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.

Erik Wolf –

Erik Wolf is a small business marketer and author of two books, Blog For Business and the award winning Marketing: Unmasked. He is also the founder of ORBTR, the first marketing automation platform for WordPress and of Zero-G Creative, an online marketing agency serving small (and growing!) business clients exclusively.

Erik has been featured by The Huffington Post, NewYorkTimes.com and Atlanta Business Radio among other media outlets and has been a speaker at conferences such as South by Southwest (SXSW), Ignite Denver, Digital Atlanta and several WordCamps. Erik lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and two children.

He will be presenting “Grow Your Business NOW: Maximize Marketing Efficiencies With WordPress” on Saturday.

Interview with Erik:

Why do you use WordPress?
I started using WordPress about 6 years ago when we were looking for an open source content management system to adopt for our clients. We chose WordPress primarily because, of all the systems we tested, it seemed the only one easy enough to use that we could easily teach it to our clients. In 2013, we still use WordPress, not only because of the ease of use but also because of the way the platform has evolved, the incredible growth of the community and the development of incredible business tools to go along with it.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
WordCamps are a great reminder about the incredible variety of people in our community including designers, developers, business owners, writers, creators, and complete novices. Getting in touch with a wide range of people and learning what they do with WordPress and what they need in resources is incredibly valuable.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Take the time to meet and really get to know other WordPress folks and how they work… It amazes me what I’ve learned and tips I’ve picked up from people I meet at WordCamps and other events even having sold WordPress services for six years.

Rose Fields –

As a kid, my dad called me the chief cook and bottle washer because I was the one in charge of the kitchen. Being in charge of website development, social media and support is a whole lot better than being in charge of the kitchen!

Social Web Dzine is the realization of my dream to be a work at home, single mom. I’ve spent the past 9 years refining my business goals and raising four children. Today I focus on creating customized websites for local business and non-profit organizations. When I’m not at my desk, you’ll find me vegging out to an NCIS marathon with my kids!

Rose will be presenting a session titled “Save Your Site – Stop Hackers at The Door” for Foundation Friday.  

Interview with Rose:

Why do you use WordPress?
It’s a beautiful, flexible way of creating websites that my customers love.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
I love the whole atmosphere of WordCamp. I’ve attended three WordCamps and have learned a lot of great information. But the networking and sharing information with other developers and attendees was just as important as the sessions.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Backup your website… regularly! I use BackupBuddy and it’s an important aspect of my business.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
Twitter – I follow a lot of people and they all seem to have a variety of sources for information.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Webdesign.com is a great resource for any new WordPress developers just starting out. Professor Benjamin shares a lot of knowledge on a weekly basis and has helped me grow my business a lot.

Jeremy Felt –

As Director of Web Engineering at 10up, Jeremy works every day with an amazingly talented team to create, deploy, and sustain some of the biggest WordPress sites on the web. He has been creating things on the Internet for well over 15 years and has constantly strove for better ways to publish and maintain user generated content. A native to the Chicagoland area, Jeremy now lives on the west coast in sunny Portland.

He will be presenting “Hi WordPress, Meet Vagrant” on Sunday.

Interview with Jeremy:

Why do you use WordPress?
I really buy into the principle that content creators should own their data. From my perspective, WordPress is the most approachable, extendable, and reliable way to accomplish this. On top of that, the community around WordPress is second to none. It really is a great example of what many people can do with open source software.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
Coming out from behind the Twitter handles and Web URLs to meet members of the community face to face.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Look for a WordPress meetup and get involved with the local community. Having people to talk to about WordPress will advance the learning curve quickly.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
I keep an eye on #wordpress-dev throughout the day and try not to miss any big blocks of time. When I see a ticket that interests me, I’ll bookmark it to check back in later. Our #team10up room will often fill in the blanks with anything WordPress related if it was exciting. And of course the WordPress crowd on Twitter does a great job of spreading the word.

Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
I’m a bit biased as we build creative, cool, and unusual uses of WordPress every day at 10up. Global News (http://globalnews.ca/) is one of the more recent 10up projects that really blew me away. The management of regionalized content and the various tools in place to break news are amazing behind the scenes. I’m also a big fan of Quartz (http://qz.com). A lot of interesting things were done with the interface and the mobile experience keeps me coming back more often than usual to look for new content.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Be involved with the community. If you’re siloed off by yourself, you’ll miss an extremely important perspective when building things with WordPress.

Cliff Seal –

I’m a UX Designer at Pardot, but I’ve been in WordPress every working day for at least the last four years. Personally, I’ve been designing and developing WordPress sites for years as Logos Creative, and have been working on awesome projects like MusicGrid.me. I live in Atlanta with my wife, April, where we do young urbanite-y things.

Cliff will be presenting a session titled “No one cares about your content (yet)” on Saturday.

Interview with Cliff:

Why do you use WordPress?
WordPress has the best combination of performance, extensibility, community, and intuitive design.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
I enjoy shaking the hands of people I’d previously only known through a computer screen.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
Start doing things you know you can’t do— eventually, you’ll be able to do them.

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
The biggest issue I see is, as a WordPress ‘expert’, showing users and first-time developers the possibilities of the platform while understanding that constraints and best practices are always needed.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
WPDaily.co. I do write for ’em, but I get my news from there, too, for the most part. The rest comes from following core contributors on Twitter.

Share an example of a really great (creative, cool, unusual) use of WordPress you’ve seen recently.
Paul Clark’s presentation from WordCamp Phoenix this year stuck with me for sure:
How WordPress Saves Lives – Freedom, Hope and Custom Post Types.

On a far less important note, I’ve been doing some crazy stuff with WordPress for MusicGrid.me.

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Always challenge your own knowledge and skills— there’s something new you can find out about WordPress every single day.