Jared Olson has been working in technology since 2004. He started off doing PC repair and grew into doing network implementations and server support. Working at a company that took on the QR code boom hard and having customers that needed simple landing page websites, he started learning HTML to help the customers’ needs. He grew up in a small town in Illinois and now recently moved to Grand Rapids.

Jared will be presenting Intro to WordPress.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

I use WordPress because I feel it is one of the most user friendly content management system to use.  The ability to purchase a great template and run with it to create a great looking site that is editable by clients in hours is amazing.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I first used WordPress in 2010 and did not really like it.  Then in 2012 I was testing out a bunch of different content management systems like Joomla, Drupal, and WordPress and really fell in love with WordPress and how user friendly it became.  I started just taking a template and adding content to it, and now am starting to customize themes and PHP files to create an even better experience.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

A few things to help learn WordPress is to start working with it.  The more you can deep dive into using WordPress the better you will get and the more questions you will have.  Also go to events like Wordcamp and meet other people that are using it to learn what they are doing and how to do certain things.  Meeting new people helps you grow your skills tremendously.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Look at working with other businesses that your skills can help, and vice versa.  If you are a designer, find developers to help you in the back end. The more partnerships you can make, the more people you are helping, which then leads to more business.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

I stay informed about WordPress by doing the following:

1. Going to Wordcamps.
2. Listening to podcasts.
3. Subscribing to email lists.
4. Going to meetups.
5. Talking with other people that use WordPress.

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

lifeandtimes.com. This is a nice design and has some cool features. It is amazing what can be done with WordPress now days.

What do you like most about WordCamps?

I love being able to learn from experts in the area, and experts from all around the world.  It is also cool that the WordCamps are recorded for future viewing also.

Where can we find you online?

consultingparttime.com
Consulting Part Time on Facebook
@OlsonJared

Ross Johnson is a man of many passions, the most interesting is new age retro antiques. Google it… it’ll change your life. When not pursuing said passions, he’s working at his design agency 3.7 DESIGNS, working on his project management plugin Panorama or teaching at Michigan State University.

Ross will be presenting Designing for the First Five Seconds.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

These days I have to attribute it to the community. The knowledge and resources available for WordPress make it the best platform for me. It also helps that it’s easy to learn and understand, making it a great tool for my design clients.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WordPress in 2006 after a brief stint with blogger. At the time I felt any important web designer needed a blog… naturally that included me, despite the fact that no one new me. When I didn’t instantly hit fame and fortune I blamed the platform. Clearly I wasn’t to blame, I just needed a better tool! I switched to WordPress and before I knew it Donald Trump was calling me up asking if I’d be on his show “Celebrity Apprentice.” Naturally I declined.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Setup a development or sandbox environment and don’t be afraid to break things. I’ve found the best way to really understand something is explore its limits. If you do find yourself following a tutorial don’t copy and paste code examples. Instead, type out all the code as it will dramatically increase memory retention.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Have a thick skin and don’t be afraid to make and learn from mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s a part of life. I’ve been running a WordPress design agency for almost ten years and I still constantly make mistakes. The important thing is they are always new mistakes.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

Mostly Poststat.us, following cool people on Twitter and smoke signals.

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

wpelevation.com — very cool use of WordPress tools like LearnDash to make a robust community and training course for WordPress consultants.

Where can we find you online?

3.7designs.co
projectpanorama.com
@3pointross

Kyle Maurer is the lead developer and co-owner of Real Big Marketing which is a full service marketing firm based in Jackson, Michigan.

He is passionate about web development, WordPress as a development platform and creating new plugins. He’s released 8 free plugins on wordpress.org so far and is just barely getting started. In addition, he appears weekly on a WordPress focused live hangout at wproundtable.com.

He’s also in a band. What more do you need to know?

Kyle will be presenting Don’t Fear the Code and Theme Customization Best Practices.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

For so many reasons. The biggest would probably be because it is the one system I’ve found where I can deliver anything I or my clients dream up. There are virtually no limitations. And I hate limitations.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

A few years back I took some some online class as an elective in college and learned about HTML and Dreamweaver. That knowledge alone was enough to get me a decent job and I continued making crappy HTML sites with Flash and other such nonsense until some hero introduced me to WordPress. Around that time, WP began to extend beyond a blogging platform and it quickly became my go-to solution.

The poetic version of my story can be found here.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Your local meetup will be hard to beat. Also attend every WordCamp you can.

The web is bursting with WP resources as well. So if you like…use the Internet and stuff…you’ll be ok.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Networking will help more than you might think. Most everyone in the WP community is highly collaborative.

Also, don’t be afraid to learn a little code. It empowers you and brings clarity.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

There’s a load of sites that I like to visit frequently:

• managewp.org
• poststat.us
• wptavern.com
• tommcfarlin.com
• chrislema.com
• pippinsplugins.com

Shoot, that list could get long. I also like Twitter.

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

Gosh, I’ve seen tons.

I like what my friends ay wpmovingexperts.com are doing.

I love hotchkissconsulting.com and many other agency websites. 10up.com is great.

Ask me this in a few months! We are working on some WAY cool projects right now.

What do you like most about WordCamps?

I’ll try and keep it brief…

I absolutely love meeting my heroes. I was using WordPress for quite a while before I attended my first WordCamp and it was SO cool to me to meet the people behind all the great themes and plugins I loved to use as well as people who contribute to WordPress itself. I still geek out at WordCamps today when I get to meet all the people that have to date just been a name and gravatar.

Meeting new WP users is also exciting. I always get inspired by them and have a blast helping people out because I know EXACTLY what it is like to be in their spot and have someone shine the light.

They are also darn good times. After parties, speaker dinners, etc. are always a complete blast.

Where can we find you online?

Twitter is a great start: @MrKyleMaurer

realbigmarketing.com
kyleblog.net
plus.google.com/+KyleMaurerRBM
wproundtable.com

I’m all over the place. Anything that says BrashRebel is also me.

Nate Reist is a partner and lead developer at Mindutopia in Grand Rapids MI. Mindutopia is primarily a WordPress development shop. He studied computer science and digital media arts and technologies at Michigan State University. He’s got a passion for problem-solving, and WordPress has been a great part of solving problems for him.

Nate will be presenting AJAX : using JavaScript in WordPress.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

I feel it is one of the best options for Content Management on the web. WordPress is a great platform for making everything from a website to a full fledged web application.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

Early 2010, Mindutopia tried it as new content management option for our clients. It was love at first site. *Pun intended*

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Explore and try new things. WordPress is very well documented online and has a great user base. And attend WordCamps for sure, learning from others and sometimes this is learning from their mistakes.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Many solutions exist out there for projects extending code from existing plugins and themes to custom written solutions. Learn how to appropriately evaluate the needs of the client and the project to make sure you are taking the right approach. Also make sure you have very clear scope and expectations from all parties involved in a project, this will save a lot of headaches.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

Work with it every day, explore the code and the Codex, and read resources like WP Tavern and other industry blogs.

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

Riotfest is a music fest that happens in cities around North America. I like seeing real-world uses of WordPress. I will note their subdomains are not in WordPress.

What do you like most about WordCamps?

Meeting others that are passionate about WordPress and learning new and exciting things from my peers

Where can we find you online?

mindutopia.com and profiles.wordpress.org/natereist/

Dan Kaufman is a successful, serial entrepreneur, advisor, and consultant to many small businesses from startups to $10 million+ in size. Unlike many marketing consultants and “experts,” Dan has owned and operated several businesses and has worked “in the trenches” across several different industries. Using this experience, Dan brings a unique “grass roots” approach to small businesses that maximizes revenue and profitability very quickly through a combination of both offline and online marketing media.

Dan lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, Carol, 2 daughters, Grace and Caitlyn, and little Yorkie, Max.

Dan will be presenting Building a Sales Funnel (that sells) with WordPress.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

WordPress is a platform that I can use that is easy to use and understand.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WordPress when I needed to something with my company website.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Don’t neglect your site once it’s built, always be adding new content , testing and tweaking the site to refine it for the end user.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Keep it as simple as possible in the beginning, you can always add on as you build your business.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

MasterMinding with other business owners and developers.

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk

What do you like most about WordCamps?

This will be my first one!

Where can we find you online?

Website: danielrkaufman.com
Twitter: @danielrkaufman
Facebook: facebook.com/kaufmandr

Chad Warner runs OptimWise, a web design company in Holland, Michigan. He’s into small business, WordPress, hiking, reading, and Tolkien.

Chad’s a co-organizer of the WordPress Grand Rapids meetup group and WordCamp Grand Rapids.

Chad will be presenting Website Mistakes Small Businesses Make, and How to Fix Them.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

It’s a great way to empower small businesses. We can create effective websites for clients, then train them to manage their own content.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

In 2009, my church asked me to take over their website. I spent hours researching and playing with Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress. I found that WordPress was easiest to learn and had the most helpful community.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Rely on WordPress experts, because they’ll save you a lot of time you’d spend researching and breaking your site. I have a post with resources that I recommend to my clients: The WordPress Admin Area: learning resources.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Build a team (partners, subcontractors, or employees) so that each person does what they do best. Choose a niche and establish your expertise in it. Charge what you’re worth and seek clients who are willing to pay it.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

WordPress podcasts, Twitter, WordPress.tv, Lynda, OSTraining, Slocum Studio, our WordPress Grand Rapids meetup group (in person and online).

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

Boagworld.com has excellent content and fantastic design, and it’s easy to navigate and use.

What do you like most about WordCamps?

The high-energy learning and conversations. You can almost see the light bulbs popping on above people’s heads as they enthusiastically discuss what they do and aspire to do with WordPress. It’s also great to meet in person the people that you follow online.

Where can we find you online?

OptimWise.com
@warnerchad

Topher DeRosia is a Husband, Father, Christian, Coder. He lives in a small house in a quiet neighborhood in a smallish city where it still smells sweet after the rain.

He grew up in the woods, tried to be a pilot, and got sucked into the internet. Been working there ever since.

Topher will be presenting Command Line Awesome.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

WordPress does a wonderful job of thinking ahead to what I might want to do on the web, and provides methods for accomplishing that, while being flexible enough to allow me to change those methods if I wish.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

When it was first released, I tried it and thought I could do better. So I built something. My personal blog still uses that.

Then when 3.0 came out with custom content types, everything changed, and I haven’t really used anything since.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Set up a site you don’t care about and try everything. Install themes, plugins, just go crazy with it. Getting your hands on the tool will give great insights.

Then read everything you can about WordPress.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Find people who are more knowledgeable than you and get to know them. Don’t necessarily ask a lot of questions, just watch and listen.

And read chrislema.com 🙂

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

Mostly Twitter, following people who are doing cool and interesting things.  I follow poststat.us and wptavern via Twitter.

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

Oddly, I don’t visit that many web sites.  I had a hand in building ottawacitizen.com, that’s cool.

What do you like most about WordCamps?

Talking with everyone, meeting everyone, finding out what they’re building, growing, doing, etc.

Where can we find you online?

derosia.com/phlog/
Twitter: @topher1kenobe

Peter Shackelford is the Web Architect for Spring Arbor University. When not working with WordPress, he is taking care of his cattle, chickens and garden on his “homestead” with his wife and daughter. He also heads up the Jackson WordPress meetup with Kyle Maurer.

Peter will be presenting Fledgling WP Developer? Learn your PHP!

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

The people in the WordPress community are why I use WordPress. I have built a career on the openness and generosity of the community. Getting help me on the forums. Reading people’s posts about setting up and managing multi-sites. Meeting some of those people and new people at WordCamp or other events.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WP as a blogging platform in 2005 and did my first freelance project in 2009. Since 2010 I have worked full time building and maintaining WordPress as a platform for my employers.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Don’t be afraid to try things out. If you are worried about making changes to an admin panel, take a screenshot of it so you have a record. Figure out how to change things. At the very least learn the basics of HTML and CSS.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

Github. Vagrant. Local development. PHPCode Sniffer.

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

Twitter. I follow people who do a lot with WordPress. I keep an eye out for slideshares/speakerdecks of recent WordCamp talks. I also read most of what comes out of WP Tavern, Halfelf.org, thethemefoundry.com, tommcfarlin.com, curtismchale.ca, justintadlock.com, etc…

What’s a cool WordPress-based site you’ve seen recently?

sweden.se [the official site of Sweden].

What do you like most about WordCamps?

Meeting people who I recognize online. Being apart of the community. Having my toolset, workflow and approach to problem solving kicked up a notch. Getting a new wardrobe of WP shirts.

Where can we find you online?

Twitter: @pixelplow

Steve Grunwell is a full-stack developer at Buckeye Interactive, an interactive media agency in New Albany, OH. Specializing in WordPress and application development, he has worked with brands and organizations including Experience Columbus, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Elmer’s, and the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

Steve has released several plugins in the WordPress.org repositories, including one from the grounds of The White House during the first annual National Day of Civic Hacking in 2013. When he’s not writing software, he enjoys hiking, music, and writing about writing software on his blog.

Steve holds a B.A. in Telecommunications from Bowling Green State University where he graduated Cum Laude with minors in General Business and Recording Technologies.

More information, including portfolio work and his development blog, can be found at stevegrunwell.com.

Steve will be presenting Keeping WordPress Under [Version] Control with Git.

Interview

Why do you use WordPress?

I’m a big proponent of open-source software, especially when it’s built well and encourages active engagement and contributions from the community. WordPress is flexible enough to suit many of my clients’ needs, will run pretty much anywhere, and has a huge community behind it.

When and how did you start using WordPress?

I started using WordPress just after the release of 3.0 back in 2010 when a client needed a blog. The more I started playing with WordPress, the more I saw the power behind the platform and quickly stopped rolling my own content management systems, instead focusing on creating the best experience possible within WordPress.

In September of 2010 I released my first plugin, WP Password Generator, in the WordPress.org repositories, and it’s been rainbows and unicorns from there.

What tips or resources would you recommend to a new WordPress user?

Start by tearing apart one of the default WordPress themes. Learn how the loop works, how a theme is structured, and then build something awesome. Also, familiarize yourself with the WP_Query codex page; if you’re doing any real customization, you’ll need to be comfortable generating your own query objects. Learn the WordPress template hierarchy, too, because it makes theming a hundred times easier. Finally, avoid plugins that promise the moon. Some of best plugins will only do one or two things, but they do them *really* well.

What advice would you give someone who’s building a business around WordPress design or development?

If you’re maintaining the site after launch, consider installing something like WP Remote. It gives you a dashboard so you can see the available updates across all of your sites, which is pretty rad. You can also install updates directly from WP Remote, but you’d never do that and risk screwing up your version control, would you?

How do you stay informed about WordPress (news, tips, etc.)?

I check Twitter daily and follow mostly developers, tutorial sites, and the occasional comedian. I’ll never have time to read everything, but I pretend I will someday but saving anything I can’t read right then to Pocket. I also subscribe to the WordPress Core Team’s blog via Feedly, for when I want to see what’s coming next.

What do you like most about WordCamps?

WordCamps are great for getting started with WordPress, learning how to take your site to the next level, and often meeting the people behind the tool that’s powering ~20% of the web. I love to sit there, take in everything I can, and see all the awesome stuff people are doing with WordPress.

Where can we find you online?

I occasionally blog about WordPress, Laravel, and other awesome stuff at stevegrunwell.com and tweet @stevegrunwell. Open source contributions and presentation slides are on Github.