Gene Hammett –

Gene Hammett is fiercely committed to working with web designers and developers to expand the size, scope and billings of their projects (in weeks, not months). As the managing director of Core Elevation, Inc., Gene helps them transform from broke, busted and disgusted to thriving, growing, and loving every project they touch.

He will be presenting a session titled “Designers and Developers: Creating New Revenue Streams using WordPress” on Sunday,

Interview with Gene:

Why do you use WordPress?
Easy of use, lots of plugins available that can make the website very powerful…and the cool people use WordPress.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
Meeting new people and seeing friends from previous WordCamps.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
If you are new to WordPress, learn the INs and OUTs of researching plugins before you just install them.

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
Sliders are OUT! I don’t use sliders.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
WordCamp and interacting with friends and clients.

Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
RestaurantEngine.com by Brian Casel. This website has extended wordpress to build an industry specific solution that is powerful and quick for the customer to develop their own wordpress site.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Well this is the basis of my work as I am a Business Coach to Web Designers and Developers. I help them build their businesses with focus and purpose. One tip…find a real target market to serve (hint: small business is not a target market). Find me to get more about it.

Gloria Antonelli –

Gloria Antonelli is a WordPress consultant, trainer and developer since 2006. She started teaching and presenting about the web in 1996. Rolling 17 years of consultant into a holistic approach of web development, her expertise spans WordPress, UX, IA, SEO, Social Media, Web Standards, CSS, Content and Documentation Strategies.

Gloria’s clients include advertising agencies, universities, corporations and startups. She has been presenting for over 10 years at local/national conferences and workshops including WordCamp Chicago, WordCamp Detroit and WordCamp Milwaukee. Happiness for Gloria includes researching the latest tech trends, stacks of coding books, and 3 day tech conferences.

She will be presenting two sessions for Foundation Friday: “Text Widget for the Non Coder” and “Create Great User Documents”

Interview with Gloria:

Why do you use WordPress?

I first learned of WordPress in 2006 from Peter Merholz during Adaptive Path’s “Beyond Usability 2.0” workshop. That is when I began learning and developing with WordPress and never looked back. I use it for many reasons – flexible, extensible, SEO friendly, and the community.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
I must really like them because I attended 5 last year. You would find me in the dev track at Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, Grand Rapids, and Detroit learning the latest best practices. What better place to learn then from the best WordPress community has to offer! Plus making new friends with a common bond.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
I have presented at many web design/development events in the last 10 years. I usually pick a topic based on my need to know or my clients pain points. I am focused on user experience, information architecture and best practices to help the WordPress long tail of new users. Tip: do your pre-website needs assessment, stretch to learn more about WordPress before you start and know your coding limitations. Then do research on picking a theme that meets your needs. Don’t judge a theme just on its visual appeal. Try to look behind the curtain.

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
Some problems in sites are caused by designers/developers and some by the users. Poor coding standards tops my list. So much time wasted trying to get a poorly coded site to work with top grade plugins. Users have a hard time evaluating a quality theme from behind a walled garden of documentation and support forums. Their skill set is limited. If there is quality docs, they may not understand or even read them. WordPress.org is working hard at evaluating themes and improving the .org docs. I also see improvement on the commercial side providing a good knowledge base for users.  I think any user who wants to build their site on their own could spend more time learning about web development in general.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
Staying up to date! It is like a carrot on a stick dangled just out of my reach. Okay it does take a lot of work keeping up. So many variable come into play, what is the next release, what new plugins are good, what development style just fell out of grace, Oh my! Thank god I have an iPad. I play shows like WP Water cooler when I am cooking, watch WordPress.tv when I wash the dishes and I read eBooks in bed. I confess to being a learn-aholic and like knowing the latest stuff. I also go to WordPress meetups.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
First know your stuff, not just WordPress and PHP but study user experience, user testing, information architecture and SEO. If your business model is client-centric, educate your clients on the importance of focusing on the business needs before coding and design and have someone dedicated to producing content. If your business model is providing Themes and Plugins, I can’t stress how important it is to provide an effective learning channel for your users. Start here docs, step by step tutorials and videos. Don’t just have a forum.

Heather Acton –

I’m the founder of and developer at Helio Interactive, a fresh WordPress development shop in Chicago, IL. We specialize in custom themes and user experience, and pride ourselves in providing unparalleled client services. When I’m not brainstorming with a client or building a site, I’m likely cuddling with my kiddos, sipping a craft beer, or at a Dave Matthews Band concert.

She will be a part of the WordPress Business Owners Panel on Sunday.

Interview with Heather:

Why do you use WordPress?
I use WordPress to feed my family, improve myself, and build others’ businesses.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
I love catching up with all of my friends in the community. Typically we’re all holed up in our offices and rarely get the opportunity to spend a whole weekend talking and learning about our favorite CMS.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Backup all the things! Update them too!

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
Too many plugins! I coach clients to not pimp out their site too much. For newer developers, I coach them to not use plugins that can easily be replaced with a few lines of custom code.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
1) Do great work over and over again. 2) Always be a joy to work with. 3) Be patient while repeating 1 & 2 over and over, and great things will come to you and your business.

Jarrod Pyper –

Currently a web developer at Vortala managing and adding features to a WP network of 2000+ sites. Loves coding, sunshine, learning new things, and nerd jokes. Crazy about his wife and 2 girls. Always a gun for hire via Pypeline.

He will be presenting on “What’s Your Query?” for Foundation Friday

Interview with Jarrod:

Why do you use WordPress?
I “use” WordPress to pay the bills but I love WordPress because I feel like I’m part of it. There’s an awesome community around WordPress of really smart and helpful people. If you want to jump in, the response you’ll get is “come on in, the water is great!”

What do you like best about WordCamps?
All that knowledge in one place! Meeting the people you’ve only followed on twitter. Learning, learning, and learning.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Hang out with other WP people. Try hard to hang out with the ones smarter than you, and help the ones learning. You don’t have to be BFFs, but don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. Find a local meetup group. If you can’t find one, START a local meetup group.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
Twitter. Yes, there are WP news sites but I don’t feel like I have the time to browse them. I follow them on twitter, see their tweeted headlines of new posts and read if I’m interested. I follow WP people smarter and more popular than me, I read the things they link.

Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
WebDev Studios created a web app for the YMCA to “gamify” getting exercise while on location. There’s goals, badges, workout lists, and all in a pretty slick interface made for working at iPad stations.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Get connected. Make friends. Meetup groups. WordCamps. Get the word out that you’re looking to pick up more projects. Most of the developers I’m friends with (freelance and otherwise) are swimming in projects and are more often looking to contract out. If you’re contracted, put your heart into it and make it good. You’ll become a go-to when there’s more to be done. You don’t need to have a filled to the brim portfolio page on your website. Just be honest and do good work.

Ross Johnson –

Ross Johnson has been designing websites professionally for over fifteen years. He brings a unique and comprehensive view to design, shaped by a lifelong love for fine arts and his education in technology, business and social science. This diverse background brings insight to all aspects of design including practicality, business implications and psychology of how people interact with computers. For the past seven years Johnson has run a global design firm called 3.7 DESIGNS. The firm has serviced companies across the globe including General Motors, Sandals and The Detroit Zoo. He currently teaches at Michigan State University and Washtenaw Community College. Johnson

He will be presenting on “The Overlap of Emotion and Usability” on Saturday.

Interview with Ross:

Why do you use WordPress?
It’s the best platform for the type of projects I work on. It’s easy to use, flexible, extendable and always evolving.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
Meeting other professionals and learning new techniques for design and development.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
The WordPress Codex contains everything you need and more.

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
Bad user experience. Plan before you post, think about what categories and tags make sense for your site and create a logical user interface.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
wpcandy.com

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Find an niche and become an expert in it.

Andy Christian –

Andy may be best known in the WordPress community as a co-organizer of WordCamp NYC, and perpetual volunteer at WordCamps all over the country. He has a passion for introducing new users to the wonders of WordPress. Andy develops workshops and webinars for Tadpole.cc, as well as providing technical support for Tadpole’s clients.

Andy will be presenting two sessions: “Type on the Web” for Foundation Friday and will be a member of the Community Panel on Sunday.

Interview with Andy:

Why do you use WordPress?
WordPress is the best way to get yourself on the web, whether you’re just looking for a place to show off your family recipes, or need a way to market your business. There’s no other CMS with such a vibrant community (online and off) to help you thrive online.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
The after parties. 😛 No, seriously, it’s the connections and friendships that are made, and the fact that you get to meet so many people in person, and see how they’re using WordPress to make themselves, their companies, and the world better.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Remember that (unless you’re paying for it), anybody that helps you is a volunteer. Treat them with respect, and thank them for taking time out of their schedule to help. Oh, and be sure to search the web before posting your question (with all appropriate details, of course).

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
The biggest problem I see is people who put up a website without thinking about their content. Oftentimes, content is the last thing people think about, when it should be the first. Whenever a client approaches you about creating a website, make sure they know: who their audience is, what their audience is looking for when they visit the site, and how much effort they’re willing to put into coming up with fresh content on a regular basic.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
There are so many resources for staying up to date, including websites like WP Candy, WP Force, WP Realm, WP Tavern (noticing a theme here?), but honestly I read a ton about what’s going on in the community on the make.wordpress.org blogs (and Twitter).

Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
My favorite use of WordPress recently is wp10.wordpress.net. David Bissett created a site that seamlessly pulls in info from various social networks to help everybody around the web celebrate the 10th anniversary of WordPress.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Plan for everything to take longer than it you think, and cost more than you think. Find a niche that you’re passionate about, so it doesn’t seem like work. Have someone on your side (whether you form a company with a team, or outsource) who knows finances. Plan out what you want to get out of your business a year or two down the road. Be willing to take cheaper projects to gain experience, but don’t let yourself get walked on; charge what you’re worth–not what you think you can get.

Nick Pelton – 

Nick is a Founding Partner and the Director of Development at WerkPress. Nick has spent his whole career creating for the Internet. His ability to problem solve has led to a serious depth of knowledge in interactive software development and design.

Before Westwerk, Nick spent time at several full-service agencies working with a diverse set of brands, including Sanus, Best Buy, Walmart and CostCo. Extending his nerdy pursuits out of the office, Nick keeps himself busy by attending meet-ups, geocaching, playing strategy games and discussing technology.

Nick will be presenting Simple CSS Modifications Using Inspector & Intro to Child Themes for Foundation Friday.

Interview with Nick:

Why do you use WordPress?
From a technical perspective there are many things about WordPress that are lacking, but trying many other platforms over the years I can say it bar far the easiest platform for clients to understand.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
The willingness to share knowledge. I learn so much at every WordCamp I attend.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Become a Google ninja and there is nothing you can’t learn.

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
External dependancies. To many times I’ve had to fix poorly written themes because they forget/assume/don’t care that external libraries like jQuery regularly get updates. Never link to a external “latest” version of a script, you’re just asking for your site to break. Pick a fixed version and set a local fallback incase the hosted version fails.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
Twitter, WP-Daily, Google, Reading a lot.

Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
http://crowdfavorite.com/capsule/ It’s a Single Page App written in JS using WordPress as the data backend. I feel the web is going this direction and WordPress as an application platform is becoming more feasible.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Service. If you want to be successful, you need to have happy clients who refer you. This is true for any service based business.