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

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  How and when did you get started with WordPress?

  I got started with WordPress in 2009 when my employer started planning to move their websites to WordPress. I was a non-technical content writer and editor at the time and was sent to WordCamp Boston 2010 to explore the blogger/content track. I went to a few developer oriented sessions at that conference because I was curious to see what they were like and those sessions piqued my interest in learning to build websites. When I went home, I started to tinker with WordPress and learn HTML and CSS. By the time my second WordCamp (it was Philly!) came around later that year I had become determined to learn to code and had just accepted a slightly more technical online communications management role at my job. I thought that this position had the potential to be a role where I could obtain the skills to become a developer, which ultimately proved to be true!

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

  I attended WordCamp Lancaster for the first time last year and had an amazing time. My fondest memory of it was the after party. I had lots of really great conversations with people that I already knew and also met a few new people who have become friends since then. I also really loved the hat swag attendees received last year!

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

  I hope attendees will take away a few actionable tips that will help them work more collaboratively and happily with their designer/developer colleagues to build websites that have true design integrity and polish.

  What are you currently learning?

  I am currently working on truly learning JavaScript. I’ve always found JavaScript to be super hard and intimidating to learn and have therefore avoided it a bit. In 2016 I’m trying to learn how it works from the ground up, “deeply”, as some might say.

  Do you know what a stroopie is? No googling.

  I haven’t the faintest idea what a “stroopie” is. It might be some sort of pie, but I have no idea what a “stroo” would be. Or perhaps a “stroopie” is something that is droopy?

  What did you do during the blizzard?

  I watched an unreasonable number of episodes of “Murder, She Wrote” while working on a website and refusing to leave my apartment.

  Where can we find you online?

  You can find me on Twitter @bethsoderberg and at my website: bethsoderberg.com.

Beth Soderberg‘s session is titled Bridging the Gap Between Design and Development. View the full schedule.

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