In this edition of our company news blog post, we’re focusing on the freshest updates from WordPress. Discover how two of our team members contributed to the latest major release.

We’ll also preview upcoming WordCamps, where you can catch up with us and learn more about our initiatives. Plus, we have news of tutorials featuring our own plugins. So, grab an ice-cold drink, soak in the summer vibes, and let’s explore all the latest news from WebDevStudios and beyond.

WordPress 6.6 Released

On July 16, 2024, the WordPress community celebrated the release of WordPress 6.6, affectionately named “Dorsey” in honor of the legendary big band leader Tommy Dorsey. This release brings a host of new features and improvements designed to enhance the user experience and expand the creative possibilities for site builders. Among the standout features are:

• Expanded design options for block themes, allowing for greater customization and creativity
• A streamlined Site Editor workflow, making it easier and faster to design and manage your site
• Plugin auto-updates, complete with a safety net that includes rollbacks to ensure stability if any issues arise
• Synced patterns for consistent styling across multiple instances
• A whopping 58 accessibility fixes and enhancements to make WordPress more inclusive and user-friendly
• And so much more!

Contributor Credits

The release of WordPress 6.6 exemplifies the power of open-source collaboration. A remarkable 630 contributors from at least 51 countries united to make this update possible. We are especially proud of our own team members, Frontend Engineer Aslam Doctor and Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello, whose efforts were instrumental in this release.

Sal discovered a bug that prevented global JavaScript code from loading on the login page using the `wp_localize_script` method. He promptly submitted a ticket to address the issue. Aslam took the lead in developing a fix, pushing the patch to the WordPress repository for review.

After rigorous testing and updates, the patch was approved. Sal and Aslam also created PHP test cases to ensure the fix’s robustness. Their collaboration exemplifies the spirit of teamwork and innovation that drives WordPress forward. Congratulations to Aslam, Sal, and all the contributors to WordPress 6.6!

Reap the Rewards of WordPress 6.6

WordPress 6.6 truly delivers on the promise of a better web, offering style, finesse, and a suite of creative possibilities for your site-building experience. This version empowers users to do more with ease, providing enhanced tools and unprecedented power behind the scenes.

Additionally, “Dorsey” continues to deliver the performance and accessibility improvements that users have come to expect from every WordPress release. These enhancements make it easier than ever to create beautiful, functional, and accessible websites.

Following the major release, WordPress 6.6.1, a maintenance release, has also been made available. This update includes important bug fixes and improvements, ensuring that your WordPress site remains in top shape. Be sure to update your WordPress to the latest version today and take full advantage of all the new features and enhancements!

Explore what WordPress 6.6 offers and elevate your site-building experience with this powerful new release. Happy updating!

WordCamps

“I hate WordCamps,” said no one ever! With 23 WordCamp events planned around the world for the remainder of the year, WordPress users, developers, and community members will have the opportunity to network, learn, expand their skills, and make memories. Here are the upcoming WordCamps, where you’ll find team members from WebDevStudios (WDS).

WordCamp Minneapolis / St. Paul (WCMSP)

Taking place at the world-famous Mall of America on August 16th, WordCamp MSP is a one-day event of learning and connecting. This conference unites WordPress enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds to discuss, share, and explore the endless possibilities of the beloved content management system.

WCMSP’s schedule features multiple talks on accessibility and AI, but one talk our team is particularly excited about is titled “WordPress at a Galactic Scale.” Former WDS team member Gary Kovar, a Principal Software Engineer who has worked on projects for NASA and Disney, is the presenter. Additionally, WordCamp organizer and agency owner E Daniel Swain will deliver the keynote speech, discussing the importance of community.

WDS Co-Founder and COO Lisa Sabin-Wilson, Engineering Manager John Heimkes, and Marketing Manager Laura Coronado will attend WCMSP.

WordCamp US (WCUS)

While WCUS is still a couple of months out, we want to let people know well in advance that WebDevStudios will be there. WordCamp US is probably the most popular WordCamp in the United States, but people from all over the world attend. In fact, Senior Frontend Engineer Alfredo Navas is flying in from Costa Rica to attend WCUS.

Other WDS teammates attending WCUS are Co-Founder and CEO Brad Williams, Director of Accounts Jen Miller, Accounts Manager Laura Byrne, and Senior Frontend Engineer Marty O’Connor. At every WordCamp they attend, Brad, Jen, and Laura always make themselves available to meet with and talk to company representatives in need of WordPress design and development. If you want to connect with WebDevStudios while at WCUS, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Plugins News

It all started with creating our most popular WordPress plugin, Custom Post Type UI, launched in February 2010. Since then, the WebDevStudios team has developed a diverse array of plugins that have been downloaded and utilized by millions of WordPress users. Explore them all at our plugin shop, Pluginize. Here’s the latest news about our plugins.

Best Practices for WP Search with Algolia Index Management

More and more people are replacing WordPress native search with the power of Algolia search by installing our WP Search with Algolia plugin. Backend Engineer Michael Beckwith published a blog post that walks users through WP Search with Algolia index management and site launch. Read it on the Pluginize blog.

Learn How to Import Your YouTube Channel as Posts

Get ready to have your mind blown when you watch this video tutorial from The Cre8tive Diva. Using our plugin, Automatic Featured Images from Videos, and WP All Import, The Cre8tive Diva shows viewers how to import a YouTube channel to WordPress as blog posts. Watch her video below or on YouTube.

The post Company News – July appeared first on WebDevStudios.

And for several years in a row, I had total FOMO from seeing photos and reading about the sessions. Of course, Covid interrupted everyone’s hopes for a few more years. My plan this year was to get to WordCamp US (WCUS) no matter what, so I was elated to see the chosen location was National Harbor, Maryland. With just a six-hour drive, I had very few excuses.

Not only was this my first WCUS, but it was also my first WordCamp event! It was everything I hoped for, but just telling you that doesn’t make for a very interesting post. So, I’ll give you a few more details about the extended weekend. I met people who I only knew virtually, I sat in on awesome sessions, and I met interesting new people who I can’t wait to see again in the future.

First, I grouped up with four other engineers and we split an Airbnb in the Old Town district of Alexandria, VA. Staying in Old Town was a great recommendation from my colleague and WebDevStudios Employee Experience Coordinator Julie Sarnik.

For our group of five, it was all WordPress all the time. When we weren’t at the conference talking WordPress, we were at the house talking WordPress. When we weren’t at the house talking WordPress, we were at a party talking WordPress.

Every day, we’d catch a Lyft across the Potomac River and arrive at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, the home of WordCamp US 2023. If you haven’t seen the Gaylord before, it’s an incredible experience. Hundreds of hotel rooms overlook a gorgeous (and gigantic) glass atrium. I spent a considerable amount of time just daydreaming in the sunlight next to an indoor waterfall as I took it all in. There was a buzz in the air as people got together and hatched business plans and, of course, talked WordPress.

Contributor Day

Running on just a few hours of sleep, my crew and I arrived bright and early for Contributor Day. Almost immediately, I saw two former coworkers whom I had worked with for several years. Until then, I only knew them virtually.

By the end of the day, I was feeling incredible from having met at least ten other people in person for the first time. There were none of the classic awkward Zoom moments, such as, “No, no, you go first,” or, “You’re on mute.”

It was just human-to-human interaction, and after all these years, it was incredible! I spotted new facets of everyone’s personality that I had never seen on the internet. That experience alone was worth the price of admission, which was an unbelievable $50. Participating in a world-class community like this and downloading knowledge directly from so many industry leaders is a dream come true. The accessible cost is an aspect of WordCamp that I hope remains for years to come.

Friday Morning Sessions

Everyone was excited to see the first talk by Abby Bowman and J.J. Toothman called For All Userkind: NASA Web Modernization and WordPress. In it, they discussed the process for redesigning NASA’s official website and the process they went through to land (gently) on WordPress as their CMS of choice.

The aim was to create a cohesive website across the organization, and their success at that shows the power and flexibility of the platform we all love so much. There were so many great sessions, but a favorite of mine was Modern WordPress Development with Gary McPherson. I loved having an opportunity to delve into another expert’s development process and the detailed explanation that came along with that. All said and done, I came away from WordCamp more knowledgeable and inspired than when I arrived.

Finally, the social interactions at WordCamp are worth mentioning. Sitting down for lunch every day offered an opportunity to meet new people and discuss the inside baseball of WordPress. I also attended a few parties, including the Pride Party and the WCUS Social event, which left me energized and upbeat. Seeing so many people who can come together around the same topic gives me hope that we’re all moving in the right direction together.

If you have the chance to attend any of the WordCamp events, whether local or beyond, I’d say do it. I’m sure you’ll have an experience that is as positive as mine.

If you’re a WordCamp first-timer like I was, keep some things in mind:

• Remember to save space in your suitcase for swag, especially if you’re flying. Vendor swag is abundant, and it’s really good stuff, too.
• Give yourself some time to decompress. Remember that you can participate in sessions when you want to and step away when you need to.
• If you’re excited about a session, get there early in order to grab a good seat. It can really improve the experience when you’re closer to the presenter.
• Don’t be shy. I feel like most people (especially while exploring the vendor area) are open to an introduction and some discussion. On the other hand, know when it’s time to let someone go about their day.
• Many of the talks are recorded and published online, so you can always go back and review the details later. Bring your laptop if you plan to use it for a workshop, but perhaps consider leaving it behind if you don’t want to be weighed down.
• Remember to have fun!

The post A Dispatch from My First WordCamp appeared first on WebDevStudios.

At WDS, we are always looking for opportunities to get involved with the WordPress community, and August presented quite a few. Read below to see for yourself. We hope you will continue to follow our journey and be a part of our success.

15 of the Best WordPress Plugins

We’re pretty used to our WordPress plugin, Custom Post Type UI, getting lots of attention. After all, it has over 1 million active installations. However, now the spotlight is on the premium version, Custom Post Type UI Extended.

Early this month, WPShout added Custom Post Type UI Extended to the list of “15 of the Best WordPress Plugins for Users, Developers, Everyone.” Other noteworthy plugins that made the list include Advanced Custom Fields, Debug This, and WP-Staging.

Breakdown Podcast

WDS CEO Brad Williams made a guest appearance on the “Breakdown,” a podcast from Gravity Forms hosted by Matt Medeiros. In this episode, Brad Brad discusses how WordPress has evolved from a simple blogging platform to a powerful CMS and addresses how the Block Editor (aka Gutenberg) has transformed the editing experience we have today. Listen to Brad’s interview at Breakdown.Transister.fm.

WordCamp US

One of the most-anticipated WordCamps of the year happened in Maryland August 24-26. WordCamp US (WCUS) is the flagship WordPress event in the Western Hemisphere. The conference is always chockful of meaningful talks, opportunities to network, and a presentation from Matt Mullenweg.

At this year’s WCUS, Matt discussed the technical improvements of Gutenberg. WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy presented a talk that preceded Matt’s and addressed the future of WordPress.

The hottest talk of WCUS was Friday’s keynote, presented by Abby Bowman and J.J. Toothman. “For All Userkind: NASA Web Modernization and WordPress” touched on the revamping of NASA’s flagship and science websites as well as the challenges faced by NASA’s web modernization efforts.

Of course, the teammates from WebDevStudios enjoyed spending time together. As a 100% distributed website agency, it’s always a big deal when we get to see each other in person.

Featured below in the photo on the left are Senior Frontend Engineer Marty O’Connor and Principal Engineer Sal Ferrarello. On the right are Senior Frontend Engineer Alfredo Navas, Account Manager Pia Miranda, Account Manager Laura Byrne, Director of Operations April Williams, and CEO Brad Williams.

New Career Opportunity

We have an exciting new career opportunity to tell you about! As the WebDevStudios Director of Accounts, you will lead our account management team to meet and exceed sales goals. If you’re driven by client success, have the ability to nurture enduring strategic partnerships, and have a background in managing client relationships, this position is for you. Please learn more about the Director of Accounts position and submit your online application today.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

While we’re very happy to have you read about WebDevStudios company news on our blog, did you know that we also share the latest and greatest things happening at our website agency in a monthly email newsletter? It’s true. Everyone is welcome to subscribe, including you.

The post Company News – August appeared first on WebDevStudios.

To allow for adequate social distancing, WCUS 2022 attendance is limited. As such, tickets sold out quickly, but there is good news for those who missed the opportunity to acquire one. A free live stream of sessions is available to everybody.

Five staffers from WebDevStudios are attending WordCamp US 2022. We love interacting with other members of the WordPress community, especially those with whom we’ve interacted online (via social media, WordPress forums, or GitHub). If you see us, don’t be shy and please say hi. Let’s connect!

There is a lot to experience at any WordCamp, but unlike localized events, WordCamp US attracts folks from all over. That adds to the excitement of attending.

Brad, Justin, Autry, Laura B., and I are eager to be there. Here are some things at WordCamp US 2022 that we’re looking forward to most.

Meeting in person, finally!

We’ve said it once, we’re saying it again. (And, we’ll keep saying it, too.) Since day one, WebDevStudios (WDS) has been a 100% distributed website agency.

That means our team works remotely from anywhere in the world. To support our company culture and forge bonds, WDS hosted annual retreats.

That was until the pandemic came along. Today, there are many of us coworkers who have never met in person.

Brad, Justin, and I have met and spent time together in person on several occasions. This will be the first time we’re meeting Autry and Laura B. in real life.

“I haven’t met anyone from WDS yet so I’m very excited,” exclaims Autry. “I am excited to be back in the community this weekend and I am also very excited to officially meet some of my fellow WDS-ers,” she adds.

Keep in mind that Autry just celebrated her second-year anniversary with WebDevStudios, so getting to meet her in person is a big deal for all of us. Additionally, many of us have interacted online with other WordPressers but still have not met face-to-face. WordCamp US 2022 is allowing us to change that.

Reuniting with old friends

What makes WordPress so special is the community behind it. Many members have known each other for years. The only time they get to see each other is at WordCamps, especially WCUS. The pandemic interrupted that.

As a co-organizer of the first-ever WordCamp US (Philadelphia, 2015), WCUS holds a special place in CEO, Brad Williams’, heart.

“It’s been so long,” he says, adding, “I can’t wait to see all my WordPress community friends again.”

Engineering Manager, Justin Foell, agrees. “I’m looking forward to reconnecting with my people,” he says.

WordCamp US 2022 is the first in-person US flagship WordCamp event since 2019. It is the second in-person US-based WordCamp in 2022.

The pandemic disrupted the flow of these important events. While the education and information provided at WordCamps are essential and unique, it’s the human interaction that most attendees are craving.

Talks and workshops

Okay, enough blubbering about seeing people. The whole reason for any WordCamp is the sessions. We’re here for talks, workshops, and Contributor Day.

There are lightning talks, standard talks, and workshops taking place. Additionally, sessions are organized according to three tracks: Sun, Palm, and Surf. Sun and Palm are programming tracks and include talks such as, “Customizing Core Blocks for Clients” and “FSE for the Win.”

The Surf track is a hands-on series of workshops that cover topics like website accessibility and building a block theme. I’m looking forward to Maddy Osman’s workshop titled, “How to Create Your Brand Content Style Guide,” which is happening on the 10th.

Other standout talks are “Where Is WordPress’ Place in the Creator Economy,” “Developing Cultural Intelligence,” and, “WordPress for the Next Generation.” Honestly, all the featured sessions look pretty interesting and amazing. See the full schedule yourself to choose your favorites. (Good luck with that.)

Parties, socializing, and networking

Don’t let the stereotypes full you. Smart people love to party, socialize, and network (while also being respectful of those who don’t).

Yes, there will be parties. There are a handful of competing ones happening on the first night.  Each one features its own theme—from the 90s to a cool science museum, to high-class cocktails. Savvy party folks will ride share together and attend them all.

On Saturday, after all of the talks and workshops are completed, WCUS is hosting a social at Riverfront Park where drinks and appetizers are provided. It’s another great opportunity to unwind, reunite with old friends, and make some new ones.

Of course, no WordCamp is complete without hallway talks. These informal gatherings happen spontaneously in the hallways of the conference venue and normally end with an exchange of business cards and new relationships forged.

San Diego, baby!

I mean, hello, it’s San Diego. How can anyone not take the opportunity to explore this fair-weathered city?

First of all, WCUS is being held at the luxurious Town and Country Resort. This place has everything! From mid-century coolness to chef-driven dining, this landmark hotel is a sight to be remembered. Heck, it even boasts a 150-foot-long looping waterslide called Twister.

Second, did I mention the beaches? San Diego’s signature attraction is 70 miles of glorious coastline. There is a bevy of beaches for WCUS attendees to choose from, and each is just as beautiful as the next.

Lastly, there’s a zoo. You may have heard of it. The name is fitting. The San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre wildlife park. It’s home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals, representing more than 650 species and subspecies. This attraction is designed to delight people of all ages. You don’t have to be a child to enjoy it, just youthful and curious.

Follow the Hashtag #WCUS

Again, if you’re missing out on the action, talks will be live-streamed. The organizers at WCUS wrote a guide to help you maximize your WordCamp US 2022 viewing experience. I recommend reading it.

To keep up with the shenanigans, follow the hashtag #WCUS. I predict a slew of photos, videos, and gracious tweets directed at knowledgeable speakers. WordCamps are always one big lovefest.

The post WordCamp US 2022 Is Here! appeared first on WebDevStudios.

WCUS’ Contributor Day was held on the third day of this national WordPress conference, which took place in St. Louis, Missouri this year. In an effort to recruit more people to participate in WordCamp Contributor Day, we worked hard on education and awareness. This included publishing blog posts about the different teams and running workshops, which took place on the first two days of WCUS. These workshops were designed to demystify Contributor Day. You can watch videos from the workshops at WordPress.tv. We even had buttons made that say, “I make WordPress. Ask me how,” which experienced contributors wore throughout the weekend.

Want to know more about Contributing to #WordPress @WordCampUS ? Ask anyone wearing this button. #WCUS pic.twitter.com/hsOeLyySBa

— WordCamp US (@WordCampUS) October 31, 2019

The 411

The best part about WordCamp Contributor Day is that anyone can participate. Yes, even you!

The WordPress project needs people of all skill levels and backgrounds to help move it forward. There are 18 official teams listed on Make.WordPress.org that you can contribute to, ranging from technical (Core, WP-CLI) to non-technical (Community, Polyglots). You can choose to contribute in an area that you are an expert in or use this opportunity as a way to learn a new skill.

Common ways to contribute include:

• feature improvements and bug fixes on core
• reviewing themes and plugins to be added to the general repositories
• answering questions in the support forums

Some less obvious ways to contribute include:

• writing or editing documentation, marketing collateral, release notes, etc.
• testing new features as a regular user
• creating and improving workshops and other materials for the user community to learn
• adding closed captioning to videos posted to WordPress.tv
• organizing a meetup in your area

Kicking off #WCUS contributor day! @aaroncampbell asks how many are first time contributors and nearly half the people in the room raise their hands… pic.twitter.com/vI6baX6wf1

— Andrea Middleton (@andmiddleton) November 3, 2019

Back to WCUS 2019 Contributor Day, we had a few hundred people participate this year and at least a third of them were first-timers. Everyone settled into the teams they wanted to help and got to work. We kept track of accomplishments throughout the day. Here are some highlights:

• onboarded  new contributors to several teams
• translated all of WordPress 5.3 for Dutch
• started the first WCUS KidsCamp
• reviewed and edited various pieces of text content (handbooks, documentation, etc.)
• ensured all support topics had a reply (except for a few that came in during the day)
• closed issues and tickets on multiple teams
• edited videos

And, of course, the list goes on. See the complete list of what we contributed on this monumental WordCamp Contributor Day here. 

Participating in WordCamp Contributor Day is like eating a potato chip.

At the end of the day, in addition to all the defined accomplishments listed, new friends were made and new regular contributors were born. Once bitten by the contributing bug, people often want to keep going. And the great thing is, they can!

Whether it’s becoming an active weekly member of one of the teams or finding a new way to enhance the community, I encourage everyone to contribute as often as possible, all year long. Not only will you be helping to shape the future of WordPress, you’ll find there’s personal and maybe professional growth as well, just from taking that first step and showing up, like I did.

If you’d like to get started, but don’t have a WordCamp Contributor Day happening soon nearby, you can learn more about the teams and find their meeting details at Make.Wordpress.org. I also invite you to ping me on Twitter to ask me any questions about contributing. You can join WebDevStudios for our monthly Five for the Future (a WordPress initiative designed to give back) contribution days, too!

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What is WordCamp US?

WordCamp US (WCUS) is the national WordPress conference that brings together WordPress enthusiasts to a place of community from every background and industry. The event happens annually, and changes to a new city every two years. At the event, you have an opportunity to gather knowledge from various speakers and workshops that could help you improve your WordPress skills, positively impacting your business, be a better leader, and get involved in the community. Plus, there’s the networking. This event brings together over 2,000 attendees year after year!

Organizing WordCamp US 2019

This year was pretty special for me because the event was in St. Louis, Missouri, and I am a local. As soon as I found out the event was coming to St. Louis, I signed up to help organize. Being an organizer was always something I wanted to do, but wasn’t quite sure where or how I could help. Let me assure you that there is a job for everyone.

I was the co-lead on the Volunteers team, which helped to gather, organize and plan roles and responsibilities for WCUS volunteers. Yes, if you were wondering, the event is 100% organized and run by volunteers. It’s a huge deal. During the conference, I was running around from room to room, ensuring that each of the volunteers were there, had what they needed, and making last minute changes when required. It was really fun to be a part of WordCamp US 2019 and very rewarding to see the event to success.

This year, we had roughly 50 organizers who handled the logistics, budget and sponsors, design and programming, communications, plus all the things that go into making the attendee experience impactful. Special shout out to Jennifer Swisher, Angela Jin, and Kevin Cristiano for being the overall lead organizers for the event this year.

WordCamp US 2019 Report

WCUS took place at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. Sessions, and workshops were held November 1-2, 2019. The State of the Word was presented by Matt Mullenweg on November 2nd. Sunday, November 3rd was all about Contributor Day and KidsCamp. Contributor Day was co-organized by our very own Christina Workman, who said it was a huge success! Here are some of my favorite things about WordCamp US this year:

• WordFest, the WCUS after party, was held at the City Museum, and WOW! Not only did the WCUS organizing team pick a great place, but they also brought in local food favorites like toasted raviolis and Ted Drewes famous frozen custard. No one left hungry.
• WDS-ers gathered together and we made great memories! We work remotely, so we don’t get to see each other that often in person. A portion of our crew traveled from all over the US to attend the event. I got to officially meet Mike and Scott from our team in person.

• We had an amazing BBQ lunch at Sugarfire Smokehouse on Saturday together. What’s better than brisket, macaroni and cheese, and vanilla pudding?! We pigged out!
• We really enjoyed the local brews from Schlafly Beer. Brad now loves their Pumpkin Ale.
• State of the Word is always one of the highlights of the event for me. If you missed it, you can watch it on YouTube.
• I love networking with folks from other agencies and gathering all the fancy swag from the Sponsor Hall. My favorite item that I picked up this year was the speaker and journal from Bluehost.
• There was a life-size Wapuu!
• The most talked about session was “How I Built WPBingo: A PWA That Uses Vue.js, Tailwind CSS, and the WP REST API,” by Brian Richards (a former WDS-er).

Overall, it was an awesome year at WCUS for the attendees and the WordPress community, which has left a long-standing impression for everyone involved. I’m already excited for next year’s event!

The post Post Event Report: WordCamp US 2019 appeared first on WebDevStudios.

We have nine WDS team members who will be present at WCUS (some people are meeting their teammates for the first time in person). Keep reading to find out who’s going, who’s speaking, and with whom you can connect at WordCamp US.

Cristina Holt, Director of Project Management

As a member of the WDS team, a project manager on countless WordPress website projects, and a resident of St. Louis, Cristina was excited to be involved with WCUS as a volunteer organizer.

“I have always wanted to get more involved in the St. Louis WordPress community and local WordCamp. When I heard WCUS was coming, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to not only get involved locally, but nationally, as well,” she says. Cristina is co-leading the organizing team for volunteers, and she explains that it’s been great exposure to all that goes into planning such a large national conference.

“It’s amazing how people from the WordPress community come together and volunteer their personal time to make this event happen,” she exclaims. Cristina is looking forward to all the talks, workshops, and the WordFest party at City Museum, as well as spending time with her WDS coworkers.

Christina Workman, Support Technician

The Canadians are coming to WCUS! As a 100% distributed company, WDS is proud to have employees in the US, Philippines, Costa Rica, and Canada. In fact, two of our own Canadian counterparts will be at WordCamp US 2019: Christina Workman and Meagan Hanes (learn more about Meagan in the following section).

Christina’s role at WCUS is that of co-organizer of Contributor Day, which takes place on the final day of the event, Sunday, November 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. While there is a lot of mystery around Contributor Day, everyone is invited to attend and contribute.

“We need people to work with code, for sure, but we also need people to do user testing, copywriting, marketing, video editing, translating, and the list goes on,” Christina explains. “WordPress powers a big chunk of the internet, and people power WordPress. Without volunteers and contributors, WordPress wouldn’t be the great platform we all know and love, and it would cease to improve. Contributor Day is a good way to encourage people to come out and help in person.”

To assist with demystifying Contributor Day even further, WCUS is conducting two workshops to educate the WordPress community on the importance of contributing. The workshop is called “Everyone Can Help Make WordPress Better – How to Contribute to WordPress,” and you can catch the workshop on Friday at 3:15 p.m. or Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in Room 276 on both days.

This is Christina’s second time attending WordCamp US, and she invites her Twitter friends to say hi if they see her. Plus, she loves making new ones, so don’t be shy.

Meagan Hanes, Technical Project Manager

Going to WordCamp US is a big deal, but speaking at it is HUGE! This is Meagan’s second time attending WCUS, but this year, she is one of four speakers featured in the “Grow Your Meetup!” workshop, happening Friday at 10:00 a.m. in Room 274.

“I feel honoured to have been asked to participate in this brand-new Community track at WCUS,” Meagan gushes. “These kinds of larger discussions will help us feel less alone as we bridge our digital and physical lives and engage authentically with others as we travel our WordPress path. The entire team here has been hard at work preparing for this workshop, and we are excited to bring our years of experience and leadership in nurturing our WordPress communities to share with everyone.”

This workshop is truly meant for everyone who’s involved in local meetups, whether it’s a leader who is finding it challenging to grow beyond the limits of volunteering or an attendee who wants to take that next step up into speaking but doesn’t know how. Even a speaker who’s looking for more support would gain a lot from attending the “Grow Your Meetup” workshop.

“Running meetups can come with a lot of challenges, such as what topics to present, how to consistently build an audience, how to find speakers, venues, and other unknowns,” Meagan explains the workshop’s intention, adding, “This will resolve these challenges and equip attendees with the skills to help build a thriving and engaging WordPress meetup, no matter where they’re located.”

Meagan wants to remind everyone that unlike WordCamp talks, workshops are not recorded and presented later, making it all that much more important to attend. If you can’t attend WCUS at all, remember that you can livestream the event from wherever you are.

Jodie Riccelli, Director of Business Development

Like a champ, Jodie has attended every single WordCamp US, starting as an organizer for the very first one. Jodie says, “I find it thrilling to see how much the event has grown. This is a great opportunity for me to meet up with friends and colleagues in the WordPress community. Also, it’s a great chance to explore different parts of the country.”

Since this is the first year WCUS is being held in St. Louis, Jodie states that she’s looking forward to visiting this city for the first time, adding, “I hear good things about their BBQ. Also, there are some great sessions planned and WordFest looks like it is going to be an amazing experience.”

Lisa Sabin-Wilson, COO

Lisa’s first WordCamp was in 2009 at WordCamp Chicago and she is looking forward to WordCamp US in St. Louis over a decade after her first WordCamp.  Lisa says, “WordCamps are always great fun and a nice way to touch base with colleagues in the industry and friends made through work and shared passions for the project.”

Lisa adds, “St. Louis is closer to home for me than all other US camps, so I’m driving down from Green Bay to St. Louis and am looking forward to enjoying the drive and midwest scenery along the way. WebDevStudios obtained an entire house for the WDS team to share for WordCamp US, so I am really looking forward to spending time with our team members who are attending and getting some much needed face time and fun!  Overall, I expect it will be an amazing experience!”

Who else will be at WordCamp US?

Other WDS team members in attendance at WordCamp US include CEO, Brad Williams, Project Manager, Lauren Drew, Senior Backend Engineer, Jeremy Ward, Frontend Engineer, Mike England, and Backend Engineer, Scott Anderson. Our team is friendly, approachable, and love to talk about WordPress. So, if you see anyone familiar, don’t hesitate to say hello.

Keep up with all the WCUS action by following the event’s Twitter profile and hashtag: WordCampUS and #WCUS. See the full schedule for WordCamp US here.

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“WordCamp, as always is more about the people than anything,” says Justin Foell, Senior Backend Engineer. “From meeting up with old friends I haven’t seen in years to making some new friends along the way, we’re all in this journey together. I’ve always thought the WordPress community is possibly the best open-source community on the planet.”

Director of Project Management, Cristina Holt, agrees, saying, “Hanging out with my coworkers at WebDevStudios live and in person is really special! We had an opportunity to spend a few days together and bond over WordPress, BBQ, Bourbon and Honky Tonk music. Face-to-face is so important at a remote company. WordCamps, especially national ones, allow us to connect as a company, but also with the WordPress community.”

Her favorite session was “Project Management for Developers” with Jessi Gurr. “She outlined some really great steps to take in tricky situations during a project.”

Aside from the amazing presentations, there was a lot of buzz, and even some tension, in the air as all things Gutenberg and WordPress 5.0 were addressed.

“This year was fascinating,” expresses Jodie Riccelli, Director of Business Development. “There is always an uneasiness when change happens, but we have to be uncomfortable once in awhile to push ourselves to bigger and better. I left feeling more hopeful about the future of WordPress simply because the community always leaves me feeling inspired to be better.”

Justin agrees with Jodie, adding, “One thing the conference itself purposefully did was alleviate many of the concerns I had about Gutenberg and turn many of the fears into opportunities. It’s been a long time since WordPress had such a fundamental update. When I first got into WordPress in 2010, Custom Post Types and Multisite were the hot new thing. I’m sure the ecosystem seemed full of uncertainty back then as it does today. But hearing first hand from community members makes me more excited for WordPress 5.0 (and beyond), and less apprehensive. Are there still issues? Yes, and I’ve experienced some of them first hand, but one thing is for sure, it’s only going to get better.”

You can watch Matt Mullenweg’s “State of the Word” on the WordPress YouTube channel. In 2019, WordCamp US will be held in Cristina’s home city of St. Louis, Missouri, November 1-3. To find an upcoming WordCamp near you, head over to WordCamp Central.

Meet us next year in St. Louis!

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