Interview with Sponsor DJ Johnny Medley

Tell us a bit about yourself.  Please share a brief history of your company:

 

My name is John Gibson, but I use the alias DJ Johnny Medley for all media- and production-related endeavors.  I am one half of the DMA Media Group LLC, along with the founder of Dance Music Authority Magazine (DMA, 1993-2003), Gary Hayslett.  Thanks specifically to WordPress, our “deceased” print publication has been “reincarnated” and managed to “come back from the dead” online at DanceMusicAuthority.com.  This has been a life-affirming, work-in-progress since April of 2008, but, again, thanks to WordPress, DMA is on its “feet” and building positive momentum every day.

 

I cannot overstate how much we love WordPress and the concept of an open source community. You are never alone within the WP community and the desire to learn becomes infectious.  I never thought that one day I would actually install blogging software on my local machine and get under the hood cutting and pasting code.  WordPress grows on you, and that is a very good thing.

 

We just snagged a spot in Chicago’s OfficePort,which has a significant WordPress user base within the facility.  TheChicago WordPress meetup group hosts a lot of functions there, so I feel we are definitely in good company.  I also like the fact that OfficePort is in the heart of downtown Chicago, 9 West Washington Street.  I worked for Cook County government for nearly 12 years in public relations and OfficePort places me steps away from Chicago’s political nucleus.  It’s also very cool to see that Cook County government is running on WordPress; they’re definitely “WP Rockstars” over there.

 

What is your favorite plugin?

 

We got very lucky and were able to get DMA into the VaultPress beta program.  VaultPress absolutely rocks, and also allows us to contribute to the WordPress community in a tangible way.  We love VaultPress because of the real-time, backups it provides; it’s elegant and transparent.  Jetpack is another new favorite because it consolidates several plugins into one.  Moreover, since it’s from Automattic, you know it won’t be abandoned, but, rather, further developed.

 

We also rely heavily on Gravity Forms.  We want DMA to be a completely open forum where visitors can easily post their own events, clips, or news to share with the world.  Gravity Forms makes that possible.  We actually got turned on to them at WordCamp Chicago, 2009.  It’s funny how things work.  The Post Expirator and Duplicate post plugins are also golden; the Expirator reduces the post (event) to a draft at a set time, which is perfect for contests.  Duplicate post is cool for recurring or multi-day events.

 

Tell us about your latest WP project:

 

We switched over to a different theme at the beginning of this year because we felt “locked” into our prior theme, which was heavily customized.  The cool folks over at Solostream really helped us out and significantly reduced the number of plugins we use.  One of the goals of the makeover was to lean as much as possible on WordPress’ built-in functionality. We use a custom field called “date” and use “query_posts” to order our events by date, and region (category).  We’re on the serious lookout for an even better way to showcase date-specific events, which are primarily parties or podcasts. Recurring events is a specific area we want to improve.  We have been looking at a number of events plugins, but nothing seems to offer everything we’re looking for.  Since we showcase party flyers, the visual image, as opposed to just text, is essential.  I’m sure that a solution will soon manifest; I’m an optimist.

 

Share one WP tip:

 

The best tip I can give is rather generic:  Just dive in and enjoy WP!  WordPress will expand your world purely by osmosis—if you let it.  My original role in this LLC was never intended to be that of a web designer, but thanks to timing and WordPress, we managed to save thousands of dollars and actually make our dream a tangible reality.  Another cool and significant benefit of the online arena and publishing with WordPress is affordability.  Quite simply, there is no excuse for not flexing online.  It’s empowering to be able to emphatically state “Dance Music Authority is here to stay!”  That is a major blessing that cannot be overlooked or overemphasized; the sense of permanence online publishing provides is a huge advantage over print.  WordPress is now the most important software in our studio and that is profound.

 

What inspires you?

 

I firmly believe that one should be passionate about what one does for a living.  I am an “all or nothing” type of person. “You can’t fake the feeling without feeling,” is a classic house music line which essentially sums up my approach to life. Obviously, there are times when one cannot do what one wants, but it is a good overall goal for those who want to live in “the flow.”   WordPress empowers people and has changed countless lives for the better.  Businesses have been created and countless ideas have been disseminated thanks to WordPress.

 

Any tips for people just getting started with Blogging or using WP?

 

Again, “just dive in!”  Because the WP community is so large, it’s easy to get a ton of information to practically any question.  One only needs to use “WordPress” in their search term and they will, undoubtedly, find a ton of answers to practically any question they may have.  I always start with Google search for any question..  The WP Codex is golden…and vast.  I recently got into loading WP on a local machine with BitNami.  The WordPress community is mind-blowing and the sheer joy of getting under the hood with WP is, again, infectious.  This may sound corny, but you are never alone out there and forums can be priceless.

 

Do you have a WP hero?

 

In addition to Matt Mullenweg, et al., it was Brian Gardner’s forum which really turned us on to the limitless possibilities of WordPress.  That was in April of 2008.  We were at the 2008 Winter Music Conference which takes place in March every year.  At that time, we only had an HTML “coming soon” tease page.  We were fresh off of a bad experience with a developer who suddenly became impossible to reach after delivering an incomplete site.  The biggest rub was that we had to go through him to do anything.

 

We had to reboot the project, but that was a good early lesson.  We lost exactly $1,000 on the incomplete site, but that was the only time we “wasted” money.  We moved on early and the design never went live.  I’m thankful we got out immediately.

 

After our reboot, another developer wanted to charge us more than $7,000 for a Drupal-powered site.  Given that our previous developer wanted to string us out, I moved on and looked for other options.

 

Thankfully, we found WordPress.

 

What is your motto?

 

“There’s always an answer” quickly became my motto after a few early sessions getting under the hood with Brian Gardner’s themes.  I’m definitely not a coder or designer, but I’ve had lots of fun messing around—since day one.  I just cut and paste chunks of code—definitely nothing special—but it does feel great to be able to get down a little bit. Playing with code is good for you.

 

What is your favorite restaurant or club in Chicago?

 

Joe Segal’s Jazz Showcase has been a favorite for years.  They just moved to a new location, but the vibe is the same in every venue—straight-ahead jazz, front and center!  I’m a fan of virtually any club that features DJs who actually mix, since we take our DJing very seriously in Chicago.

 

What is your idea of success?

 

I find that it is important to be passionate about what one does for a living.  When that is the case, good things start to happen…naturally.  The ability to live autonomously and be financially secure are also parts of the equation.  I’m pretty simple.  I love technology, music and never want to stop growing.

Contact Info:

DJ Johnny Medley:  jmedley@dmaclub.comtwitter.com/dmaclub773-550-6122

WordCamp is always a blast and a phenomenal, mind-expanding experience.  We’re really amped this year and looking forward to meeting folks and learning as much as we can!

Posted in 2011 Blog, Member Stories, Sponsors, WCChicago 2011 | Comments Off on Interview with Sponsor DJ Johnny Medley

WordCamp Chicago 2011 Event Information

WordCampers!!! We are only DAYS from WordCamp Chicago 2011! Can you believe it’s here already? We want this to be one of the most valuable (and priceless) experiences related to WordPress you’ve ever experienced. Oh, and we want it to be fun for you too =)

Below you’ll find many of the details you’ll need to prepare yourself for the event. If we’re missing anything, shoot an email to chicago@wordcamp.org and we’ll make sure we get it covered.

Table of Contents

  1. Getting to WordCamp and related events
  2. What you should bring to WordCamp (ticket?)
  3. What you should make sure you DO before WordCamp
  4. Will and refreshments, snacks, or lunch be provided?
  5. Will there be free wi-fi?
  6. Will there be any Unconference sessions?
  7. Will there be a Genius Bar?
  8. When are the parties?
  9. Get event badges
  10. See the schedule
  11. Twitter hashtag

Getting to WordCamp & Related Events

Thanks to our friends and sponsors at Mapquest, we have this handy WordCamp Points of Interest map to share (click the link for full interaction, directions, and details). It has critical locations like the DePaul Student Center (main venue), the after party location, the nearest L stop, the nearest Starbucks, and more.

Below is a snapshot of the Points of Interest map – click this link for full interactivity:

Parking information can be seen on this map of the DePaul campus. The Student Center is the long building running along Sheffield from Belden to Fullerton. The parking fees are $6/day. Limited paid street parking is available throughout this area also, but will likely only be available early in the morning.

More travel information and directions can be found here.

What You Should Bring to WordCamp

All you NEED at WordCamp is yourself. You do not need a hard ticket. Ticket links were emailed to you after you registered, and your receipt of that is confirmation you are on our list of attendees.

Light refreshments will be provided throughout the day, but a reusable water bottle is highly recommended.

You are welcome to bring your computer and there will be wi-fi available. A mobile hotspot is a great idea for internet access backup.

What You Should Do Before WordCamp

  • Fill out ticket information.
    All attendees should make sure they fill out all ticket information by clicking the ticket link emailed to you when you registered. This is where you’ll fill in things like your Twitter handle and T-shirt size. If you don’t complete this information you are not guaranteed to get the shirt size you desire, and will have incomplete badge information.
  • Get to know your way around.
    Especially if you are travelling from out of town, please make sure you are familiar with the WordCamp Points of Interest map. It’ll be imperative to ensure you arrive on time to the events of the weekend. We’re from here and even we’re studying up!
  • Plan travel methods.
    Again, especially if you are from out of town, make sure you know how you’re getting from point A to point B. There are many transportation options in the city of Chicago, including walking, the CTA bus, the CTA “L” (train), and cabs. Utilize the WordCamp Points of Interest map and the CTA website to plan your routes.

Will and refreshments, snacks, or lunch be provided?

We will be providing refreshments and snacks throughout the day, including coffee, water, soda, light breakfast, and light afternoon snacks.

Lunch will not be provided due to budget constraints (remember WordCamp Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization). However, we have arranged for a WordCamp special at McGee’s around the corner from the DePaul Student Center – $5 burger and fry lunch. Expect McGee’s to be very busy at lunch time, but the food and beer selection to be worth it. Note that this is also the location of Saturday night’s after party.

More variety in lunch choices can be found by walking towards the Fullerton / Lincoln / Halsted intersection. In this dense area of restaurants you’ll find places like Nesh Mediterranean Grill, Nans Sushi, Noodles in the Pot, Thai Bowl, Fiesta Mexicana, Pita Pit, and much more. Take advantage of your 1-1/2 hour lunch to enjoy some of the great Chicago eats!

Will there be free wi-fi?

Yes, there will be free wi-fi. Be aware that their system is very secure, and will require you to provide some information to the University so that they can issue a guest account. This process will happen during registration and will take some time. Come early (8am-ish) to avoid the crowds and we’ll get you through in a jiffy. If you cut it close, you may be in for a wait while we have everyone fill out this info.

Never a bad idea to bring a wi-fi hotspot of your own as a backup if you have one.

Will there be any Unconference sessions?

YES! Unconference session voting is happening NOW over here. The unconference session schedule, in true unconference style, will be posted the day of event AT the event. If you have a topic you’d like to moderate, email chicago@wordcamp.org and let us know.

Will there be a Genius Bar at this WordCamp?

YES! Bring your WordPress woes to the experts sitting in the lobby of the student center under the big TV. A schedule for the Genius Bar will be posted at the event. If you’d like to help at the Genius Bar, please email chicago@wordcamp.org.

When are the parties?

Now for the good stuff. Parties!

  • Speaker & Sponsor Reception.
    This will be at 6pm on the Friday night before WordCamp, July 29, at Las Fuentes restaurant. Dinner and drinks will be provided. See the WordCamp Points of Interest map for exact location and directions (location #6 on the map). Speakers and sponsors will receive an E-vite for this event.
  • Attendee Pre-Party.
    Attendees up for starting the party early can head over to Paddy Long’s Bacon & Beer Bar at 1028 W. Diversey at 8pm on Friday night. Feel free to show up earlier for the All You Can Eat Fish & Chips Special ($13.95), or join us a bit later for $4 Summit Hefeweizens. See the WordCamp Points of Interest map for exact location and directions (location #9 on the map).
  • WordCamp Chicago 2011 Official After Party.
    The Official After Party will be at McGee’s at 4:30pm on Saturday, July 30 (location #5 on the WordCamp Points of Interest map). Cost is $15 and includes beer, rail drinks, and appetizers until 7:30pm. Register for the After Party here.

Get a Badge for Your Site

Show off your attendance, sponsorship, or speaking gig at WordCamp Chicago by grabbing one of the spiffy WordCamp Chicago 2011 badges for your website.

WordCamp Chicago 2011 Schedule

This year’s schedule includes an amazing crop of mostly midwestern WordPress experts. We’ve also included a Genius Bar, unconference sessions, and plenty of time to network and meet friends. We hope you love it all…

Share WordCamp on Twitter

The hashtag for this event is #WCChicago. Tweet your little hearts out!

Will this event be live streamed or live blogged?

WordCamp Chicago will not be live streamed this year, but all sessions will be recorded to share on WordPress.tv.

WordCamp Chicago WILL be live blogged on WP Candy and on the WordCamp Chicago home page.

Posted in 2011 Announcements, 2011 Blog | Comments Off on WordCamp Chicago 2011 Event Information

Member Story – Martin Lindsey

I love the flexibility of the WordPress CMS when it comes to template design in particular. I think it is great that designers can create multiple layout options within a template which I can then redesign a million different ways with the help of a drag and drop interface, without needing to be a PHP or XHTML expert.
You can’t get much better than that when you want something aesthetically pleasing that will allow you to get to blogging or displaying your products as quickly as possible.
My portfolio site is www.martinlindsey.com as the illustration of that sentiment. It’s the Envisoned theme from Elegant Themes.
Martin Lindsey
Aqueduct Media Corp.
Twitter: MartyBLOGs
Posted in 2011 Blog, Member Stories, WordPress | Comments Off on Member Story – Martin Lindsey

Interview with Gloria Antonelli

Please share a brief history of your company (or your work with WordPress):

My first computer experiences back in early 90’s spurred an interest that led to a position teaching computer and search skills. That was a far cry from my path as an artist. My interest with the web technology and teaching has never stopped. Web light years ago (1999), I presented on CSS and XML. I moved to Chicago in early 2000 and attended any conferences that came into town – SEO, Flash, HTML, CSS, Web Standards, Content Strategies, UX (user experience) and IA (information architecture). As a technology learning junkie, it was alphabet nirvana.

I don’t have a clear recollection of the first time I learned about WordPress. It may have been around the time I was assisting at Adaptive Path conferences and my interactions with Peter Merholz who coined the word “blog.” My first blog post ever was in 2005 for a Chicago user group site.  It was on “Web 2.0” shortly after that term was coined. My personal WP timeline started in 2006 by reading “WordPress 2”by Maria Langer followed by creating the first blog for a client in 2007. Yes I hacked away, hard coded navigation and had no child theme!

 

What is your favorite plugin?

 

At the moment I love the CMS Tree Page View  for large site redesign. But I have been a fan of Fast Secure Contact Form since the very early version. My sincere gratitude to plugin developers – they make our lives easier.

 

Tell us about your latest WP project:

 

I am working on moving a very large table based static site over to WordPress. The content is extensive hence my love affair with CMS Tree Page. Mostly I consult and train professionals on using WordPress, Social Media, SEO and web technologies. I work on projects mostly for the hands on experience and workflow strategies for my consulting clients.

Share one WP tip:

 

Here is one I learned the hard way a few years ago, don’t pick a theme/framework just on how it looks. I paid for a premium framework for a client that was highly recommended by one of the top online magazine for web designers and developers. It was listed with the great frameworks – Hybrid, Thematic, Carrington, etc. Big mistake! It looked great, back end code suck and I think I was the 3rd person to use it. Call me beta tester. I think the creator was more of a graphic designer starting to be a developer and had another day job. My advice is to choose a theme/framework that has a “well developed learning channel” and/or has been around the block a few times.

 

What inspires you?

 

Learning technology inspires me. “My name is Gloria and I am a learnaholic.” I always want to learn about the next new shinny object and how it can be of benefit hence the handle as an “Emerging Technology Strategist” fits me.

 

 

Any tips for people just getting started with Blogging or using WP?

 

Spend some time learning about WordPress before you jump in with both feet. There are so many good books, tutorials and information out there. I just spend some time reading the Twenty Eleven theme forum and so many new users have no clue where to start. One kind soul has repeated “don’t hack the code – create a child theme” about a million times so far. My advice is to find a good instructor! Did I mention I was available?

 

Do you have a WP hero?

 

It would be a dynamic duo! It is Justin Tadlock and Ian Steward not only for their amazing frameworks but the way they write learning experiences and their thought leadership. What to call the duo? WP Warriors, Guardians of the Frameworks, WP Champions, WP-XMen? I am up for suggestions. WP-Transformers has a nice ring.

 

What is the funniest or most informative tweet you ever wrote or read?

 

The world of tweeting has come a very long way since I was told by Chiara Fox, an IA guru from Adaptive Path that I should be tweeting. This was just a few months after Twitter launched at SXSW. I checked it out the very next day and thought what is up with this. Yes, I was one of those who said “Why do I want to be tweeting what I am having for lunch?” The Twitter landscape has exploded since that time and now I use Twitter as a learning channel – too many informative tweets to just pick one. Just dropping in for a 5 minute read leads to create knowledge. Then again it depends on who you follow. I read more that tweet as I claim to be spelling disabled and a bit shy online (but not in person).

 

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you at a conference?

 

I was assisting at Eric Meyers CSS workshop in 2006. It was Ryan Carson of Carsonified first US workshop. Over drinks and networking I chatted with a young man, John Zeratsky. “What company are you with?” “Feedburner.” “And what does Feedburner do?” I don’t remember the exact words but they were fine tuning their strategy and still pivoting a game plan. I guess they figured it out. John is now a UX designer at Google.

Who is the most interesting person you have met through social media?

 

Hands down I would say Gary Vaynerchuk. Not only have I met him, I sat next to him at a small dinner party. (He picked the wine.) This was before he wrote Crush It! Later that evening at a private party his conversation mirrored what he wrote in his book. I had received a live Gary “Vee” pre-release presentation. Priceless.

 

What is your favorite restaurant or club in Chicago?

 

My favorite Chicago club is usually the place the conference planner has chosen for the evening social. Hanging with Tony Heish of Zappos and the “Delivering Happiness” bus crew last summer at the Underground on Illinois Street was very cool. Only to be topped by dancing in the happiness bus to Tony’s iphone music. Even more exciting was interviewing him three days later for TechCocktail.com sandwiched between his stops at 37 Signals and Groupon.

 

What is your idea of success?

That is an interesting question. For the past ten years I have heard “I am almost 30 and I haven’t made it yet” from the under 30 tech crowd (clarification: only from the males but then again there were few women 10 years ago). Is there a magic age for success? I think success is cumulative. It is a milestone in a journey. I hope to be on my journey for many years.

 

Why did you choose your topic for WC Chicago?

 

This one is easy to answer. My topic is to address strategies to make the learning curve for themes and plugins easier for users. I see this being a huge stumbling block for many WP users not to mention a big time suck. I would classify myself as quite knowledgeable and I have been frustrated many times over the lack of good documentation. I’ve been exercising usability before I knew who Jakob Nielsen was and I think we as a community can create better learning paths for users.

 

What do you hope the attendees will get out of going to your session?

 

My target audience is the developers of themes and plugins. I hope they walk away with a focus on user experience and instructional information. Many times there is a rush to launch before an effective learning channel is in place. It is like getting a shiny new unassembled toy without the instructions. Then on a tiny piece of paper the manufacture says to go search the web and figure it out from the other people who bought the same toy. When the dev community can craft a more effective learning/instructional path for users we will all be happier.

Contact Info:

Gloria Antonelli

gloria@gloriaantonelli.com

www.gloriaantonelli.com

Twitter @gloriaantonelli

LinkedIn gloriaantonelli

Facebook gloriaantonelli

Posted in 2011 Blog, Member Stories, Speakers, WCChicago 2011 | Comments Off on Interview with Gloria Antonelli

Interview with Shelby Sapusek

Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Shelby Sapusek and my passion revolves around the way information is shared and the technology behind it. I spent 17 years in the print media industry as a reporter, blogger and designer. I’m also the marketing coordinator for Jim Raffel’s company ColorMetrix.

Please share a brief history of your company:

I am owner of Panoramic Interactive, a digital marketing consulting and design agency. All of my blogging and website design work is done through WordPress.

What is your favorite plugin?
I’m a fan of Scribe SEO. I’m still learning the tricks with it, however.

Tell us about your latest WP project:
I used Thesis theme’s landing pages to create a fun tab scroller for an event in Las Vegas.

Share one WP tip:
Keep customizing. New plugins and themes are introduced every day.

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by people who continue to push for success even when the cards are stacked against them.

Any tips for people just getting started with Blogging or using WP?

Be ready to adapt to change as technology evolves in WordPress. Don’t be afraid to put your own voice in your business blog but develop a strategy so that you aren’t oversharing.

Do you have a WP hero?
I read a lot of David Bisset’s blogs about WordPress.

What is your motto?
I’m a social media hound and shameless promoter of all things great.

What is the funniest or most informative tweet you ever wrote or read?
The SpankTank will be serving up pizza on Milwaukee’s East Side starting Friday.

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you at a conference?
I got lost in Las Vegas coming back from a dinner. I thought I was in my hotel but I wasn’t. Those casinos all look the same and they are so inter-connected!

Who is the most interesting person you have met through social media? Joe Sorge

What is your favorite restaurant or club in Chicago?
I love The Cubby Bear (but I’m not a Cubs fan). It’s a very fun place to go before or after visiting Wrigley Field.

What is your idea of success?

If I can change just one person’s business or life for the better on any given day, I’ve been successful.

 

Why did you choose your topic for WC Chicago?
After working side by side, Jim Raffel and I started a venture through blog posts and on Twitter called “She Said, He Said” where we debate social media and blogging topics. We immediately saw that our format is unique, engaging, entertaining and informative.

What do you hope the attendees will get out of going to your session?

I hope they get some new ideas on blogging and WordPress topics as well as some enjoyment and entertainment through the interactivity of the presentation.

Contact Info:

Shelby on Twitter: @ShelMKE

Shelby on Google Plus

Shelby on Facebook

Shelby on LinkedIn

Posted in 2011 Blog, Member Stories, Speakers, WCChicago 2011 | Comments Off on Interview with Shelby Sapusek

Interview with TJ List

Tell us a bit about yourself:

 

Please share a brief history of your company:

In March 2009 I was laid off from my engineering job and started looking for a new career. I had done some work as a Unix sysadmin and loved it. I realized that I wanted to find a way to combine working with both people and computers. My initial plan was going to try teach people to use MS Office applications more effectively. Early market research put a quick end to that.

 

While I was casting about I kept finding myself drawn to web design blogs and resources. Eventually I acquired enough knowledge to start helping other people.

 

Now I consider myself part web designer/developer, part educator.

 

Please share a brief history of your work with WordPress:

My mom started a small private community using WordPress in January 2008. I had Editor rights on it. She hated struggling with some of the technical challenges required to maintain it. It didn’t have any kind of backup.

 

As I started learning more about working on the web and WordPress I took over as my mom’s webmaster. Check out her daily bits of inspiration and happiness at High on Happiness ( http://www.highonhappiness.com/ ).

 

On my first “client” site I used Artisteer to build the theme (*hangs head in shame*). Yes, it’s still live. No, I won’t share the link. I have since learned better. Now I primarily use the Genesis WordPress framework.

 

 

What is your favorite plugin?

My “favorites” have changed over time. Some have been replaced are no longer needed as core functions have expanded. There are two that I install on every site I work on:

WP-DB-Backup (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-db-backup/ ) for backing up the database.

 

WordPress Backup is great for backing up the stuff that doesn’t live in your database (Themes, Plugins, and Uploads). (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-backup/ )

 

I use these because they work and they’re a zero-cost way to protect your data.

 

Tell us about your latest WP project:

My day job (not with WordPress, sadly) keeps me busy. I do manage to squeeze in some telephone consulting and remote site updates for a few clients.

 

I am excited to be reworking the District 28 Toastmasters (http://d28toastmasters.org) website with WordPress. I’m starting on a behind-the-scenes retrofit that I hope to roll out in late August or early September.

 

Share one WP tip:

Sorry, I can’t keep it to just one.

LEARN SOME BASIC HTML AND CSS (and learn to work in HTML view)! I won’t apologize for shouting because I feel very strongly about it. Why? I constantly see clients’ posts and pages with horrid markup because they’re trying to change font size and style like a word processor. The search engines won’t like that. It doesn’t help that the built-in TinyMCE Editor sucks.

 

SPEND SOME MONEY ON A DECENT THEME! Just do it. Either you will thank me later, or your developer will. I promise.

 

Do you have a WP hero?

Several. Dozens, maybe. I follow many WordPress people on Twitter and have learned a lot from them.

 

Most of them have found a way to work for themselves and do cool things on the web with WordPress. Russell Faire really impressed me when he visited the Metro Detroit WordPress Meetup group last year. Shayne Sanderson and the guys at 9 Seeds do some really cool things, too. They’re all really nice guys, too.

 

I can’t forget Ryan Imel of WP Candy. Young, smart, nice, and funny at an after party!

 

What is your motto?

“Do more of what works. Do less of what doesn’t.” –Rebecca Jehorek

 

For me it’s a reminder to focus on the outcome you want instead of getting stuck on the way you think something should work.

 

 

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you at a conference?

Four words: @ptahdunbar and Bowling Shoes. (Ask him about it.)

 

Who is the most interesting person you have met through social media?

Scott Stratten (@unmarketing) is as cool and funny in person as he is on Twitter. He’s also one heck of a karaoke singer.

 

What is your favorite restaurant or club in Chicago?

Sorry, I’m from out of town. Somebody please educate me!

 

Why did you choose your topic for WC Chicago?

I kept running into clients who wanted to change “one little thing.” Often it’s a very minor thing in CSS, yet they think I’m some kind of miracle worker. I want to give the people who want to do it themselves the ability to take command of the way certain things look on their blog or website.

 

What do you hope the attendees will get out of going to your session?

It’s just a website, not rocket science. Yes, there are details involved. AND you can learn to do it if you are committed to learning the details and systems.

 

Contact Info:

TJ List

Email: TJ@maxim650.com

Twitter: @TJList

 

I learned a ton when I attended WordCamp Chicago (my first one!) last summer. I’m deeply honored to be able to give back to the community as a presenter this year.

Posted in 2011 Blog, Member Stories, Speakers, WCChicago 2011 | Comments Off on Interview with TJ List