From Beginner to Expert with Some Help from WordCamp

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Max Morgan is the Lead Frontend Developer at Linchpin and once again is one of the organizers for WordCamp RI. He’s presented at WordCamp, but also remembers the first time he attended a WordCamp. He’s gone from a member of the audience who was nervous to a knowledgeable speaker (okay maybe he was still nervous then too.)

Q:
Max, you are back again this year as WordCamp RI is planned and coordinated. What draws you back?

A:
The community and my passion for WordPress is what draws me in! I’ve been attending Rhode Island’s annual WordCamp since 2012, and no matter how many WordCamps I attend I am always going to learn something valuable or meet someone with a perspective that hasn’t crossed my mind. It’s a great place to network and learn, and as a developer who makes a living utilizing WordPress this is SO valuable and I love being involved with any aspect I can help with.
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Q:
You presented at an in-depth session on Sass (Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets) last year at WordCamp. Tell me about that experience.

A:
My experience was amazing, I had never held a session – never mind a 6-hour workshop – so honestly I was very nervous to be in front of all the folks who attended, and the turnout was AMAZING! Once it got rolling everything went great though. We spent some time exploring what Sass is and why Sass is such an amazing tool for any frontend developer to leverage. We had discussions around some CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) best practices and why things should be done a certain way. Plus, we covered how folks can easily improve upon their daily workflow to make Sass work for them. I had some help from a good friend and an amazing developer, Jeff Golenski from the Jetpack team at Automattic, who had a lot of valuable insight on using Sass in a distributed team and staying organized. The whole experience was great and I think those who attended got a good understanding of how to move forward and use Sass in their projects.
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Q:
In your professional life, when you’re not helping to organize WordCamp RI, what do you do? What role does WordPress play?

A:
WordPress plays a huge role in my professional life. I am the Lead Frontend Developer at Linchpin, an agency out of Pawtucket, and a majority of our clients are built on WordPress. As a Frontend at Linchpin my role is take our client’s vision of functionality, our designer’s vision of the site and tie it all together. This ranges from building plugins and themes to writing the JS (JavaScript) and Sass.
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Q:
WordCamp RI is two days of all things WordPress. For someone attending for the first time, what advice do you offer to get the most out of WordCamp?

A:
When I attended my first WordCamps (Boston and Rhode Island in 2012) I was SO overwhelmed. The company I was with at the time was making a transition to WordPress, which at the time I had ZERO experience in, so I sat through a lot of talks that I knew were valuable but went way over my head. Looking back at that now, my advice would be to enjoy your time, meet like-minded people – AKA everyone at WordCamp, the community is super friendly 🙂 – and take some minimal notes. Every talk (except the workshops) will make its way to WordPress.tv. So pin-point the talks that really made something click for you, understand what drew you into it, and watch it again. If you attend a talk and then jot down to revisit after you’ve explored WordPress more, the video will be there and it WILL make sense.
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Q:
Friday there are day-long in-depth sessions on various topics. Saturday is made up of a variety of 45-minute seminars through-out the day. What is the advantage of taking the two approaches over the course of WordCamp RI?

Q:
I think Friday’s in-depth sessions are very valuable, as you can get a real hands-on approach to certain aspects of WordPress. Typically, the workshops encourage attendees to bring a laptop and code along, and for a lot people like myself this is the best way to learn something. Of course Saturday is also a valuable experience, covering a range of topics from child themes, to security, to content, etc. Just about every aspect of WordPress is covered and this really expands people’s knowledge on WordPress in general. The best part is you can always sit down with speakers at the Happiness Bar after their session, if you have more questions or want to dig a little deeper.
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Q:
What’s this Happiness Bar everyone is talking about? Why would I want to stop by?

A:
The Happiness Bar is there to help attendees with all things WordPress, plain and simple. You can pick speakers’ or volunteers’ brains on a crazy range of topics, from getting advice about what theme you should (or shouldn’t) use, why is this bug happening, what plugin should be used, or asking speakers to expand on certain parts of their session. Anything WordPress, we’re there to help! 🙂
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Q:
After WordCamp RI is over, there is the After-Party. What is that? Why should I attend?

A:
It’s a celebration of all the things you’ve learned over the past 2 days and a great opportunity to network. A lot of the time things can get pretty hectic at WordCamp for organizers, volunteers and speakers, and you may not get to have a 1-on-1 with a speaker you enjoyed and this is the perfect place to get that time.
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Q:
WordCamp draws a diverse crowd: beginners, experienced coders, people who provide web content, project managers, and more. What approach does WordCamp RI take that such a varying group attends each year?

A:
We try to recognize the needs of everyone involved, the community is huge and WordPress isn’t just for the developer or copywriter. We get feedback every year on what folks found useful, what they didn’t, and what they’d like to see next year… and we listen! We don’t want someone to attend if there isn’t something for them and we want anyone who has any interaction with WordPress to be able to attend and get something out of it.

Some examples from last year: John Eckman held a session that was focused on designers, Aileen McDonough had a great session on handling content in WordPress, Jonathan Desroisers had an amazing workshop on how to contribute to WordPress Core, and of course there was a rad-tad group of folks (Lydia Rogers, Colin Murphy, Daniella Norwood) who held a workshop geared toward getting started with WordPress and using it for a business. Pile my Sass workshop on top of that and that covers a wide-range of groups, and that’s only a handful of all the sessions we held.
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Q:
What tips and tricks do you recommend to get the most out of WordCamp RI? What should I bring? What should I do? Does it matter if I look at the schedule posted on the WordCamp RI website a day or two before I attend?

A:
You should bring your preferred note taking devices – pen/paper or laptop – and take some notes! Just jot down some keywords or sessions/speakers that really made a light go off for you because you can always watch the sessions again on WordPress.tv to focus on some key points that interest you. Also, bring something to keep swag in! There’s a lot of swag to be had 🙂 It doesn’t hurt to look at the schedule beforehand and get a game plan for what session you want to attend. Every session has a description so you can find early on if it’s right for you.
—

Q:
Once the actual days of WordCamp RI arrive, what do you personally like to make sure you do?

A:
I soak up as much knowledge as I can, talk with folks I haven’t seen in a while, try to meet some new people and just enjoy my time with the community.
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Q:
Is there any follow-up that makes sense once WordCamp RI is over?

A:
Just stay connected with people you’ve met, put some of your new-found knowledge to work, build skills that sparked an interest in you, and keep updated with the WordPress Rhode Island Meetup Group (http://www.meetup.com/wordpressri/). WordCamp is held for your benefit, so take advantage of everything you’ve learned!

You can reach Max at:

Twitter:  @maxinacube

Slack:  @maxinacube

How to Execute on Big Projects

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Today’s Flash Back Friday to WordCamp RI 2015 involves a look at the business side of WordPress projects.  How do you find good clients and give them the follow-through they want on their project(s)?

Brett Cohen gave an interesting talk “Moving up the Food Chain- How to Find, Land, and Execute on Big Projects.”

There will be more great sessions this year at WordCamp RI 2016 at New England Tech in East Greenwich on September 30 and October 1.  Meanwhile, here’s a look-back at one of last year’s popular sessions:

Get Your Tickets to WordCamp RI

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WordCamp RI is fast approaching!  For just $20 you get two days of training on WordPress, lunch each day, access to the Happiness Bar (aka Help Desk) and a ticket to the After Party (complete with food and drink).

Friday, September 30 we’ll have day-long workshops.  This is when you can bring your laptop and get some serious learning done.

Saturday, October 1 we’ll have 45-minute seminars through-out the day.  You can pick and choose the sessions of most interest to you.  There will be a variety of talks that help you whether you’re a developer, a designer, create content, are an educator or are a business owner.

In addition, both days you can stop by the Happiness Bar.  Volunteers are there with one-on-one help for you.

Once again WordCamp RI will be held at the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich.  Attendees from last year raved about the free parking and strong Wi-Fi signal throughout the campus.

Time to get your tickets at https://2016.rhodeisland.wordcamp.org/tickets/

You can keep up to date with developments for WordCamp by subscribing at https://2016.rhodeisland.wordcamp

“It’s a fun, welcoming gathering!”

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Karen Callahan, Owner and Founder of Adventures Online, is back again this year as one of the organizers for WordCamp RI. Karen shares her insights on WordPress, WordCamp, and the community.

Q:
Karen, what draws you back?

A:
I love WordPress, learning, and good energy. WordCamps have all three. I enjoy gathering with like-minded WordPress developers to speak “WordPress” and to learn about other WordPress-focused professionals’ challenges and solutions.
—

Q:
In your professional life, when you’re not helping to organize WordCamp RI, what do you do? What role does WordPress play?

A:
WordPress plays a big part in my professional life. I now describe my business as “WordPress-centric”. Just about all the projects I work on, whether developing a new or redesigned website or writing PHP code or training clients, are WordPress related. I have a strong programming background and write custom widgets and plugins for my clients. I teach clients how to write blog posts and how to add search engine optimization to each post. I am proficient at forensics and recovery and am frequently called upon to help with WordPress websites that have been hacked.
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Q:
WordCamp RI is two days of all things WordPress. For someone attending for the first time, what advice do you offer to get the most out of WordCamp?

A:
To get the most out of WordCamp? Review the schedule. Choose the sessions that you think you will enjoy. Give yourself permission to leave a session and go to another should you find that a session isn’t meeting your needs. Be friendly and make sure to connect with as many others as you can, attendees as well as presenters and organizers. It’s a fun, welcoming gathering. Pace yourself, and ENJOY!
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Q:
What’s this Happiness Bar everyone is talking about? Why would I want to stop by?

A:
The Happiness Bar is a designated area (not really a bar in the traditional sense) where experienced WordPress professionals gather. They volunteer to help those who pop by with questions – ANYONE with WordPress questions. You might want to discuss how to approach a business requirement using WordPress. You might want help with a custom plugin. You might want to learn the website address of the list of WordPress releases. You might want to learn the steps to create your very first WordPress installation. All questions are welcome.
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Q:
What tips and tricks do you recommend to get the most out of WordCamp RI? What should I bring? What should I do? Does it matter if I look at the schedule posted on the WordCamp RI website a day or two before I attend?

A:
Bring a notebook (electronic or otherwise) and business cards. Arrive early in order to check in and have time to relax, snack and chit chat before the sessions begin. Looking at the schedule a day or two before the WordCamp will help you get an idea of which sessions you want to attend. An abbreviated version of the schedule is on the lanyard, and organizers are available to guide you to the correct room and recommend sessions.
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Q:
Once the actual days of WordCamp RI arrive, what do you personally like to make sure you do?

A:
Arrive early to learn where the sessions will be held so that I can move effortlessly from one session to another.

You can reach Karen at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenCallahanMA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencallahanmarlboro

“Coffee is for Closers”

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On this Flash Back Friday, we re-visit a talk from WordCamp RI 2015 given by Adam Lamagna.  His session’s title references the movie Glengarry Glen Ross.  This WordCamp seminar outlines a business process for those who develop WordPress websites.  The straight-forward tips Adam gives apply to big agencies as well as entrepreneurs.

This year WordCamp RI will once again be at New England Tech in East Greenwich.  Save the dates: September 30 and October 1.

Meanwhile, enjoy this flash back moment:

 

 

New England Tech and WordCamp RI: what a team!

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Anthony “Ajay” Coletta is an Assistant Professor for  Graphics/Multimedia/Web at the New England Institute of Technology.  He was also very instrumental in getting WordCamp RI to the NEIT campus.  He shares his thoughts on the collaboration between New England Tech and WordCamp RI.

Q: Professor you have been active in getting WordCamp RI to the East Greenwich campus of the New England Institute of Technology.  Why is this a win-win situation for both NEIT and WordCamp RI?

A: 2015 was the first year that Word Camp was held at New England Tech and the response was fantastic. I spoke to many Word Campers who said that the accommodations at New England Tech were just what they needed.  The college was clean and spacious, the infrastructure, especially the wifi, was supported well, and the ability to park securely right on campus was very convenient.

New England Tech is really astute at understanding that in order to help students fully prepare for their careers, students need to engage with people in their industries. Word Camp brings such a diverse group of people interested in learning and collaborating that hosting the event is tremendous opportunity and honor for New England Tech.
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Q: In your professional life, when you’re not helping to organize WordCamp RI, what do you do?  What role does WordPress play?  What role does WordPress have with NEIT’s academics?

A: I teach in the Graphics, Multimedia & Web design department and in both the Associate and Bachelor degree programs, we offer courses in WordPress development and students really enjoying building their personal portfolios using the platform.

Personally I use WordPress for a couple of different activities, the most frequently visited site is for a band I perform with called “Hey Nineteen,”  a Tribute to Steely Dan, http://hey19band.com/ and I also manage some commercial sites for clients. I have been developing websites since the late 1980s and the WordPress platform (and extensive community) has been the best solution for web development and content management by far.
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Q: One topic you teach is how to customize WordPress themes.  What’s the advantage to doing that when WordPress comes ready-to-use right from the start?

A: One of the things I really love about WordPress is the level of customization the platform offers. You can use the built-in customizer and change many design items in the theme just with a click of a button, or if you are interested in working with code and want to make more advanced modifications, the open source platform also allows you to do that. WordPress accommodates all types of users & designers.  Brilliant!
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Q: Is there any follow-up that makes sense once WordCamp RI is over?

A: Once Word Camp has concluded, be sure to check out the excellent RI WordPress Meetup group that keeps the conversations rolling all year long, http://www.meetup.com/WordPressRI/
Many of the folks who organize and participate in Word Camp are often at these meetups and share the newest, latest and greatest things happening that influence how we use the web.

Ajay is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hey19

A First-Timer’s Perspective

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Kaitlyn Pescatello is the Client Coordinator at Linchpin and joining the WordCamp RI organizing team for the first time.
Q:
Welcome Kaitlyn! You’ve joined the WordCamp RI organizing team this year.  What are your first impressions?

 

A: Everyone is so welcoming and dedicated. It seems like a great event that provides a chance for all skill levels and is a peek into the world of WordPress.
—
Q:
In your professional life, when you’re not helping to organize WordCamp RI, what do you do?  What role does WordPress play?

 

A: I’ve helped a few of my friends get setup on WordPress.com sites. I’m definitely a beginner, but I learn something new every day. Attending WordCamp will provide an opportunity to learn even more.
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Q:
Have you been to any WordCamps?

 

A: This will be my first WordCamp and I’m excited to learn more about the new and different ways people are utilizing WordPress.
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Q:
You have the inside track of what will happen this fall.  What highlights would you draw to the attention of attendees?

 

A: The real draw for me is getting the chance to hear from professionals in the industry. From business owners, to bloggers, I’m interested in seeing other people’s work with WordPress, and also getting the chance to hear about how these professionals have developed solutions using WordPress along the way.
—
Q:
What tips and tricks do you recommend?  What should I bring?  What should I do?  Does it matter if I look at the schedule posted on the WordCamp RI website a day or two before I attend?

 

A: I would definitely look at the schedule beforehand, and maybe think of some questions you have for any speakers. Plan on using WordCamp as opportunity to meet and engage with as many people in the WordPress community as possible, especially if you’re new to it like me.
Aside from bringing an apparatus to take notes, I suggest that attendees should bring business cards, along with any cool company swag to swap with others.

 

Kaitlyn Pescatello is the Client Coordinator at Linchpin and can be reached at:
Email: kaitlynp@linchpinagency.com
Phone: (401) 305-5228

WordPress Beginners – This Is For You

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For today’s Flash Back Friday, a replay from WordCamp RI 2015. Kerch McConlogue spoke on “New Users – 10 Tips to Make WordPress Your Friend.”

She gives useful advice, such as why copying-and-pasting content can hurt your SEO (search engine optimization).

As you get ready for a great series of sessions this coming WordCamp RI (September 30 and October 1) take some time to enjoy this memory.

“Food is the most important meal of the day*”

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The person in charge of ordering all the food for WordCamp RI 2016, and that includes accommodating food allergies, is Joy Adamonis.  She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her job.

Q:
Joy, once again this year you’ve taken on the job of organizing all the food for WordCamp RI 2016. That’s a lot of work! You work to feed the attendees, the speakers, and volunteers breakfast and lunch and snacks for two days as well as organize the grand After-Party at the end. Plus, you need to make sure the food venues are accessible and the food served meets the varying food needs of all concerned. Whew! What’s your Master Plan?

A:
My Master Plan is simple: I aim to please. I listen to the other organizers, volunteers, last year’s attendees and also attend WordCamps on my own to get ideas. Although I know I cannot please everyone (for a bunch of different reasons), if you start planning with the idea that you are going to try to make everyone happy, then chances are you end up coming real close to reaching your goal.
—

Q:
What are the main food-type groups (e.g. vegan) that you try to provide? How do you know what ratio of food groups to order?

A:
We try to have attendees mark their preferences ahead of time when they order their ticket. I have found that some events I’ve been to do not do this. The food is chosen and that is all they have. They do not ask about allergies, preferences etc. I try to include all food preferences: a veggie option, a vegan option and then two types of carnivore options. I also try to handle each food allergy request the best I can. If the vendor I am using cannot accommodate, I will find one that will and bring that specific meal in. No-one will go hungry. After the tickets have been purchased, I use those numbers to order the right amount, always adding extra for each food type! I would rather have extra food (that we donate to a homeless shelter) than have a paying attendee go hungry.
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Q:
How is it to work with New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich with regards to food?

A:
I cannot say enough positive remarks about NEIT. They were so accommodating for each special request/food allergy we had last year.
As a food allergy mom myself, I truly find when someone goes out of their way to make sure something is safe for you, they really have your best interest in mind. There was one meal they couldn’t accommodate last year. They told us they didn’t feel comfortable offering this meal to the attendee because they were not sure of some of the ingredients. I find that to be so refreshing. Sometimes it is hard to say, “NO” to a customer, but like I said they truly have the best interest of others in mind.
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Q:
You’ve done this before. Are there any tips and tricks you’ve learned for organizing food preparation and serving for a large group?

A:
Patience. There is a ton that goes into this. Cost/budget, quality of food, quantity of food, food options. I tackle each with patience. If I get overwhelmed on one aspect, it will just trickle into the others.
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Q:
What’s your biggest challenge in organizing all this?

A:
Pleasing everyone. People are picky with their food for a number of reasons. And I respect that. Although I start my planning process aiming to please everyone, I know it is not feasible. I have found that we truly go above and beyond here at WordCamp RI as far as food goes. I have been to many WordCamps and the lunch is pizza and salad. No snacks. No coffee. I just want attendees to be cognizant to the fact that we as a team at WordCamp RI are working hard to provide you with “a little more” than necessary to hopefully stand out and make the attendees happy they chose us!
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Q:
During WordCamp, the food is served right at New England Tech. However, for the After Party we move off-campus. What do you look for in an After-Party location?

A:
I look for a venue that is down-to-earth. Although, RI has some gorgeous country clubs and venues, I find low-key, out-of-the-box venues work best for the After-Party.
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Q:
Is weather a concern?

A:
Unfortunately, Mother Nature can be an issue. However, I always have a backup plan. If we are in a tent, the tent needs to accommodate everyone and not just house the food and drinks. It needs to be on a hard surface for fear of mud and puddles if it rains. I will always cross my fingers and hope for a clear night, but be rest assured you will have a dry place to network and make memories after the WordCamp!
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Q:
What do you try for with the After-Party location in terms of proximity to the WordCamp RI location, accessibility, and food choices?

A:
I find that the majority of attendees come to the After-Party when it is NO MORE THAN 15 minutes away from the WordCamp RI location. So, while that limits us since our event is getting bigger and bigger each year, we truly want the After-Party to be just as successful as the workshops themselves. Networking is a huge part of WordCamps and we understand that. Accessibility is a must. Period. We have had to turn down a few places because they were not. As far as food choices, they need to be able to accommodate the majority of our guests’ food requests. If they do not, I inform them that if they want to keep us as a client I need to be able to bring in some outside food to accommodate a few special requests. So far, I have never had a venue give me an issue. Most are delighted that I spoke up.
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Q:
You came back for more this year, so you enjoyed the work you did last year?

A:
This is my third year as an organizer, second as the Food & Events Wrangler. It was such hard work last year, but so rewarding. I truly enjoyed it, especially those special food requests. I had many people come to me thank me for taking their allergy or request seriously. I never want anyone to feel left out or feel like a burden when it comes to the food they can and cannot eat. Food should bring people together, not tear them apart.
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Q:
Are you changing anything up this year?

A:
Yes! We are trying some new lunch options this year, based on feedback. We listen! Switching up the snacks a bit- LOTS MORE COFFEE- After-Party will be very FUN with an ode to Little Rhody foods- and the Speakers Dinner will be very different this year as well!
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Q:
You’re so busy during the days of WordCamp, do you have a chance to attend any of the sessions? If so, to what types do you gravitate?

A:
I usually do not get to attend, but always watch the sessions after (on WordPress.tv). I am sure I could step away for a few moments, but my mind is solely focused on making sure everything is moving smoothly. The snack table needs to stay filled, lunches placed out and labeled, head counts confirmed for the After-Party and I also fill in wherever else I’m needed. I did get to make it to the keynote speaker last year (as it was my husband Jesse Friedman) and find making time for the keynotes is easier since most everyone is there also!
—

Q:
What insights have you gained organizing the meals for WordCamp RI?

A:
I truly think that people will respect you for trying to accommodate or help them with their needs, regardless of the outcome. There were times when I couldn’t answer a few questions, but found someone who could. Those attendees thanked me for going out of my way and finding them the correct point person. I hate to say, “No” or “I don’t know” to someone and leave it at that. I will always offer up my help to track down the information they need. Think about how much of a better world this would be if we all just went a little above and beyond for each other! WordPress is a community and communities work together to get things done. Here at WordCamp RI, we follow that motto!

Joy Adamonis is a Freelance Writer and  Food & Events Wrangler

Contact her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy19
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joyousgirl19
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyousgirl19/
Blog: http://mysensationalkid.com/

* original quote source unknown