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.
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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 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