Amy Hendrix
Amy Hendrix is a WordPress developer specializing in custom theme and plugin development, and a WP Core Contributor. She lives in Durham, NC, where she splits her non-WP time between fencing and searching for the perfect beer/cheese pairing.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: I am WordPress (And So Can You!)
Andy Stratton
Dave Martin
Denise Tawwab
Denise Tawwab is a freelance web developer and trainer specializing in building WordPress sites, customizing WordPress themes, and teaching others how to do the same. Denise has been working in some area of web development for the last 12 years and actively working with WordPress and other open-source technologies since 2008. When not developing custom WordPress sites, Denise teaches web development to at-risk teens and creates WordPress tutorials at www.denisetawwab.com. In her non-WordPress time, Denise blogs about her experiences as an empty nest mom (http://empty-nest-mom.com), mentors young women, and reads an awful of of books.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Custom Post Types – A Case Study
Doug Cone
I started out on the Internet working professionally with my first web site project in 1997 for the Navigators. Since then I have worked on many professional and personal web design projects. A broad experience base lets me handle both programming and strategy.
I have worked with companies ranging from small local business to major corporations. I also have a background in training and sales, working with organizations like InnoVenture, BestBuy, Circuit City, Clientlogic, CompUSA, Texas A&M University, Sony, Logitech, Helio, AMPED, and DirectTV.
As an active member of the several local groups, I frequently volunteer in the local community. I’ve even created unique events like PumpUpTheSite to help benefit charities and nonprofits with web sites needing a facelift. I also server on the Directors Council for AidJoy. I also founded the Greenville chapter of Refresh.
In addition to volunteering locally I also try to contribute to several open source software projects. I’m a passionate advocate for the open source model. I’ve contributed to open source projects like WordPress, Drupal and many others along with using open source software like Linux on a daily basis.
As a public speaker I have the opportunity to talk on topics ranging from web design, usability to social media, blogging, Twitter and more. I have done sessions for many different Word camps and Drupal camps, short classes for Texas A&M, Palmetto Computer Labs and many others.
Organization: Nullvariable Web Consulting
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Writing Secure Code for WordPress
Douglas Hanna
Douglas Hanna is the CEO of A Small Orange, a provider of high quality shared, VPS, reseller, and dedicated web hosting. As CEO, Douglas leads the company’s management team and is directly responsible for the company’s finance, product and business development, and M&A activities. He is also responsible for HostNine and SEO Web Hosting, two companies that A Small Orange acquired in November 2010. Before joining A Small Orange in March 2010, Douglas was the Customer Service Manager at HostGator.com LLC, a world leading web hosting company with more than 225,000 customers. At HostGator, he was responsible for customer service and customer service operations, as well as corporate communications and public relations.
In addition to working in the web hosting industry,Doug has spent some time writing about customer service and the customer service experience at Service Untitled, a blog he started in 2006. He has also worked for Automattic, the very cool company behind WordPress.com.
Organization: A Small Orange
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: The Secrets of Web Hosting without the BS
Drew Poland
Hailing from “Charm City,” Baltimore, MD. Drew is a WordPress Developer and Consultant, lover of Argyle, and connoisseur of Coffee. Currently cultivating an awe-inspiring beard… one that would even make Zeus jealous.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Freelance Like A Rockstar
Ed Nailor
As the Senior Web Developer for a small creative firm in Charlotte, Ed Nailor personally built and oversaw the development of over 100 WordPress websites. Now working as a full time freelance developer, Ed uses WordPress almost exclusively to power the content management of the websites he builds. Having worked with WordPress since around version 2.1, Ed has watched WordPress mature and grow and is excited to witness (and hopefully contribute to) the future of WordPress.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Truly Dynamic Sidebars
Glenn Ansley
Glenn is a plugin developer with iThemes.com and has spent the better part of the last decade creating custom solutions for WordPress. He currently resides in Raleigh, NC with his beautiful wife and four wonderful children. Glenn likes meeting people – so make sure to introduce yourself.
Organization: iThemes
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Using Git with WordPress
Grant Swaim
Grant, who has a passion for cars, computers, and education, is a full time automotive instructor in the North Carolina Community College system and the author of “Technology Guide for Today’s Automotive Technician”. This book covers digital technology and how it is utilized within the automotive service industry.
He is also building an online course to deliver this content. In the process of building this membership-style site, Grant did extensive research on publishing platforms, membership software, and ecommerce solutions. Grant is a true educator and is always willing to share his experiences to make the path easier for others.
Organization: Digital Literacy Project
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: WordPress Membership Solutions
Jayvie Canono
I’m a full time self employed developer and designer who’s used WordPress since it first came out. I go to WordCamps and occasionally speak at them. I write about design and WordPress. I work with developers who need designers, sometimes as a project partner and other times as an anonymous subcontractor. I’m easily approachable, and there’s plenty of ways to reach me.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Building a career with WordPress
Joe Boydston
VP of McNaughton newspaper group, operator of 8 northern California newspapers. Our newspaper publications are driven by WordPress, not just the websites but the print publications as well.
I’ve given this talk at WCSF, WCRENO, WCPDX, WCCHI. It gets better each time, with lots of audience questions and participation. My slides are build in WordPress: http://wcchi.joeboydston.com
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: WordPress is Saving Journalism
Jonathan Stephens
A designer with development skills, focusing on HTML and CSS. Typography geek. Learned my first CSS while in bed, sick and CSS for Dummies. Since the humble beginnings, I’ve worked on projects for a National Geographic photographer, N.C. State College of Engineering, N.C. State College of Design, African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Adzerk, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance), and others. I’m a 2012 graduate of N.C. State College of Design, starting at Smashing Boxes a week after graduation and haven’t looked back.
Organization: Smashing Boxes
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Typography:Internet::Butter:Southern Cooking
Kathy Drewien
Nationally recognized speaker at conferences and technology training events. Engagements include National Association of Realtors, WordCamp Birmingham, Nashville and Atlanta, WordPress Meetups, Digital Sherpa and corporate settings.
My approach is to teach the audience and engage them in a learning experience. This recent comment from a client says it all:
“Kathy is courteous and never laughs at you – what use is it if you explain technical stuff to me in all geeky mumbo jumbo. I am a curious learner and kept questioning her about all kinds of details which might seem really elementary stuff, yet she always clearly explained it to me in the most courteous way. Kathy’s presentation has been of amazing help and helped me gain confidence in dealing with several WordPress issues myself.”
Organization: Sweet Tea Group
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Admit It! Getting Started with WordPress Can Be Tough
Kevin Dees
My name is Kevin Dees. I’m a web developer and follower of Jesus Christ hailing from Greenville SC. I started blogging back in 2009, co-host the Web Weekly Podcast and SitePoint Podcast, develop WordPress plugins and make things out of HTML and CSS.
Organization: Robojuice
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Pragmatic WordPress WorkFlow: Building websites with WordPress
Les James
With experience that ranges from garage band websites to enterprise-level front-end templating, Les knows how to craft the look of the internet. Once rooted in photography and print design, he now finds his passion in transforming visual designs into professional-grade HTML, CSS and JavaScript. For him, front-end development is the perfect balance between the art and science of web design. Les is the senior front end developer for Capstrat and he runs a monthly web development meetup called Function Pink. You can chat him up on twitter at @lesjames.
Organization: Capstrat
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Responsive Design with the Breakpoint Framework
Melodie Laylor
I’m a freelance web designer and organizer for the WordPress Hampton Roads Meetup group. I have a bachelor’s degree in music and am a classically-trained singer, but since my college days people recognized I had a knack for computers and so I’ve been working with computers and the Internet ever since. I discovered WordPress in 2007, fell in love with it and never looked back. A geek girl, I’m also married to a geek guy whose business is troubleshooting and repairing computers and we have four geektastic kids.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Adventures in Nonprofit Web Design
Michael McNeill
I am the owner of Connected Site Solutions, a web agency focused on awesome WordPress development, design, and maintenance, in addition to normal IT work and security tasks. I am also an employee of Digital Strategy Works, another web agency focused on web design and rich media application development, with a specialty in WordPress. At both companies I work on exciting and wide ranging projects, like Black Enterprise Magazine, DVJ Media, WiredHoods, smallbiztechnology.com, and MAXI Promotion and Records. I’ve also contracted for DRS Technologies, the United States Department of the Defense, and numerous other companies. I am currently involved in a startup that is pushing the bounds of what BuddyPress can do. I’m currently a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-organize the WordPress Chapel Hill Meetup. I love WordPress and I learn something new about it every day.
Michelle Gower
Michelle Gower is a WordPress mentor, consultant, and service provider who works with companies of all sizes to help them understand content management while removing the overwhelm that usually comes with the task. She has taken over 200 people face to face and one-on-one from not understanding the point of blogging to loving WordPress as much as she does.
Whether one-on-one or in her WordPress classes, Gower helps site owners cover the bases no matter their skill level in a fun, laid-back, yet “kick butt and take names” fashion, empowering WordPress users beginner and expert alike to be in control of their online presence, and excited and motivated to use it on a regular basis.
Gower uses a holistic approach with her clients; by starting first with the person, she helps create authentic business outcomes that allow her clients to shine the way they were meant to. Her strategies, sense of humor, and Point A to Point B methodology turn everyday task lists into diamond mines and everyday ideas into revenue.
Organization: Gower Power Consulting, LLC
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: From A to Published (in less than 24 hours)
Nina East
Nina East has been coaching entrepreneurs on the ins and outs of building successful businesses for more than 12 years. When she discovered WordPress – and figured out how easy it is to make money designing WP sites – she created a lucrative “side business”. Her true love, though, is helping other entrepreneurs master the mechanics and psychology of building a successful business that gives them the kind of life they want to have. Over the last three years Nina has focused primarily on working with people building businesses around WordPress – plugin developers, theme developers, web designers and WordPress trainers.
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: How to Raise Your Web Design Fees – Charge What You’re Worth and GET IT!
Peter Baylies
Peter has always been a programmer, a childhood hobby that led to a fulfilling career. He graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, and worked as a web developer using PHP and MySQL until he found WordPress and fell in love with it. Peter works primarily on WordPress plugin development at Semper Fi. Peter loves music, science fiction, and programming.
Organization: Semper Fi Web Design
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Doing Clever Things With WordPress
Syed Balkhi
Syed Balkhi is the founder of WPBeginner. He is known for his agressive marketing skills, creative designs, and expertise in SEO. Syed has been in the industry for over eight years, and he has worked with some of the top brands in the industry.
Organization: WPBeginner
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: How to Monetize Your Blog (Crash Course for Beginners)
Thomas Griffin
I am a WordPress developer specializing in custom theme and plugin development for clients of all shapes and sizes. I’ve built over 100 custom themes and plugins for clients, contributed to WordPress core, created TGM Plugin Activation and sell Soliloquy. I absolutely love WordPress and enjoy getting to use it to create solutions on the web.
Organization: Thomas Griffin Media
WordCamp Raleigh 2012 Session: Using AJAX in Your Plugins (The Right Way)
Tony Matthews
I first learned how to build websites with Dreamweaver; I learned about WordPress when we had a website makeover at a non-profit where I worked. Since I did our graphic design and site editing there, I got a lot of on-the-job experience with it.
I’ve been using WordPress since 2010 and have set up various sites for bands, businesses and non-profits. I sell real estate and own investment properties and use WP to create sites for my home listings and rentals.
WordCamp Raleigh Session: Creating Your Website with WordPress
