This year marks the fifth annual WordCamp RI. Can you believe it? Here are some #Throw Back and #Flash Back highlights.
2012
2012 WordCamp Providence logo
Our first WordCamp was held in 2012 at the University of Rhode Island’s Harrington School of Communication and Media in downtown Providence. The lead organizer was Luke Gedeon. Jesse Friedman was on the WordCamp organizing committee.
The first year we held a one-day WordCamp, on a Saturday at the end of October. There were three seminar tracks: beginner, developer, and education.
Some of the sessions and speakers were:
- “Plugin Development – Stirred not Shaken” by Jon Desrosiers
- “From Employee, to Freelancer, to Business Owner (An Unnatural Progression)” by Aaron Ware
- A “Panel: The use of WordPress at The Harrington School of Communication and Media, URI” led by Jonathan Friesem.
The After-Party was held at Congress Tavern.
2013
WordCamp 2013 was expanded to a 2-day weekend of learning all things WordPress. The co-lead-organizers were Luke Gedeon and Jesse Friedman. There were four tracks in 2013: beginner, intermediate, advanced and marketer.
The all-day Friday in-depth sessions focused on mobile strategy, WordPress templates, and starting a WordPress website for beginners. Saturday sessions offered topics such as:
- “How We Built the Harrington School Website with WordPress” by Renee Hobbs
- “Real-Time Site Personalization” by Jesse Friedman
- “Plugin Development” by Jon Desrosiers.
In 2013 the After-Party was held at Local 121’s Speakeasy.
2014
2014 found WordCamp back at the Harrington School of Communication with Jesse Friedman as the lead organizer. During the last weekend in September, WordCamp started with three all-day sessions on Friday: WordPress Basics, Plugin Development, and Security.
Saturday had sessions on a variety of topics: beginner, advanced user, developer, business, education, and design. They included:
- “WordPress Security: Fundamentals for Professionals” by Joseph Herbrandson
- “You Will Never Be Good Enough” by Aaron Ware
- “Flexibility of WooCommerce ” by Danny Santoro.
This year the After-Party was at Trinity Brewhouse.
2015
In 2015 we stayed with the two-day format, but changed locations to the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich. The organizing committee wondered if WordCampers would be happy with a change in venue from downtown Providence. We need not have worried. The new location was an instant hit. WordCamp RI was held the last weekend in September. Jennifer Kusiak and Aaron Ware were the lead organizers.
The Friday boot-camp sessions were WordPress Basics, Getting to Know SASS, and Contributing to WordPress Core.
Some of the Saturday sessions included:
- “Child Themes” by Ajay Coletta
- “The World Of WordPress: Roles, Tasks, and Skills in WordPress Development” by Colin Murphy
- “Content is King, but You Don’t Have to be its Slave” by Aileen McDonough.
The After-Party was held at Chelo’s Waterfront Bar & Grille.
2016
What’s in store for our fifth WordCamp in Rhode Island? Stay tuned to this space for developments. WordCamp RI 2016 will once again be at New England Technical Institute in East Greenwich. The dates are Friday and Saturday September 30 and October 1.
What are some of your best memories of WordCamp here in the Ocean State?
Let us know in the comments section!
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