Learn More About Our Saturday Activity Hour

June 5, 2014More Information, Social Eventscparkinson

On Saturday we’ll have 2 hours for lunch between speaker sessions! There’s time to explore the city and chat with new friends and still have time for lunch, or participate in one of our organized activities.

Networking lunches

Join a small group of attendees who share your interests at a local restaurant. Discussion to be lead by one of our amazing speakers. Choose from:

Non-profits: How WordPress can help your mission. At Tamarind, led by Hilary Fosdal.
Education: how to use WordPress for teaching. At Plymouth Restaurant rooftop, group leader TBA.
Development. At Plymouth Restaurant rooftop, group leader TBA.
Plugins. At Plymouth Restaurant rooftop, group leader TBA.
Themes. At Plymouth Restaurant rooftop, group leader TBA.

Architecture walking tour

After the fire of 1871, Chicago had to rebuild from the ground up. Innovations in technology and design made it the birthplace of modern architecture. Join Emily Barney and Clare Parkinson for a walking tour of architectural history from the old-school masonry of the Monadnock block to Mies Van der Rohe’s minimalist Federal Building. We’ll be getting boxed lunches from CafeCito – orders will be taken at sign-up.

Please note, for all organized lunches:

Space is limited, first come, first served.
Sign up at registration when you arrive in the morning.
All participants are responsible for the cost of their own lunch.

Lightning talks

In the Engineer (Loop/River) Room. John Havlik, Brian Busche, and Joel Bronkowski will give 10-minute talks about their experience and current projects.

Looking For Work/Looking To Hire Meetup

Looking for a new gig? Looking for new players to add to your team? Meet and mingle in the Lounge (Multimedia) Room for job-related networking. You’ll be able to indicate whether you’re looking to work or looking to hire with a specially colored sticker.

Thanks to the WordCamp Chicago Sponsors!

June 4, 2014Sponsorsdawnmschaffer

We, here at WordCamp Chicago, want to send a HUGE thank you to our local sponsors!

We had a huge outpouring of support from sponsors this year! WordCamp Chicago would not be the same without the help of these great individuals and companies, from out local tech community as well as the greater WordPress ecosystem! The generation donations of these sponsors help support the local WordPress community and make this year’s WordCamp Chicago possible for the over 400 attendees. If you’ll be there this year, make sure to find them and say hi and thank them for all they do!

Interview with Ian Wilson

June 4, 2014Interview, SpeakersFoundation Friday 301Emily Barney

Ian Wilson –

Ian will be presenting Understanding WordPress Filters and Actions on Friday in the Foundation Friday 301 track

In past lives Ian has been a lead developer, lead designer, and Huffington Post guest blogger (among other things). Currently he runs design & code agency build/create alongside business partner Eric Lynch.

As a self taught developer, Ian started using WordPress in 2007, and immediately started looking for ways to better exploit its then more blog-oriented functionality for content management. Since then he has built a business around providing clients with WordPress powered sites that meld design and code into a seamless, intuitive, user experience.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I use WordPress because it makes for a better experience for my users, period. I love the community, and I love developing for it, but at the end of the day it’s about providing the best and easiest to use product for my clients, and WordPress allows me to do that.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
Inspiration is a necessary part of life, and for me there’s little more inspiring than getting together with folks that share the same interests and problems and seeing how they tackle the same work you do. It opens up whole new ways of looking at your work.

Those little breakthroughs are what make WordCamp such a great investment in your professional skills, and loads of fun to boot!

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
We’ve been working on running more of our business on WordPress, and to that end I’ve been developing a CRM plugin. Basically just taking our sales process and turning into something that runs entirely on WordPress- from contact entry, to generating proposals, to reporting on close rates. If it turns out good we’ll probably release it as a premium plugin on our forthcoming plugin/theme shop.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Network, network, network. The WordPress community is amazing, leverage that to your advantage and you’re off to a great start. Focus on making sites that your clients aren’t afraid to use- they’ll be less likely to get broken over simple updates. Then either they can update their own site, which they’ll love you for, or you’ll at least make it easier on yourself to do the maintenance work.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
The WordPress Codex! I swear I still use it all the time as a reference, few documentation repositories are as up to date and useful.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I’ve been getting into making curry lately and it has been a complete revelation. I try to eat low carb a lot of the time, which sometimes means eating a lot of the same types of food over and over again. Curry has changed all that, so at least on a personal level, I think it’s pretty awesome.

Interview with Gregory Cornelius

June 3, 2014Interview, SpeakersAdvanced DevelopmentEmily Barney

Gregory Cornelius –

Gregory will be presenting Taking Your JavaScript Further on Saturday in the Advanced Development track

Gregory Cornelius is a code wrangler at Automattic and WordPress core contributor. Prior to moving to Boston, Massachusetts, Gregory spent ten years pursuing music degrees at schools in Missouri, Ohio, and Texas.

Along the way, he discovered that helping folks share their ideas on the web with WordPress was invigorating and has been doing so professionally since 2008.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I love how awesome the WordPress community is, how easy it is for users to edit content, and how it can scale from personal blogs to large complicated enterprise installations.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
WordCamps are inexpensive and are great chance to meet people in your area doing awesome things with WordPress.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
Having the opportunity to work on some of the main new features in WordPress 3.9 was

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Never stop learning and listening to users. Users will always give you clues and insights that you can use to make their lives better and solve their problems.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
The source code.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I wrote a pretty neat piece of music Earth and Green inspired by Mark Rothko’s painting of the same name in 2006. And, then in 2009, I got married in the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas.

Thanks to the WordCamp Multi-Event Sponsors!

June 3, 2014Sponsorsdawnmschaffer

We, here at WordCamp Chicago, want to send a HUGE thank you to our multi-event sponsors!

WordCamp attendees come from all over, some taking off work, many being freelancers or small business owners, in order to learn from the WordPress community. WordCamp Chicago would not be able to be so successful if it weren’t for the support of the following multi-event sponsors helping to ensure we can keep costs low for our over 400 attendees!

Interview with Mike Hale

June 2, 2014Interview, SpeakersGeneral InterestEmily Barney

Mike Hale –

Mike will be presenting Content Calendars for WordPress: Tips & Tools on Sunday in the General Interest track

Mike has over 15 years of experience building custom websites and applications for everything from solo entrepreneurs and startups to Fortune 100 companies.

He started working with WordPress in 2010 and specializes in customizing themes, building custom plugins and migrating existing sites to WordPress. Once built, Mike helps his clients market their sites by providing content marketing, SEO and social media management services.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I started using WordPress so that I didn’t have to build basic CMS functions for every website I built. I also like the availability of plugins to do most tasks. The amount of information shared by other developers also makes it easy to learn how to extend WordPress when you need additional functionality.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
The sessions are very informative, and given by speakers that actually work in WordPress every day. The chance to meet and network with other WordPress enthusiasts, users, designers and developers all willing to share their thoughts and help each other is unlike anything else! And, of course, the after parties!

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
I recently published by first plugin to the WordPress Plugin. “Genesis Footer Links Nofollow” is a simple little plugin that marks links in the site footer as “nofollow” for Genesis Framework sites.

I know this isn’t something amazing, but after building a lot of client-specific plugins it was important for me to write something that could be used by anyone and learn more about the plugin creation & publishing process.

https://wordpress.org/plugins/genesis-footer-links-nofollow/

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
If you’re a designer, learn a bit more about development, and vice versa. Understanding how the code and design work together will help your clients in the long run. Also, try to pick a niche market to serve.

It’s hard to say no to projects in the beginning, but don’t short-change the value of your services too much. Building a portfolio is important, but you also have to pay the bills!

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
The Developer community, and the willingness of people to share information about how to do many different things with WordPress. There’s so many Podcasts, blogs and forums dedicated to WordPress it’s hard to pick any in particular.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
One of my hobbies is puppetry. I’ve made puppet parody videos that have gathered over 1.75 million views on YouTube. I’m toying with the idea of having a puppet-based web series depicting the life of a WordPress developer!

Interview with John James Jacoby

June 1, 2014Interview, SpeakersAdvanced DevelopmentEmily Barney

John James Jacoby –

John James will be presenting Multisite and Multi-network on Sunday in the Advanced Development track

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
The community is so great

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
If I were a zombie, the community would still accept me.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
BuddyPress 2.0

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Ship a v1 of your idea early, iterate constantly, and don’t be ashamed to humble-brag every once in a while.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
Core Trac

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
Not a zombie

Interview with Becky Davis

June 1, 2014Interview, SpeakersBusiness/Project ManagementEmily Barney

Becky Davis –

Becky will be presenting Project Management or How to Herd Cats on Sunday in the Business/Project Management track

Becky is a solopreneur web designer/developer who specializes in custom themes. She fell in love with WordPress in 2009 and has never looked back. She is a big advocate for training and empowering site owners and to that end speaks regularly on WordPress and web design at SCORE Chicago and runs the Northside Chicago WordPress meetup.

Her kids are both out of the house at this point, but she still takes care of the kitties and her landlord’s garden. She is grateful that winter is over and she can once again ride her bike to the grocery store and to meet friends at the bar.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
At this point I know it so well, that’s there’s very little that I can’t do with it. I also like giving my clients as much control as possible.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
Best, most affordable, most approachable tech conference around. You always learn something, meet interesting people and leave with your brain buzzing.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
lafeber.com
This is actually a collection of several sites under one corporate umbrella. We got the consumer (pet birds) side with a shopping cart and custom post types done last year. The larger membership restricted informational Vet site is getting re-done this year.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Never discount a job and not charge what you’re worth, never stop learning and remember to give back. Doing presentations at meetups and Camps is a great way to learn more yourself and what makes the whole WP community so cool.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
Google & twitter – seriously, so many good sources, never know where I’m going to find the answer I’m looking for.

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I make some of the best cookies on the planet and over the holidays I’ve been known to go through over 5 pounds of butter. My secret? My great grandmother’s copy of Betty Crocker to start.

Interview with Travis Totz

May 31, 2014Interview, SpeakersDesignEmily Barney

Travis Totz –

Travis will be presenting Designing for Interaction on Saturday in the Design track

Partner and co-owner at Westwerk/WerkPress, Travis has been driven to build and create wonderful projects on-top of WordPress since version 1.5.

In-between working on client work and traveling the country, Travis helps organize and build-up the local, Minneapolis WordPress community through advanced user meet-ups and engagements.

Travis enjoys spending his time solving web design challenges – through design, interaction, and user experience.

Travis’ passions outside of WordPress are reading non-fiction, making music, traveling, and living a vegetarian/healthy lifestyle.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
The ease of client-use. The community and amazing, passionate people that are a part of it.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
There is a nearly endless amount of knowledge and connections that one can gain from simply attending a WordCamp. Engage and benefit.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
The re-design and build of our own websites; Westwerk and WerkPress. It’s always fun (and excruciating) working on your own brand(s).

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Make connections and be open to change, opportunity, and growth. Create a business plan and be smart about all of the decisions that you make. Be okay with saying “No”.

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
Following the best-of-the-best on Twitter. WP Tavern, and of course attending WordCamps 🙂

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I love to spend time digging into nerdy historical or science-based non-fiction books.

Interview with Zac Gordon

May 31, 2014Interview, SpeakersFoundation Friday 201Emily Barney

Zac Gordon –

Zac will be presenting Why Setting Up Themes is a Niche in Itself, What to Know on Friday
in the Foundation Friday 201 track

Zac is the WordPress teacher at Treehouse, an amazing online learning site. Before Treehouse, Zac taught WordPress and web development at the high school and college level.

In addition to teaching WordPress, Zac also runs Web Hosting for Students, a hosting company dedicated to students and teachers of the web.

Interview:

Why do you use WordPress?
I use it as a blogger because I love it’s interface, ease of use and extendability. I use it as a developer because of it’s large community of users and developers as well as how easy it is to code custom templates.

What would you say to convince someone to attend a WordCamp?
No, really you should go.

What is your favorite WordPress project you have worked on recently?
I have been working on a large BuddyPress project. I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s taught me a lot about the inner workings of BuddyPress.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to start or grow a WordPress based business?
Definitely attend a WordCamp to network, have patience, and keep at it!

What is your favorite WordPress-related resource?
The Codex for me is a daily go to, but I also like wphierarchy.com 🙂

Tell us something awesome about yourself that is not WordPress related
I love to practice and teach Kundalini WordPress

WordCamp Chicago 2014

JUNE 13-15 2014

Thanks to the WordCamp Chicago Sponsors!

Interview with Ian Wilson

Ian Wilson –

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Interview with Gregory Cornelius

Gregory Cornelius –

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Thanks to the WordCamp Multi-Event Sponsors!

Interview with Mike Hale

Mike Hale –

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Interview with John James Jacoby

John James Jacoby –

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Interview with Becky Davis

Becky Davis –

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Interview with Travis Totz

Travis Totz –

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Interview with Zac Gordon

Zac Gordon –

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