In the run up to WordCamp Lancaster, we will be featuring some of our speakers here on the website.

• 

  How and when did you get started with WordPress?

  In March 2007, I googled myself and discovered that I was not easily found on the internet. I was on page 3 or something like that. As a designer and online marketing consultant, that was an issue. So, on March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day – I launched a WordPress blog at liamdempsey.com. It was my first WordPress site. Within three weeks, I was the top result for a Google search for my name and I’ve been there ever since.

  If you’ve attended WordCamp Lancaster before, what’s your fondest memory of it? If not, what do you like most about WordCamps?

  It was last year: Charlie Reisinger gave an amazing talk about the wonderful IT practices and activities he and his colleagues are implementing at Penn Manor School District. It was so cool to see the creativity and innovation that was making open source solutions work in their corner of the world.

  What do you hope attendees will take away from your talk?

  The confidence and at least a technique or two to help them be more outgoing, as and when they need or want to be so.

  What are you currently learning?

  I’m always trying to be more efficient, more focused and more strategic. That’s a constant learning process for me.

  In 2016, I’m researching CRM for small service consultancies like LBDesign.

  Lastly, I learn from those around me. I never know what I am going to learn from them, but by paying as close attention as I can, I know I’ll learn much of value.

  Do you know what a stroopie is? No googling.

  Nope.

  What did you do during the blizzard?

  Enjoyed the disconnect. I was lucky to spend lots of down time with my family. Yep, I shoveled a bit too.

  Where can we find you online?

  I’m still working up my Peach profile, so let’s go with Twitter: @liamdempsey

Liam Dempsey‘s session is titled Outgoing on Command. View the full schedule.

WordCamp Lancaster will be held on March 5th with Contributor Day on March 6th. Get your ticket today.

In the run up to WordCamp Lancaster, we will be featuring some of our speakers here on the website.

• 

  How and when did you get started with WordPress?

  I was an early MovableType user and before that I was hand-rolling HTML archives for my pioneering blog called CamWorld (circa late 1990s). Around 2003-2004 I started working in Drupal and built some fairly large community-driven sites.

  At the Open Source Convention in Portland in July 2004, I met a young Matt Muellenweg, who had just launched WordPress. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but remember how eager, honest and smart he was.

  Several years passed and I noticed that a lot of the blogs I read and follow were moving to WordPress, so I started taking another look and saw how good of a platform it was, not just for blogs but as a robust CMS.

  I stopped doing Drupal development work around 2011 and moved almost all of my professional work, clients and web sites to WordPress and haven’t looked back.

  If you’ve attended WordCamp Lancaster before, what’s your fondest memory of it? If not, what do you like most about WordCamps?

  WordCamps allow me to connect with other WordPress users, developers and business owners. It also gives me a stage to explain how I’m using WordPress to save taxpayer money, which is a very important issue for me.

  What are you currently learning?

  I’m mostly a front-end designer working in HTML, CSS and Photoshop. I’ve learned a little bit of PHP and Javascript over the years but I’m trying to become better at it so I don’t have to rely on PHP rockstars all the time.

  Do you know what a stroopie is? No googling.

  No idea.

  What did you do during the blizzard?

  Shoveled snow and dug out the cars (twice!) and then built a snow fort with my daughter and her cousins.  I hail from Northern Michigan (so am very used to lots of snow), but grew up internationally, and currently live in Northern NJ with my family. I love to go biking, hiking and travel. About 15 years ago I came very close to starting an adventure travel company in Siberia but the funding fell through and the local Russian mafia advised me against it.

  Where can we find you online?

  Twitter: @camworld
  About.Me: http://about.me/cam
  WordPress: https://profiles.wordpress.org/cameronbarrett/
  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camworld
  Medium: https://medium.com/@camworld

Cameron Barrett‘s session is titled WordPress for Non-Profits. View the full schedule.

WordCamp Lancaster will be held on March 5th with Contributor Day on March 6th. Get your ticket today.

In the run up to WordCamp Lancaster, we will be featuring some of our speakers here on the website.

• 

  How and when did you get started with WordPress?

  Way back in 2004 with Miles Davis. I’d been using phpBB to run a student club and wanted to switch it up with something better for publishing news. WordPress hit the spot and we’ve been sweethearts ever since.

  If you’ve attended WordCamp Lancaster before, what’s your fondest memory of it? If not, what do you like most about WordCamps?

  Shoofly pie tops the charts! Actually though, Lancaster has been my favorite WC just because of its size. It’s easier to meet new people and I enjoy seeing first-time speakers showing off the cool things they’re working on.

  What do you hope attendees will take away from your talk?

  I’m speaking on running usability tests and my life’s mission is to have the world be more accessible and user friendly for everyone, so if you use my talk, we’re one step closer.

  What are you currently learning?

  Javascript! For Matt and myself! I’m head first with React. I used to hack a bit of JS from Dynamic Drive, or modify some jQuery here and there, but I’m trying to wrap my head around something more comprehensive. I’m waiting for Zac Gordon to get that Kickstarter live for his new course. 😉

  Do you know what a stroopie is? No googling.

  “Haaaaang on stroopie, stroopie hang on!”

  What did you do during the blizzard?

  Went on long walks. I was getting the cabin fever and just wanted to be out in the snow, so I was venturing a couple miles down the road to see what businesses remained open.

  Where can we find you online?

  Google “anthonydpaul” to stalk me on any social media network, or find me telling someone who’s wrong on the Internet.

Anthony D Paul‘s session is titled Organizing Your First Website Usability Test. View the full schedule.

WordCamp Lancaster will be held on March 5th with Contributor Day on March 6th. Get your ticket today.