Archives for August 2018

This week’s Can’t Speak Geek WP Community Spotlight goes to the
beautiful soul of Bridget Willard.

Bridget Willard is a marketing consultant and educator with a passion to help small businesses. She began in construction, and worked in franchise development, nonprofits, and tech. She is known for her brand building for Riggins Construction and GiveWP.

She is the co-host of WPblab, a show on the WPwatercooler network, co-organizer of Women Who WP Meetup, and Marketing Team Rep for Make WordPress.

When she’s not writing about marketing, she is spending time with her Sully Dog, learning to be a karaoke host, or walking by the ocean.

Say hi to her on Twitter at @youtoocanbeguru and check out her site at bridgetwillard.com.

Can’t Speak Geeks first WP Community Spotlight goes to the
amazing David Bisset. 

David is a senior web developer working at EnviraGallery LLC, and works on one of the most popular photo gallery plugins for WordPress (Envira Gallery). Besides WordPress development, he also specializes in BuddyPress/bbPress. WordCamp Miami and South Florida WordPress meetup organizer for over 10 years. He’s also a speaker, father of three, and husband to the best wife in the world.

Michele: David, how did you get involved with WordPress?

David: I was a relatively new freelancer – just a wee lad, as they say. First, I wrote my own basic CMS like any (insert adjective here) developer does. As my freelance business started to grow I knew I had to choose a CMS – PHPNuke and Drupal I tried but landed on WordPress. It was frankly faster to get up and running, even in the simpler early days and my clients seemed to take to it faster.

Michele: What is one story of someone who has inspired you in the WordPress Community?

David: Too many people. But I can tell you that more recently it’s been the kid’s involved with WordCamps and WordPress that have truly been inspiring. WordCamp Miami started it’s kid’s camp in 2013 I think, but even earlier I saw kid’s in camps (including my own children) trying to learn code because it was cool. The future of WordPress belongs to these ones – and their enthusiasm, curiosity, and eagerness to learn without bias or prejudice keep me emotionality powered to plan the next conference or WordCamp.

Michele: What does the Open Source Community mean to you?

David: The idea of sharing ideas in a space where you can have a voice (or even in some cases branch off code to mold it to your needs) is a pretty cool concept. The community behind the concept really is what drives it – so many people eager to share their knowledge is encouraging to see.

Michele: Please name some of your favorite plugins. 

David: Is it wrong to say Envira Gallery? Yes? Ok, how about BuddyPress?

Michele: If you could change one thing in WordPress, what would it be?

David: “Its a trap!”

No but in all seriousness that’s a tough one. How about this… WordPress should be more accessible. And not just accessibility in terms of those with disabilities, but also to those who speak languages that are yet to be fully translated… those who need more events like meetups and WordCamps to get knowledge they might not otherwise be able to get… to those older and young.

WordPress should be available to open as many doors to as many people as possible regardless of who they are and where they live, even if the journey brings them to somewhere outside of WordPress itself.

Michele: What is your most memorable WordPress moment?

David: I got my ugly face on a slide at Matt Mullenweg’s State of the Word in 2015.

Michele: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started with WordPress?

David: Take advantage of the community but remember to contribute back – in whatever way you can.

Michele: What do you think is in store for the future of WordPress?

David: Flying cars. (Obviously!)

Michele: Just for fun, share one memory that makes you proud to be a part of the WordPress Community?

David: Someone came up to me and thanked me for introducing them to WordPress and inviting them to WordCamp Miami – they got a new job, met their future marriage mate there, and started a website. Not ranking those things in any particular order.

You can find David online at http://davidbisset.com , his twitter handle @dimensionmedia or at WordCamp Miami. 

If you find these interesting and would like to be spotlighted yourself, please see our interview form.