Interview with Marc Benzakein

Interview, Speakers

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Marc will be presenting There’s No Place Like 127.0.0.1 on Friday in the Foundation Friday 301 track

Marc Benzakein has been working online since the mid 90s, starting as a Network Administrator for a small, independent ISP in Southern California and has been involved in almost all aspects of technology.

In 2009, he started developing in WordPress, first for his own purposes and then for clients. In early 2013, he got involved with ServerPress, LLC, makers of DesktopServer, a local development tool created for WordPress designers and developers.

Marc lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, Jessica and two children, Eli (8) and Brenna (4).

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Interview with Michele Butcher

Interview, Speakers

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Michele will be presenting Intro to Jetpack on Friday in the Foundation Friday 201 track

Michele is a full time blogger, designer, and all around awesome person. Michele started her love for WordPress back in 2010 when she got her feet wet working with Bit51 as a content creator and support ninja until its merger with iThemes.

Michele is also the Organizer for the Southern Illinois WordPress Meetup. She is also the newest member of the WP Security Lock team in April of this year. When not in front of a screen, Michele enjoys life with her family and friends.

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Interview with Julie Cameron

Interview, Speakers

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Julie will be presenting Surviving Support: 10 Tips for Saving Your Users and Yourself on Sunday in the General Interest track

Julie Cameron is a frontend developer for Articulate working in the metro-Detroit area. She is the sole developer and support-provider of the open source SlickQuiz plugins for jQuery and WordPress.

Julie is a fan of Sassy CSS and modular architecture, responsive web design, and is a student of JavaScript and self-improvement.

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Interview with Kyle Maurer

Interview, Speakers

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Kyle will be presenting Shortcode Shenanigans on Friday in the Foundation Friday 201 track

Kyle Maurer is the co-founder of and lead developer for Real Big Marketing. He has been developing websites since 2009 and is passionate about WordPress as a CMS and development platform.

Working with WordPress multisite, developing plugins, creating complicated websites for small businesses and attending WordPress Meetups and WordCamps are among Kyle’s favorite things. Bacon is also nice.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I use WordPress because I haven’t encountered a website related project yet that I can’t handle with it, because it has a thriving user base and is very well supported, because the WP community is the freaking bomb, and most of all because people pay me for doing this.

For a more eloquent explanation, refer to my origin story on my wordpress.org profile.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
If you come to this WordCamp I’ll give you a bazillion dollars and I won’t kidnap your dog.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
Nothing beats the plugin projects. Unfortunately my true favorites are not quite complete yet. Hopefully some of them will be ready to go live by the time WordCamp Chicago rolls around.

Other than that, I published a couple little plugins last fall for things like enhancing Google Adwords campaigns and showing Christmas song lyrics in the wp-admin. Plus I’ve made tons of websites.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Try not to think of code as a four letter word but rather something that can really empower you. As much as you don’t want to mess with code, your clients want to even less and will pay you well to do it for them. Embrace this reality. Learn to do it right.

Also, follow coding best practices, study the codex, attend WordCamps, focus on quality, raise your prices, don’t hire anyone you’d have a hard time firing, use contracts with every client, don’t do drugs, wear your seat belt at all times, listen to Bob Marley, help out on the .org support forums

Don’t fear the code.
Don’t settle for mediocrity.
Immerse yourself in WP.
Say yes to things you have no clue how to do.
Vote for Pedro.
Wear your seat belts.
Eat more bacon.
Talk to Chris Lema.
Buy a really comfortable office chair.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
Do I have to choose just one? Yes? How about no? Ok. I’m gonna just ignore that.

The codex
make.wordpress.org
ManageWP.org
ChrisLema.com
CSS-Tricks.com
PippinsPlugins.com
Twitter
Local meetups

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I play guitar. Does anything else really matter? If you walked up to me and said “Hey, Kyle. You want some of this free beer?” I would most likely say “Yes”.

Interview with Brent Shepherd

Interview, Speakers

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Brent will be presenting Develop Very Mild Superpowers with Git on Saturday in the Development track

WordPress is my hobby and my profession.

I currently work day-and-night on WooCommerce Subscriptions – the most popular 3rd party extension in the official WooCommerce marketplace. Prior to falling in love with WooCommerce, I worked as a WordPress freelancer developer for clients like Stanford University, Designer Fund and the Australian Government.

I’ve spoken at WordCamp’s in Phoenix, Orlando, Sydney (Australia) and helped co-organise WordCamps in Melbourne and Gold Coast (Australia).

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I started because of the simplicity & good documentation, I stayed because of the community and ideals.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
You only live once.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
WooCommerce!

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Go to a WordCamp in your area.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
WordCamps! Are they a resource? If not, the Codex.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
WordPress is my hobby and profession. There is nothing else.

Interview with Joshua Alexander

Interview, Speakers

Joshua Alexander – twitter dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com facebook dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com LinkedIn dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com Google+ dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com

Joshua will be presenting Plugins and Dashboard on Friday in the Foundation Friday 101 track.

I own a small development company in the SW Burbs of Chicago that caters to other agencies. We do custom WP work such as theme development, plugins, and modifications for other tech companies.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
WordPress is flexible and the open source nature and the community make it all worth while. The people you meet in this community are awesome and that really does help in the development and growth that WordPress sees.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
Its a great group of people to network with. For the techie crowd its great to have others that understand our language. For the non-techies its a great way to realize the technology that is available and a place to pickup techie people for your organization.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
I’m doing more web based application development now so that has been an interesting development for me at least.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Come out to the WordCamp you can talk to those that are already running businesses in the industry. You’ll find that the community is very friendly and helpful to making sure you can get going the right way and can provide help if needed.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
I’d have to say github because of the broad code you can get and use there. Although I’ll throw a plugin for Desktop Server from ServerPress as well for local development environments.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
Non WordPress related I’m an advocate for Autism Awareness I personally have PDD-NOS which is a form of Autism and try to break the stereotypes of what people see on television about us.

Interview with Tracy Apps

Interview, Speakers

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Tracy will be presenting how to not design like a developer on Saturday
in the Design track

Tracy, aka tapps, has been working with WordPress since before it was WordPress… and yes, apps is really her last name (because I know you were wondering).

Her formal training is in traditional art and print design, however she first started teaching her self web development in 1996 (back in the heyday of tiled background graphics and animated GIFs).

Tracy now owns Tracy Apps Design, a web creative company specializing in custom WordPress solutions for clients of all sizes.

When Tracy isn’t working on making the web a more beautiful place, you might find her playing drums/percussion with various musicians around Milwaukee, or lifting heavy things in CrossFit.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
Because WordPress is my bitch, of course.

But no, seriously… no other CMS i have worked with is as 1) pretty 2) functional and 3) easy to understand.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
WordCamp is where cool people meet and talk about cool things. Don’t you want to be cool like all us?

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
Oh I have so many, but probably one of my more recent sites, http://crossfit100.com/ would be among my favorites, just because i got to really push a lot of bounds from your traditional WordPress template. I also did the photography, so it was fun to have a greater control on the creative of the site, since the site is very photo driven.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Don’t ever stop learning. Technologies change at a rapid rate, so being able to provide clients with the most efficient and cutting edge solution requires putting in the leg-work to be successful. Plus, it can really save a lot of extra work and headache in the future if you can provide the most clean and streamlined solution the FIRST time! (plus have happier clients)

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
the google

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I can deadlift 265lbs.

Interview with Troy Dean

Interview, Speakers

Troy Dean – twitter dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com facebook dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com LinkedIn dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com Google+ dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com

Troy will be presenting 101 Ways to Elevate Yourself and Demand Higher Fees on Saturday in the Business/Project Management track

Troy Dean is a WordPress speaker, consultant and coach and is co-founder of Video User Manuals and WP Elevation. Buy him a beer and pick his brain about building a business on WordPress.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I use WordPress because it is supported by the most amazing community – and it’s damn sexy.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
It’s like walking into a room full of warm bubbles, candy and big hugs. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by like minded people who all want to help each other.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
We built the website for Studio Alto, using Advanced Custom Fields to allow the client to build up their own page templates using various content modules. And she won an award…

http://www.studioalto.com/
http://www.awwwards.com/web-design-awards/studio-alto

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Work out who you serve the best and then serve them better than anyone else. Build an audience and become so helpful that they throw money at you for your help.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
The WP Elevation Podcast 🙂
http://www.wpelevation.com/category/podcast/

or…

WP Think Tank 🙂
http://wpthinktank.com/

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I am a professional voice over artist and sang the Cadbury jingle “Wouldn’t it be nice if the world was Cadbury”

WordCamp Chicago Afterparty on the Rooftop!

Location, More Information, Social Events

afterparty-header

One of the best parts of WordCamps are the networking opportunities and “hallway conversations,” where attendees, speakers, and sponsors can hang out, chat WordPress, and get to know each other better. While we have plenty of opportunities to do so this year, none is more well known than the WordCamp Afterparty!

This year, the afterparty is a private event in the 3rd floor Great Room and the gorgeous Rooftop Terrace at the University Center, one floor up from the conference center. Starting at 6:30pm on Saturday (right after WordCamp is over for the day), we will have dinner & appetizers (first come, first served), drinks, and lots of great conversation, all included in your ticket price! We hope you’ll join us (and hope for great weather)!

You must bring your badge (obtained at registration) for entry.

We love to have a great time at WordCamp Chicago, but as always, remember that this is a professional event, and we encourage everyone to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Be safe, have fun, and check out the Code of Conduct if you have questions.

Interview with Josh Leuze

Interview, Speakers

Josh Leuze – twitter dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com facebook dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com Google+ dark blue jeans social media icons designed by icons.mysitemyway.com

Josh will be presenting Building Your First Widget on Saturday in the Development track

Josh Leuze is a WordPress developer from Minnesota who loves making themes. He is the author of the popular Meteor Slides plugin.

When not building themes and plugins in his basement, Josh can be found doodling with his kids at the kitchen table, digging in the garden, or pedaling his bike around town.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
Because of the great community that WordPress has, and the low barrier to entry. The best part about WordPress is that anyone can come in with any level of knowledge, learn as much or as little as they want to, and be able to publish their ideas to the world.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
I would tell them that WordCamps are open to everyone and that they will get something out of it; whether their goal is to meet some cool new people, start a blog, be motivated to blog more, or build their first theme or plugin.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
Most of the sites that I work on are nebulous, intangible things that only exist online or for a faraway brick and mortar locations that I’ll never really set foot in.

So it was fun to work on a site with 9seeds for Downtown Container Park, a crazy industrial sculpture / shopping center in Las Vegas, and then actually visit the location during WordCamp Vegas last year. It was surreal to walk though the park and feel the heat off the flame-throwing praying mantis, rather than just experiencing it as a slideshow on my screen!

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Specialize. Figure out what your strengths are, what you like to do best, and focus on that. Seek out other people who can compliment your skills with their own specializations in other areas.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
Whenever I want to learn how to do something new with WordPress, the first place I go is WordPress.tv. I love being able to take a mini-WordCamp lunch break and watch a good video from someone who knows what they’re talking about!

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I’m the webmaster for StarShipSofa, a Hugo award winning podcast that plays lots of awesome science fiction stories.