Author: Peter La Fond

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After-Party Time at WordCamp Wilmington!

Calling all WordCamp Attendees… Be sure to join us for WordCamp Wilmington’s official After-party! This soiree is hosted by one of Downtown Wilmington’s most unique pubs, the Pour Taproom. Every conference attendee is invited and will receive $5 off of their first drink! There’s also a food menu for those who want something more substantial. 

‘Our unique self-serve system gives you access to over 70 taps of beer, cider and wine.’

-Brian Ballard, Owner/Operator of Pour Taproom.

Learn Beyond the Classroom

Attending our speaker sessions will improve your WordPress knowledge tremendously.  However, you may want to have a deeper chat about a problem or design idea. The WordCamp Wilmington After-party is the appropriate time for such a conversation. This Saturday evening party is your time to: 

  • Network with experienced WordPress Professionals.
  • Exchange web UX and SEO ideas and practices.
  • Ask your favorite speaker that burning question you forgot to ask during the talk session.
  • Learn about premium offerings from our sponsors.

When is the WordCamp Party?

On Saturday, September 22nd, immediately following the last afternoon speaker session (4:30ish), we’ll all walk down to the Pour Taproom! 

Where it’s Being Held…

The Pour Taproom is the stress-free scene for our party. It’s a mere 5 minute walk from the conference venue, on N. Front Street at the corner of Chestnut Street!

Look for the big beer tap on the 
Murchison Building in Historic Downtown Wilmington.
More taps than your tastebuds can handle!  Plus, there’s a food menu to complement your desired beverage.

Check in When You Arrive

Upon arriving at Pour Taproom, check in at the front desk to get a wristband and instructions on how to use the taps — yup, it’s all self-serve. Afterwards, head right upstairs to the great table located at the street side of the building.

201 N Front St, Wilmington, North Carolina

(After you check-in, meet us upstairs at the Front Street side of the restaurant.)

About Pour Taproom

Pour Taproom offers a unique self-serve environment so all party-goers will have easy access to over 70 different taps of beer, cider and wine. And on the food menu, there’s a gluttonous selection of delicious appetizers, sandwiches, and flatbreads to choose from.

A Big THANK YOU to Pour Taproom

All of us from WordCamp Wilmington give Pour Taproom and owner Brian Ballard a warm expression of gratitude for sponsoring this year’s after-party! A brew pub-restaurant atmosphere that’s as enjoyable as the Pour Taproom is something we want to share with our WordPress community!

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The WordCamp Wilmington 2018 Speaker Schedule is Now Available!

The WordCamp Wilmington team is thrilled to announce our 2018 speaker line-up! This year’s 29 speakers is a testament to how hard our Speaker Recruitment team has worked to attract notable experts from across the WordPress Community.

Choose your own WordCamp Adventure!

Kyle Laverty speaking at WordCamp Wilmington 2016
Kyle Laverty speaking at WordCamp Wilmington 2016

For WordCamp Wilmington 2018, we’ve planned four learning tracks across two days. You choose the talks that appeal to you. All ticket holders will be able to sit in on any talk presented across these four different tracks.

With four different tracks, there is truly something for everyone. Review the great presentations we’ve planned; every talk topic and speaker listed on our schedule is linked to a summary.

Track 1: Beginners

Are you a beginner with WordPress? This track is for you! Talks for this track will focus on WordPress for the beginner. Sample beginner talk topics include:

How to Pick a Good WordPress Hosting Company, Ashley Cribb

The Proper Care, Feeding and Growth of Your WordPress Website, Adam Silver

Track 2: Business Marketing

If you’re a business owner or key marketing person, this track will help you get the most out of Internet marketing and WordPress. Sample business marketing talk topics include:

Data-Driven Marketing with WordPress, Frank Jones

Taking You WordPress-Based Business To The Next Level, Jeff Matson

Track 3: Designers and Power Users

Is WordPress already integrated into your weekly or monthly workflow? This track was created for designers and power users who regularly use WordPress but wouldn’t consider themselves a “coder”. Sample designer and power user topics include:

Speeding Up Your WordPress Site!, Peter Baylies

Photography for WordPress – Create Beautiful Images for your Websites, Steve Schwartz

Track 4: Developer

This track is designed for those who live and breathe the WordPress lifestyle… You know who you are! The talks here will cover various advanced techniques and concepts. Sample developer talk topics include:

Data Science: A Primer for Programmers, Ian Oeschger

How to make a profitable WordPress plugin, Vasyl Martyniuk

 

The Conference Schedule

 

And of course, don’t forget to purchase your tickets!

Do you have friends and colleagues that’d be interested in WordCamp Wilmington?

Be sure to share this page with them on your favorite social media platform!

We look forward to seeing you in September at Cape Fear Community College for WordCamp Wilmington 2018!

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WordCamp Wilmington Keynote Speaker Announcement

Although WordCamp Wilmington’s Speaker and Session Schedule is only days away from publication, we’d like to make our first big speaker announcement …the KEYNOTE.

And now, without further ado…

We’re very excited to announce that this year’s keynote speaker is Jennifer Riehle McFarland, the Web Services Coordinator at NC State University. For over 10 years she has been an integral part of NC State’s Office of Information Technology (OIT).  Jennifer and her A-team of IT professionals are knee-deep wading through the Herculean task of educating WordPress users, testing themes and plugins, and planning contingencies for the Gutenberg roll-out across NC State’s 10K+ WordPress websites.

From the time it was announced that Gutenberg will (very soon) be the default editor in WordPress, Jennifer’s team became our unsung heroes for testing software compatibility and cataloging common user reactions to Gutenberg. The research and guidance published by her group has been a source of incredible value for all who use WordPress (from beginners to administrators to developers). We expect Jennifer to present some great Gutenberg insight for the keynote.

Recently, Jennifer made global WordPress headlines when an article on her WordPress efforts was published in the official WordPress news source, WP Tavern. 

A tidbit about our Gutenberg future…

2018 is a milestone year for WordPress and the WordPress community. Not only did WordPress turn 15-years old this year, but the new Gutenberg next-generation text editor is expected to be rolled out.

The integration of Gutenberg into WordPress is a really big deal. Many WordPress users are completely unaware that it will affect the functionality of their WordPress site and the workflow of publishing posts. Gutenberg is an unconventional text editor and will require some learning. At some point, it will completely replace the current TinyMCE text editor (also known as the WordPress word processor) on every single WordPress installation. If you’re not familiar with Gutenberg, then this year’s WordCamp Wilmington is a conference for you. 

Reserve your ticket(s) today!

Jennifer’s bio in a nutshell…

Jennifer Riehle McFarland is the Web Services Coordinator and the Design & Web Services team lead for the central IT unit at NC State. McFarland is active in the WordPress community and helps coordinate the annual Raleigh-area WordCamp. Along with colleague Brian DeConinck she is a contributor to the monthly WPCampus podcast (go listen!).

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Now Accepting Speaker Submissions!

WordCamp Wilmington is currently accepting speaker submissions for WordCamp 2018!

Sean Ahlum of TekMountain giving the keynote presentation at WordCamp Wilmington 2017.

WordCamp Wilmington is now seeking passionate individuals who wish to share their knowledge with the WordPress community. You don’t need to be famous or even a seasoned speaker. Designers, bloggers, developers, artists, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and educators–all encouraged to apply!

Talk Details:

    • Talks will be a total of 45 minutes, but expect to leave about 15 minutes for Q&A.
    • Talks will be on Saturday September 22nd & Sunday September 23rd.
    • We plan to record all talks and post the videos to WordPress.tv. Speakers will need to sign an A/V release form prior to giving their presentation.
    • Speakers will be offered free admission to WordCamp Wilmington and be invited to the Speaker Dinner, but will not be otherwise compensated.

The deadline to submit your Speaker Application is 11:59pm, August 3rd, 2018.  Applications received after that time/date will NOT be considered.

Submit your talk by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

Do you need Ideas for a talk? 

Check out the WordCamp talk tracks we’re planning for this conference on the Speakers page.

Why Should You Apply to Speak at WordCamp Wilmington 2018?

Passionate about WordPress? Have a success story to share? Always wanted to speak but just haven’t taken the plunge?  Didn’t get chosen last year? There are many reasons you might want to speak, here are a few reasons why we think you should speak…

Share your talent

You’re a whiz at stuff other people want to  learn.  You’re passionate about what you do and you have expertise in a niche area of WordPress. You have much to offer those who may be just entering your field or who are looking to expand their knowledge base. WordCamp is all about sharing knowledge and helping the WordPress community grow. Everyone started somewhere and this is a great way to pay it forward to the next generation of developers, designers, and general users.

Speaking Helps Develop Ideas More Clearly

It’s true. Much like writing a paper or report, you’ll sort through your ideas, research, scrutinize, ponder and make conclusions. If you thought you knew your topic well before, just wait and see how you feel when you’re done writing your talk. (We’re talking genius status).

Networking and Publicity

Attendees and fellow speakers will look to you as an industry leader. Speaking is a great way to make connections with potential clients, potential vendors or employees; or possibly connect with someone you may go on to collaborate with on your next project. You will receive publicity. Although this may not be a driving factor in becoming a speaker it certainly is a perk!  Potential clients, or potential employers may see you speak, see your name on the schedule, or see your talk on WordPress.tv. Your bio and a link to your business or portfolio will be on the website. Speaking at WordCamp gets your name out there.

Have a Blast!

If you’ve been a speaker at a past WordCamp, well, you already know. But, if you haven’t, speaking at WordCamp Wilmington provides an experience where you’ll meet awesome people from the WordPress community who may live right in your backyard. You can mingle and network at the speaker dinner and celebrate with them at the after party. You’ll also get to be a part of a volunteer run, community organized- Super Awesome Event.

Wilmington, North Carolina… Where’s That?

With a population of just over 100,000, Wilmington is the largest city in the coastal Cape Fear region. With its pristine white sand beaches, picturesque estuaries and historical riverfront downtown,  Wilmington is a favored backdrop for some of Hollywood’s films and TV shows (such as, Safe Haven, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Dawson’s Creek, Good Behavior and One Tree Hill). The upcoming movie Writing on Bathroom Walls (starring Andy Garcia and Molly Parker) just wrapped film production here. 

Film production occurs here frequently, so while you’re here don’t be surprised to see blocks of Downtown Wilmington blocked off for shoots.

Our speakers’ dinner will be held at a restaurant named Hell’s Kitchen, the actual restaurant of where Katie Holmes’ fictional character (from Dawson’s Creek) worked. Hell’s Kitchen continues to look much like it did when Dawson’s Creek aired.

On set for Writing on Bathroom Walls with Molly Parker
WordCamp organizer Peter La Fond snapped this photo after he accidentally walked onto a production shoot for the upcoming movie Writing on Bathroom Walls, starring Molly Parker and Andy Garcia. Molly Parker is center-right in grey.

Speaker Submission Form

Now’s the Time to Apply!

Feel free to submit multiple talk topics. When filling out the form, send one talk at a time.  Multiple talks included within a single form submission will be discarded.










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WordCamp Wilmington 2018 Ticket Sales Now Open! YES!!!

WordCamp Wilmington is excited to announce that tickets for our 2018 WordPress learning conference are now available!

This event will take place September 22-23, 2018. We plan to bring together students, business owners, non-profits, marketers, bloggers, designers, coders and developers to connect with each other on WordPress topics.  If you want learn how to use your WordPress website, step up your website’s marketing plan, learn about SEO, or something else WordPress related, you won’t want to miss this conference!

And yes, all tickets provide access to every event and session on both days!

Purchase Tickets Here

Building a Bigger, Better WordPress Learning Conference

As the result of an early sold out event last year, with many disappointed they couldn’t purchase tickets, we’re opening a larger block of tickets.  For this year, we’ve planned for 250 attendees. However, don’t sit your laurels and try to register at the last minute. Telltale signs point to another sold-out event.  REGISTER EARLY to reserve your seat at this years event!

Where will it be held?

WordCamp Wilmington on the Cape Fear River

WordCamp Wilmington 2018 will again be held at Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station (5th Floor), located walking distance from the Cape Fear River in historic Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.

What is a WordCamp conference?

WordCamp Wilmington is one of 120 yearly WordPress learning conferences held around the world. It’s a two-day weekend conference that’s structured to be an educational setting for small business owners, marketers, designers, developers or anyone who’d like to become more proficient with WordPress.

The WordCamp conference philosophy is to be accessible to all who’d like to attend.  With that in mind, the two-day ticket is set at a remarkably low price of $40. To achieve that low cost for admittance, every organizer, staff member and speaker are all volunteers; and all expenses are funded by the WordPress Foundation, ticket sales, and our sponsors.

Details on our speakers and schedule are coming soon. Stay tuned!

Purchase Tickets Here: https://2018.wilmington.wordcamp.org/tickets/

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Save these Dates for WordCamp Wilmington 2018!

We are thrilled to announce that WordCamp Wilmington 2018 is officially on the calendar!

Our local WordCamp team is hard at work on another spectacular line up of speakers and anticipate a 3rd year of inspiring talks, excellent networking, and all around good times.  Last year’s sold out venue (with 175 registered attendees) prompted us to expand our capacity.  So, this year we’re planning for an attendance of 250.  

Mark your Calendar…

WordCamp Wilmington 2018 will be September 22nd and 23rd, 2018 at Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station conference center (5th Floor) in historic downtown Wilmington.  If you’re a WordPress beginner, developer, designer, marketing expert or general enthusiast, this is a weekend you don’t want to miss.

About the Venue

Back by popular demand, our conference will once again be located in historic downtown Wilmington. Our facility, Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station,  overlooks the Cape Fear River.

Historic Downtown Wilmngton North Carolina
Historic Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, on the Cape Fear River.

Unfamiliar with the Cape Fear Region?

The Cape Fear area has a rich military history.  It’s known for 17th century pirates, one of Washington’s first Coast Guard ports, the last significant U.S. Civil War battle, and WWII German POW camps.

Today, Wilmington is home to the World War II battleship, the USS North Carolina, and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence. Being a drive away from several military bases, Wilmington is a popular recreational destination for our service men and women when they’re on leave. 

In addition to it’s rich military history, Wilmington is also home to some unique shops and art galleries downtown.   When time permits, hop on a horse drawn carriage tour, stroll the Riverwalk, or take a short drive across town to visit some of the most beautiful beaches along the Atlantic seaboard. There are some fabulous restaurants and craft breweries here, many of which are located in the downtown area. 

Get the Latest Information…

Subscribe using the form in the sidebar (or footer) to stay up to date on the most recent news. We’ll be keeping you posted on all the details over the coming months, including speaker submissions, a call for volunteers, ticket release dates and more!

WordCamp Wilmington 2018, NC is over. Check out the next edition!