business owners to update, maintain and market their own website.

Angela Samuels will be presenting “Getting Advanced” on Friday, October 14 at 11:00am in the Pendelton room.

Why do use WordPress?

I use WordPress because it is easier for my clients to update their websites. My customers are usually hands-on and want to be involved in the upkeep of their website. WordPress makes it really simple to create a website.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WordPress in 2008 when I noticed how user-friendly it was for my clients. I used to create websites from Dreamweaver, and a lot my clients didn’t understand it and wanted more control of their websites. That is when I started just doing WordPress websites.

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

I would tell them that WordCamp is a wonderful place to meet other people who are learning about WordPress and it is a great place to network.

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

I attended the Chicago WordCamp and it was amazing. I met a lot of great people that I possibly see at other WordCamps.

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

I just recently finished up an Oral Surgeon website that was challenging but a great experience.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

I love the people that I meet. You meet people that are in the web development business or are creating their own websites. It is truly great.

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

Get out from behind the computer and join your local chamber or networking group.

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

I’m happy, love my life, and I’m focusing on things that give me joy like teaching, traveling and meeting new people.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

Everyone whom I meet at a WordCamp inspires me because they are doing what they love. They wouldn’t be there if they didn’t enjoy it.

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

“If you are an author or small business owner looking for training on WordPress or social media marketing, then you should come talk to me at WordCamp”

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

Before attending my talk, the person should want to learn more about theme and plugins.

Where can we find you online?

• AngelaSamuels.com
• Facebook.com/angelamsamuels
• Twitter.com/angelamsamuels

Marc is the Operations Manager of ServerPress, LLC, but secretly, people there call him “The Mayor.” It may sound all well and good, but Marc knows that the real reason for it is because whenever something goes wrong, the mayor is the one who gets thrown under the bus first. As his first act as Mayor, Marc passed legislation by issuing an Executive Order removing all busing and other public transportation (as a precautionary measure, of course).

With that out-of-the-way, Marc has been working his way through WordCamps over the past couple of years, because hey. . . who doesn’t like words (we all use them) and a good camping trip? Seemed like a natural match to him. Imagine his dismay when he found out that these were conferences intended to educate people within the WordPress Community. None the less, as with everything Marc does, he decided to make the best of it and says he’s been enjoying this aspect of camping and plans to incorporate many of the things he’s picked up at WordCamps in his regular camping trips.

When asked about what he likes most about WordCamps, he’ll tell you that it’s the Community, although he remains highly suspect of any group or community of people who would have him as a member.

Most people think that Marc has a screw or two loose, but it’s ok. He’s like that uncle that’s not quite crazy enough to call “everyone’s crazy uncle” but not quite sane enough to call “everyone’s cool uncle.” Those people may be right. You can connect with Marc on Twitter @MarcBenzak.

Marc Benzakein will be presenting the “Local Development Workshop” on Friday, October 14 at 8:00am in the Wolverine room.

Why do use WordPress?

Because it’s what works best with our flagship product, DesktopServer. And it happens to rock.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

A long time ago, in a business totally not related to web development, I needed to create a site that had a specific functionality. I discovered the world of plugins, and thus, WordPress (or was it the other way around?). And the rest, as some people might say, is history.

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

Dude! You’ve gotta go! I mean, seriously. If you want to make connections, friends, gain knowledge, or give up a weekend to hang out in a climate controlled building that someone else is paying for, it’s a no brainer!

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

This one time, at WordCamp, there was a camp that sponsored the speaker housing. It was cool hanging out in a big house with a bunch of speakers. We formed bonds that weekend that went beyond anything I’ve experience professionally. Most of us are friends to this day and we all agree that it was one of the best WordCamp experiences EVAH!

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

DesktopServer 4.0. Sorry. I don’t work much within WordPress these days. I just work to help people work with WordPress more efficiently.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Hallway Track. Period.

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

I have a whole presentation on that. But I think the best piece of advice I can give is to start out focusing on one thing or aspect or specialty until you have it down. Do it well and people will look to you as an authority.

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

Pretty much everyone who knows me knows that it’s all about the kids. My awesome wife and I currently foster six children (leaving us with a total of eight) with the goal of adopting them. We truly believe that kids are some of the few victims, and all of them deserve a shot at realizing their potential. Our life goal is to help any child we have contact with realize that potential by giving them the tools, love, support, and stability they need to do that. As rewarding as my professional life is, they pale in comparison to the rewards of helping these kids.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

(In no particular order)

Pippin: For his humility

Topher and Cate: For their dedication to their family

Michelle Schulp: For her determination on days when she just doesn’t feel like it

Gregg Franklin: His loyalty and desire to help is unmatched anywhere

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

The family I’ve built within the Community and within our company.

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

I am pretty sure that if we did not attend WordCamps and support the Community at large, we would not be the success we are.

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

are looking to improve the quality of your life

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

I really recommend that you download and install DesktopServer from serverpress.com. It’s free and it will be part of what I go over during the workshop.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

My friends within the Community

Where can we find you online?

• http://www.twotofive.us (website, mostly about life with the kids)
• @MarcBenzak (twitter)

Steve Grunwell is a Senior Web Engineer and Project Lead at 10up, a World-class web design + development consultancy. Specializing in WordPress and application development he has worked with brands and organizations including TED, Microsoft, Xylem, Elmer’s, and Experience Columbus.

Steve has released several plugins in the WordPress.org repositories, including one from the grounds of The White House during the first annual National Day of Civic Hacking in 2013. When he’s not writing software he enjoys hiking, music, and writing about writing software on his blog.

Steve holds a B.A. in Telecommunications from Bowling Green State University where he graduated Cum Laude with minors in General Business and Recording Technologies.

More information, including portfolio work and his development blog, can be found at https://stevegrunwell.com.

Steve Grunwell will be presenting “Taking the Web Offline” on Saturday, October 15 at 4:00pm in the Assembly Hall.

Why do use WordPress?

I’m a big proponent of open source software, and WordPress as a platform makes publishing easy. I’ve helped a lot of clients be successful by leveraging WordPress, and I love the idea of anyone, anywhere being able to set up a site and start publishing.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

Back in 2010, I was working at a small agency that specialized in building custom content management systems. One client came in and asked if we could build a site on WordPress, and after digging in (and a few missteps), I was hooked.

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

Lately, I’ve been working closely with several departments at Microsoft as they’ve leaned more and more on WordPress for making publishing and content distribution even easier for their teams. Now, not only do I get to say “oh yeah, I’m doing work for Microsoft”, but I get to say “I’m helping Microsoft embrace open-source software for their official news outlets”.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

WordCamps feel like a homecoming for me; at this point, I’ve attended enough to usually know at least a few people, and I always come away meeting dozens more.

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

There are a lot of WordPress developers out there, and you absolutely get what you pay for. I’ve seen plenty of sites where the developer tried to force his/her idea of a CMS into WordPress, often with disastrous results. Seek out referrals, check references, and don’t be afraid to have someone do a code review on anything that’s written for you; if you’re building your business on it, make sure you have a strong foundation.

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

When I started working for 10up, I decided I needed to up my home coffee game. As a result, I started roasting my own coffee at home, guaranteeing I always have freshly-roasted coffee at a fraction of the cost.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

I’m continually impressed by my fellow 10uppers, both current and alumni. People like Helen Hou-Sandí, Eric Mann, Adam Silverstein, and more are helping to shape the direction of WordPress and making sure we can continue to build our businesses on top of it.

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

It’s not specific to my talk in particular, but learn how to step outside of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. The real value of WordCamps is only half-derived from the sessions; it’s the social interaction that makes WordCamps so great.

Where can we find you online?

I blog occasionally on stevegrunwell.com, but mostly hang out on Twitter. I’m also a lurker in *far* too many Slack teams, and publish all of my open-source work on GitHub.

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.

Kyle Maurer will be presenting “WP Battles: Webmaster vs. Hacker” on Saturday, October 15 at 1:55pm in the Amphitheatre.

Why do use WordPress?

I employ the WordPress software exclusively for web-based projects because it is by far the most well maintained, flexible and intuitive option. It is also what my clients are explicitly asking for which makes it an easy choice.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I found myself working in the marketing department at a niche marketing agency, needing something to power our corporate blog. The rest of our infrastructure was a completely custom PHP setup. Someone introduced me to WordPress as an option that would make the blogging part easier. Shortly after I discovered that WordPress could actually be used to power the entire site and I’ve never really used anything else since.

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

There really is something for everyone. No matter how advanced you are, you will definitely learn valuable new things and meet people who will inspire and encourage you. And no matter how little you think you know, there will be sessions and people focused entirely on holding your hand and guiding you towards your goals. WordCamps are volunteer run events put on by people who passionately want to help others succeed. You just need to let them help you.

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

So many moments stand out! Last year I spoke about contributing to WordPress Meta at WordCamp US and afterwards, Otto came up and personally thanked me. Otto! Many other occasions I’ve received very meaningful and heartfelt comments about what a difference I made to someone else one on one or through a presentation I gave.

I do remember having a hilarious time hanging out with Cory Miller at the after party for WordCamp San Francisco 2014. He was…well you probably had to be there.

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

I just released another extension for Easy Digital Downloads called EDD Message. I don’t create as many plugins as I used to but I found myself on vacation a couple of months ago and just….felt like making one. So I checked my plugin idea Trello board and started making this one. It came out pretty well and I’m excited to continue working on it.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

There are a lot of parts of WordCamps that I LOVE. It is exciting to meet and talk in person with someone for the first time after knowing them online for a while. I also passionately love speaking, connecting with old friends, after parties and getting new t-shirts. But I think the best of all is actually having someone say that I really helped them in a significant way. I remember when I was getting started and I knew so little and other people taught me valuable lessons. To be able to turn around and help others like that is powerful.

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

Definitely don’t isolate yourself. Be involved in the broader community. You will encounter people who have tried similar things and learn from them. You will gain a better understanding of what the market needs and how viable your idea is. You will develop a better support network for when you inevitably need help.

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

I won Best Director at the annual Maurer Movie Awards three years in a row.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

Pippin Williamson, Cory Miller, Ross Johnson, Michelle Schulp, Jake Goldman, Marc Benzekein, Adam Silver, Rich Robinkoff, Brian Richards, Brian Krogsgard, Rebecca Gill, Justin Ferriman and about 200 others.

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

I believe organizing WordCamp Ann Arbor 2016 takes the cake.

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

Admittedly, I’ve gained very few new customers directly through WordCamps. However, I have definitely been able to learn more, get more inspiration, form strategic partnerships and better my business in numerous other small, intangible ways. The value, looking back, is actually incredible.

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

– Are local and interested in coming to our monthly meetups
– Are interested in learning about the first WordCamp Jackson which is coming next April
– Are interested in developing and selling some premium WordPress plugins
– Want to try some local A2 craft beer
– Have any problem, concern, suggestion, question or compliment relating to WordCamp Ann Arbor
– Captured an embarrassing photo of Adam Silver

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

Our session will be pretty accessible to beginners but is really targeted towards people who actually have WordPress sites already and wish to better understand the security challenges we face when maintaining those sites.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

– PostStatus.com
– WPTavern.com
– KitchenSinkWP.com
– ManageWP.org

Where can we find you online?

• https://twitter.com/MrKyleMaurer
• https://www.meetup.com/JXNWP-meetup/
• https://realbigplugins.com
• http://realbigmarketing.com
• http://kyleblog.net
• https://github.com/brashrebel

Rich is a WordPress community advocate, WordCamp organizer and speaker. He also helps other organizers as a WordCamp Central Community Deputy. He has worked in the corporate world for almost two decades and brings that vast business experience to the WordPress community as a Project Manager. You can usually find him searching for his next great cup of coffee while he ponders his own self-worth as he learns to deal with a really bad case of impostor syndrome. When the opportunity arises, he also teaches web development at his local community college.

Rich Robinkoff will be presenting “Where to Find the Right WordPress Help For You” on Saturday, October 15 at 11:05am in the Assembly Hall.

Why do use WordPress?

I use WordPress for two distinct reasons. First, WordPress is dynamic open source software that just works. Second, the community behind it! When the product doesn’t work (which isn’t often), I have never seen such a collaborative group work to fix the issues.

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

There is no better setting to learn more about WordPress and the community around it than by attending a WordCamp. While there are great online resources, including most WordCamp sessions recorded at http://wordpress.tv/category/wordcamptv/, you cannot get the personal interactions without actually being there. I have seen two competing companies come together to help a customer with an issue to make their experience with WordPress better…they could have fought over the customer, but they collaborated!

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

The hallway sessions! Obviously I am all about the interactions…so make sure you talk to your fellow WordCamp’ers!

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

While I have several people who have inspired me, I have to name two people who have touched me on a personal level. Cory Miller continues to talk about the emotional, mental, and personal side of WordPress and has inspired me to do the same. Rebecca Gill talked about Being the Peacock at WCA2 in 2014 and helped me display my peacock feathers brightly!
Both of them are good friends now and they never fail to inspire me and others.

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

…feel anxious about speaking at a WordCamp or want to organize one but don’t know where to start…

Anthony Montalbano is the cofounder of AMBR Detroit. At AMBR Detroit, he helps building web applications using WordPress as a foundation. AMBR Detroit primarily focus on developing web and mobile apps. Some of their clients include Majic Windows, Localhop, DEGC, Rocket Fiber, Automotive News, Secure-24, Cranbrook Schools and more. Anthony lead the organization of WordCamp Detroit for 3 years. He’s has built multiple companies over the past decade and helped mentor many others. He’s taught development courses at Grand Circus, startup courses for Windsor Small Business Centre and helped mentor startup companies through Bizdom Detroit. Anthony won the 2014 Spirit of Entrepreneurship award from MiQuest.

Anthony Montalbano will be presenting “Getting Acclimated to WordPress” on Friday, October 14 at 9:00am in the Pendleton Room.

Why do use WordPress?

As a developer, WordPress is a very powerful platform to create amazing websites. As a user, the ease-of-use for managing content is super intuitive. Together it’s a mad combination for building and maintaining websites.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WordPress in 2007 looking for a CMS for clients. I tried multiple platforms (see Drupal and Joomla) and WordPress quickly rose to the top. I dug deep and soon enough became a developer creating themes and plugins. In 2010 I took it to the next level organizing the first WordCamps in Michigan (for 3 years).

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

The WordPress community is what makes WordPress such a special platform. It’s here where you’ll meet very warm and inviting people who share the same passion as you.

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

At WordCamp Chicago 2008 I met a group of guys building a new awesome forms plugin. Their demo was super awesome and I was excited to see their progress. Shortly after they release Gravity Forms and it’s not become the de facto forms plugin for WordPress. Amazing to see it from its inception.

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

At AMBR Detroit we’re always pushing the boundaries of WordPress development and always to show people what WordPress is capable of. We’ve built multiple iOS and Android apps that use the WordPress REST API. We recently built a framework for WordPress which gives developers more control of the data within the WordPress database, yet at the same time uses the beautiful WordPress dashboard we all love.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Hands down, meeting new people.

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

Learn as much as you can from the community and give back as much as you can to the community.

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

I was a lead developer for dominos.com, responsible for developing the visual pizza builder and pizza tracker.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

Cliche, maybe, but I’ve always found inspiration in many things Matt Mullenweg does. He’s the same age as me and for the many things he’s done and his outlook on WordPress and it’s community is very inspiring.

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

Hosting WordCamp Detroit from 2010 to 2012. It was a lot of work, but worth every moment.

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

You meet so many people learning about WordPress and sharing about WordPress. The WordPress community is what makes WordPress so special. Being a part of WordCamps is the ultimate place to meet fellow WordPress aficionados.

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

If you love to develop with WordPress, let’s talk for sure!

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

My talk is on the fundamentals of content creation so not much honestly. Basic understanding of WordPress should do!

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

codex.wordpress.org – hands down the most amazing documentation for developers of the WordPress platform.

Where can we find you online?

• @italianst4 (Twitter/Slack/etc)
• http://ambrdetroit.com
• anthony@ambrdetroit.com

Peter is a web developer for ITHAKA, the parent company of JSTOR. Started using WordPress in 2005. He has been doing development since 2009 and works with WordPress everyday.

Outside of work, I enjoy rock climbing, brewing and milking my cow.

Peter Shackelford will be presenting “WordPress Introduction” on Friday, October 14 at 8:00am in the Pendleton room.

Why do use WordPress?

I use WordPress because it was approachable when I was starting out. The community is generous with its knowledge. The development philosophy is user centric. You don’t need to know XYZ to start to tinker. It is also crazy flexible without being too esoteric.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I first started using WordPress in 2005. My wife and I started a non-profit and it needed a little website. In 2009, I started doing development work. I have since built and managed micro sites, multi-sites and e-commerce sites.

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

Just come. People are friendly and helpful. Bring your troubles to the happiness bar and get help. This is a chance to level up and make friends in the community.

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

I have gotten to meet people who helped me on my WordPress journey. I have met people who answered questions in the WP forums, wrote plugins I use and others who have written blog posts that helped me solve big hairy problems. Being able to say ‘thank you’ is special.

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

I worked with my team to build an intranet for our organization. We did some cool integrations with Outlook Web Access, SSO and Active Directory to keep our users in sync and authenticated. We also proxy file requests through WP to ensure only authenticated users can access media files. And other cool stuff! 😉

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Chatting with people and helping solve problems.

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

Pick your clients. Your work will be appreciated and valued if you rule out clients that want the work done the cheapest and/or the fastest.

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

I have been to over 40 countries.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

Andrea Rennick. She and Ron helped me on the WP forums years and years ago. I am looking forward to meeting her in person!

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

are just starting to mess with php

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

Nothing. My talk is the 101 of WordPress. I start at the very beginning.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

The developer.wordpress.org/reference/ is pretty great. I like that it documents what a function uses and where it is used.

I also keep tabs on the WP community with twitter.

People who publish great content:
https://paulund.co.uk/c/tutorials
https://tommcfarlin.com/

Where can we find you online?

Find Me on Twitter

Tracy (or @tapps) is a Visual/UX Designer for Cornershop Creative and loves solving problems creatively. Her overlap of skills in design, user experience, strategy, front-end development, photography, video, and traditional art help her not only think outside the box, but to stay miles away from the box altogether! With over 20 years of web development experience, and over 15 years of client work under her belt, Tracy approaches design very strategically, thinking from all angles to ensure a consistent and effective creative solution… not just something that “looks pretty.” She also could probably deadlift you.

Tracy Apps will be presenting “Designers != Pixel Pushers” on Saturday, October 15 at 1:55pm in the West Conference Room.

Why do use WordPress?

Because all the cool kids are doing it. Well, and how user-friendly and powerful it is when creating web solutions for clients. There’s that as well.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I actually started on WordPress before it was WordPress. back in the veeeerrry early 2000’s my first blog was on b2, which was the codebase that was forked to create WordPress. I took a few detours in that time and worked with a few other CMS’s, (blogger, movable type, etc) but ended up coming back to WordPress exclusively around 2004-2005

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

if coming to hear amazing speakers and meet amazing people wasn’t enough.. just come to see which bowtie i will wear. (feel free to take bets on which color it will be… I’ve got them all 🙂 )

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

I’ve had a ton of amazing experiences at WordCamps. but the thing that sticks out from every single WordCamp is the connections with people I’ve made… both new and old. plus it gives me a good excuse to travel and get free t-shirts from all over. 🙂

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

At Cornershop Creative we design and develop WordPress sites for nonprofits of all sizes. Everything from live prototyping a site about trains, created a super flexible–and dynamic–site for Michigan League of Conservation Voters and even made a circular menu … all in WordPress.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

The “hallway track” is just really the best way to meet like-minded people and have great conversation.

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

Network, network, network! (in other words, go to WordCamps.)

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

As per the rules of crossfit, I need to mention that I do crossfit. ;P I also have a cat named moe (@moethecat on twitter), who also wears bowties like her mamma. I’m also a drummer, an artist and I love to travel.

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

Just every day growing and learning, and bending WordPress to do my will, no matter what crazy things I think up 🙂

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

want

🙂

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

Just experience and appreciate life, design and the world-wide web. then hopefully attending my talk will inspire you to do more of this in the future. 🙂

Where can we find you online?

I’m “tapps” on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, flickr, behance and most of the internet… “tray” on wordpress.org forurms and last.fm… “therealtapps” on Snapchat… “tracyapps” on GitHub. or really.. just Google me.

Becky is an indie web developer based in Chicago. She specializes in custom themes; not only making them functional and beautiful, but making them user and client friendly. Training on how to use a site during development is a big part of what she offers.
She has been active in the WordPress community here for over 5 years, have spoken at many WordCamps and hosts the Northside WordPress meetup.

Becky Davis will be presenting “Constructing a Large Information Site” on Saturday, October 15 at 9:00am in the West Conference Room.

Why do use WordPress?

As a developer it’s the devil I’ve come to know and love. There is always a way to learn something new and get help. For my clients, I want to empower them. I think we sometimes forget that WordPress is content management, I want all my clients to truly be comfortable with changing their own content.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

My Dad was a poet and political activist. I setup my first WordPress site for him, so he could have a place to publish his thoughts.

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

It’s cheap and easy to attend. You’ll meet some really cool and interesting people and your brain will feel like and over-full sponge by the end. What’s not to like?

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

My last camp was WC Europe this summer. Meeting people from all over the world with the same passion was really enlightening.

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

I’m really proud to have developed https://garfieldconservatory.org/. This is a major institution in Chicago and really worth a visit. Making their donation and event process 10x easier than it was? Bonus.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Networking and meeting interesting people.

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

Commit to it. Keep learning. Be helpful. Step away from the screen on a regular basis.

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

I love working with my hands on stuff that requires no electricity or technology like knitting and gardening.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

I hate this question, there are so many!

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

Staying in business and supporting myself for over 8 years. Along the way I’ve helped clients build some pretty amazing things that have helped their businesses.

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

Getting business directly from a WC should never be the goal. But has getting and giving help been a benefit? Absolutely.

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

really want to understand how to deal with categories and taxonomies

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

Really think about how you want to organize and present your content so people can find it.

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

Again, too many! But I always seem to find myself back at the Codex and sites by Chris Coyier.

Where can we find you online?

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckydavisdesign
• https://twitter.com/beckyddesign
• http://www.meetup.com/Chicago-WordPress-Meetup/

Ross is a designer and developer at 3.7 DESIGNS and the creator of Project Panorama (https://www.projectpanorama.com), a project management plugin for WordPress.

He started 3.7 DESIGNS over ten years ago when he noticed an abundance of websites that were “digital brochures” rather than a unique experience crafted for the web. They have always had a focus on meticulously executed design, usability, accessibility and web standards.

They started using WordPress in 2006 for blogging solutions and it became our CMS of choice in 2008.

Ross Johnson will be presenting “Mastering the Design Approval Process” on Saturday, October 15 at 2:45pm in the Assembly Hall.

Why do use WordPress?

The community, flexibility and user experience.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WordPress in 2006 when I decided I should have a blog. After a brief stint with blogger, I decided I wanted something easier to customize and self hosted. WordPress was the gold standard at the time so I made the leap.

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

You’ll get more out of a single day at a WordCamp than an entire year of trying to learn things yourself.

What is your favorite part of WordCamps?

Meeting new people and learning about the projects they’re working on.

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

Network.

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

I’m a watch collector.

Name someone in the WordPress community that inspires you.

Kyle Maurer. He contributes to the community in lots of different ways. He always goes out of his way to try to help people, especially those who are new and intimidated. He’s got a great business sense… plus he’s in a band which is cool.

What has been your biggest WordPress related accomplishment to date?

Launched a successful WordPress plugin business (SnapOrbital)

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

I’ve made connections, learned new things and built awareness. Hard to imagine it getting any better.

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

are a designer

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

empathy

What is your favorite WordPress related resource?

ManageWP – managewp.org

Where can we find you online?

• https://www.projectpanorama.com
• https://3.7designs.co
• https://www.snaporbital.com
• https://www.twitter.com/3pointross