Make sure you head over to the WordCamp Kent 2017 site and subscribe for updates to this years WordCamp NEO!
Category: Uncategorized
Recap: WordCamp Northeast Ohio 2016 and Announcing WordCamp Kent 2017
The dust has settled on WCNEO, and for a first-time WordCamp, we’re happy to report it was a huge success!
With over 100 tickets sold to this two-day event, the WordCamp Northeast Ohio organization team is thrilled that the event went off without a hitch.
Speakers & Sponsors
At WordCamp NEO we included a full lineup of great speakers spanning a variety of topics to ensure we had something for everyone. We skipped the tracks and let our attendees select their schedules based on their personal interests.
We kicked off each day with our keynotes, Eric Meyer (Saturday) and Chris Lema (Sunday) followed by three simultaneous sessions at a time, offering a wide-range of topics for designers, developers, and beginners alike, leaving no WordPresser behind! If you missed any of our sessions, be sure to tune into WordPress.tv and check us out. You’ll find the speakers slides there, too (if they shared them).
Of course WordCamp NEO wouldn’t have been possible without our sponsors. Their funding and in-kind contributions made this event a great success, and we couldn’t have done it without them! Everyone was grateful to have their awesome swag, too, and we were thrilled to have the awesome folks from A2 Hosting and SiteGround on-site, sharing some insight into their services during the hallway track and between sessions, too.
Venues
One of the toughest parts of planning a WordCamp is finding the right venue. Well, we knocked it out of the park with the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center. This boutique hotel in the heart of Kent was the perfect location for our event. The staff was phenomenal, attending to our every need, and we were just steps away from the many artisan shops and restaurants in downtown Kent, which made breaking for lunch on Saturday an easy and seamless escape to explore the area. The conference rooms were comfortable, easy to navigate, and situated close to one another, allowing ample time for hallway conversations between sessions. And on Sunday, the catered Taco and Burrito bar was a big hit with all our fellow WordCampers.
Our After Party venue, Kent Lanes – 11th Frame, was another perfect find. Our party-goers had plenty of positive feedback about the event, letting us know the staff, food, and festivities were a hit a hit all the way around.
What’s Next?
WordCamp Kent 2017
Our team of organizers have already started planning to make next year’s event even better! And we’re really excited to announce we’ll be hosting WordCamp Kent 2017 in the same location next year! Don’t let the name fool you, same camp, same location, we’re just following the new naming conventions in place by our governing body, WordCamp Central.
So save the date June 24th & June 25th 2017 to join us at the Kent State Hotel & Conference Center for another great WordCamp next year at WCKENT2017!
Be sure to check out our new site, WordCamp Kent 2017, and subscribe for updates to stay in the loop as details unfold throughout the year, or follow us on Twitter @WordCampKent.
Monthly Meetups
Can’t wait until next year? Then drop into one of our Northeast Ohio WordPress Meetups near you!
Join the Conversation in Slack
Stay connected and join in on the conversation at our Slack Channel. As things get moving, we’ll keep the conversation flowing here. You can get a Slack invitation here.
Thank You!
A big THANK YOU to everyone who made WordCamp NEO such a special event this year. Our community of Attendees, Speakers, Sponsors, and Volunteers are what make these events possible each year and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
Speaker Interview: Kassey Sikora
Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.
Name
Kassey Sikora
Location
Cleveland, OH
Current Gig
Designer and Consultant
Career Summary
I spent years doing marketing and design and then shifted focus to UX/UI work in software development. I still do a mix of both with a little photography thrown in!
One word that best describes how you work?
Efficiently.
Current Mobile Device/Why
iPhone. I’ve tried every major OS there is (including BlackBerry back in the day!) and found I enjoy the UI/UX of the iPhone the most.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Web Apps: Google Calendar, Wunderlist, Feedly, Pocket, Dopbox, and Spotify Software: Adobe CC, Axure, Brackets, and F.lux Tools: phone, laptop, Wacom tablet, Bose headphones, and a good old fashioned paper notebook
What’s your workspace setup like?
I have an incredibly long worktop-style desk I’ve had for years. I focus and think best in a neat, sparse space so I like it facing a blank wall with almost nothing on the surface except some flowers or books I’m reading, a candle, and a pencil cup. I always position it near a window for maximum natural light. Not Pictured: The occasional pile of paperwork or magazines that accumulate on the far left end of the desk.
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
It’s so classic/common: Make. Lists. When I don’t have a list/plan/schedule, I waste so much time trying to figure out what to do next or where projects are going and waste so much space in my brain trying to remember multiple things. Take the time to plan and write it down. It’s okay for things to change and shift, but don’t waste time and mental energy by keeping everything in your head.
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
I use Wunderlist to create lists (of lists!) for general thoughts but when working on larger projects I like using the kanban method.
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?
This is tough! I want to say my watch because I’m obsessed with keeping/monitoring time but in reality it’s probably my Bose headphones/speakers. I work well in complete silence which you don’t get too often in the city so I usually retreat into good music with quality sound delivery. It’s the musician in me that appreciates it the most!
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Besides being a designer…Cooking and organization. It’s a joke among people who know me that I could rival Martha Stewart with my domestic skills. (I make a mean plum tart).
What do you listen to while working?
If you use Spotify, you can find some of my playlists under my username, kasseys. The music I listen to varies so much but on the average day it’s either classical, dubstep, hip-hop, rat pack (Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin), 90s pop, or alternative.
What do you do to stay inspired?
Go out into the world and take a walk! Bonus points if I take my camera with me. I live in downtown CLE so there’s never a shortage of events to go to, new places to eat, and interesting people to meet. Plus fresh air and a little exercise refresh me the most.
What are you currently reading?
The World on a Plate: 40 Cuisines, 100 Recipes, and the Stories Behind Them by Mina Holland. I’ve traveled a fair bit and love trying/cooking new foods from different places.
What’s your sleep routine like?
During the week, up by 7, in bed by 11, asleep by 12. On the weekends I still naturally wake up by 7 but go to bed around 2 or 3. And drink a lot of coffee.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
I read this in a book when I was young and it’s stuck with me: “Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.”
Any other tidbits you think might interest attendees?
I’m obsessed with cats but am also allergic to them so I can’t have any, I don’t watch TV often but I love Sherlock, and I used to live in England for a short time and it really shaped who I am.
Speaker Interview: Danny Santoro
Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.
Name
Danny Santoro
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Current Gig
WooCommerce Specialist at Automattic
Career Summary
After starting my first business when I was fifteen, I’ve never stopped looking for new ideas, cooking up plans, making things, and in general spreading myself too thin. This turned me into a jack-of-all-trades (but master of none), which is definitely an interesting scenario. 🙂 Regardless, I wound up working for WooThemes on WooCommerce and now for Automattic, so at least I went in the right direction.
One word that best describes how you work?
Manic.
Current Mobile Device/Why
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – I don’t remember anything unless I physically write it down, but carrying around a bunch of paper isn’t easy to remember, either. So, I have both the Note 4 and the Note 10.1, that way I can write down all my to-dos and grocery lists, have them sync to the cloud, and only forget half the things.
Current Computer/Why
So, so many. Almost all of my work is done on a MacBook Pro 13″, which I plug into a Thunderbolt monitor for day-to-day, desktop style use. It’s great being able to be mobile with that. I do also have a Windows tower (a monster of a PC, really) which is built for high resolution video editing. Conveniently, it’s a gaming PC, too. Finally, I have a Windows 7 Home Theater PC/Gamebox, which can run most older games just as well as a PS4/Xbox One, so it’s a little entertainment center.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Chrome for browsing. Postbox for mail. Evernote for note taking. Sublime Text for coding. Mau/Markdown Pad for writing.
What’s your workspace setup like?
A white desktop, with a white-ish computer, a white stand, and a ton of black accessories… Also, with daylight balanced LED bulbs as lighting. It would look super futuristic if nerd gear and clutter weren’t everywhere.
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
Hah! That’s a good one, I don’t have any. 🙂
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
Either writing it down (with a pen!) on a blank flash card or scrap paper or doing the same thing in a handwritten Evernote note. Other than that, I don’t have a to-do list.
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without?
A TV, I guess? Aside from a phone, computer, TV, microwave, and fridge, there aren’t many electronics I like. Do guns count as gadgets?
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Cat wrangling. They’re psychotic, but I love them.
What do you listen to while working?
A pretty diverse soundtrack, I guess. Country is a go-to, but also some rap, R&B, some pop. Audiobooks, too, and very rarely a podcast.
What do you do to stay inspired?
Chug a Red Bull and remember that life is no fun when you don’t have a steady paycheck.
What are you currently reading?
<
2D6 – it's part of a series called Caverns and Creatures. Great if you're super nerdy, not so much otherwise.
What sort of work are you up to now?
WooCommerce, WooCommerce, WooCommerce. The occasional WooCommerce, and actually sometimes just WordPress. Outside of the computer, I’m a pistol instructor.
What’s your sleep routine like?
Terrible ever since I was a kid.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“It’s only a failure when you say it is.”
Any other tidbits you think might interest attendees?
I once worked at Hollister when I was in high school, so… Ya know. Look forward to my model-good looks. 🙂
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see ????? answer these same questions…
Harrison Ford. Can we get Harrison Ford on the line? I could use a boost in the filmmaking area.
Speaker Interview: Joe Querin
Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.
Name
Joe Querin
Location
Lorain, OH
Current Gig
Full-Time: Web Development Coordinator | On-the-side: Web Design/Development Consultant
Career Summary
I work full-time for Lorain County Community College for the last 17+ years. I have also been doing freelance consulting for web design and development through my own company for the past 14 years.
One word that best describes how you work?
Creative
Current Mobile Device/Why
Devices: iPhone 6s+ and iPad | Why: While I’m a PC guy by budget, I liked the variety of apps available for in the Apple store. The intuitiveness of the iOS and devices attracted me as well. The others just don’t seem to be as polished as the Apple devices.
Current Computer/Why
Dell Desktop, Dell Laptop and OS X desktop (Full-time gig) | HP PC at home. At my full-time gig, we’re a Windows shop thru-and-thru. At home my PC is what I could afford, plus I grew up on PCs and can take them apart and fix them as well.
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Photoshop, Illustrator, Brackets, Chrome, Gulp
What’s your workspace setup like?
PC Desktop (full-time gig and home) – Windows 7 Pro, twin widescreen 19″, corded keyboard and mouse. Laptop – 17″ (9-year old beast, soon to be replaced by a new 17″). Full-time gig Mac Desktop 24″ wide screen monitor
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
Writing things down, whether digitally or on paper. I vary between my phone/iPad and a notebook to keep track of things.
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
Google Calendar, Iphone To-do list
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?
Any one of the number of power tools I’ve amassed for either maintaining my home or building things at home. After building digitally all day, I enjoy relaxing on my weekends by building/fixing things with my hands.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
My wife says I’m the master shaker, because I always shake everything up, including milk. Who doesn’t?
What do you listen to while working?
I listen to a range of music. Mostly either Spotify playlists of favorite/new music, or if I’m deep in coding or server setup, then it’s orchestra instrumentals either of video game soundtracks or from various artists. Mostly been rocking Halo soundtracks lately.
What do you do to stay inspired?
Keep an eye on twitter, as well as perusing Dribbble, Smashing Magazine, etc. I also try to take a break and look around me throughout the day. It’s amazing how a printed advertisement, sign, cloud formation or something in nature can inspire you.
What are you currently reading?
Anything and everything. Blog articles on Graphic/Web Design, Web Development, Server Architecture, Cookbooks, the Bible.
What sort of work are you up to now?
Massive overhaul all of our current web sites to WordPress at my full-time gig, as well architecting and building out new infrastructure for our new WordPress based websites. In my spare time I help local small businesses with their web presence. I also assist my wife with her photography business.
What’s your sleep routine like?
Sleep??? Chronic pain doesn’t allow much sleep, though being a parent doesn’t help either. Though most nights I end up falling asleep on the couch easier than going to bed.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Words from my Dad, “Consider the source and ignore it”. These 6 words have been repeated in my mind many times over the years.>
Speaker Interview: Jessica Garbarino
Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.
Name
Jessica Garbarino
Location
Lake Worth, FL
Current Gig
Accountant by day, Content Creator by night
Career Summary
15+ years in Accounting; also taught accounting classes part-time at night
One word that best describes how you work?
Proactive
Current Mobile Device/Why
iPhone – had one since 2008
Current Computer/Why
Mac Book Pro – just came back to Mac after a 20 year hiatus. I needed it for the creative content I was creating
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Airline apps, social media, banking apps
What’s your workspace setup like?
A corner desk in what should be the dining room in my apartment
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
TSA PreCheck – it’s given me back hours of my life<
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
Tackle some of the easy stuff first to get some quick wins before tackling the harder items
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?
Heart rate monitor – training for another race
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Connecting with people – I have been told I have mad networking skills
What do you listen to while working?
Podcasts – all day long
What do you do to stay inspired?
Visit the beach – it’s the place I go to recharge my creative juices
What are you currently reading?
You Only Live Once
What sort of work are you up to now?
Building my personal finance business to help single women reach their financial goals<
What’s your sleep routine like?
Try to get 6-7 hours of sleep a night.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t believe everything you hear or read
Any other tidbits you think might interest attendees?
In March 2015 I became completely debt free – I paid off $56K of debt
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see ????? answer these same questions
Elon Musk
Speaker Interview: Shelby Elliott
Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.
Name
Shelby Elliott
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Current Gig
Business owner / web designer
One word that best describes how you work?
Resourcefully
Current Mobile Device/Why
Droid Turbo 2 / Insane battery life, great camera, 64 GB storage
Current Computer/Why
Lenovo LaVie Z 360 / Super lightweight, touch screen, full screen rotation
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Photoshop, WordPress (obviously), JetPack, Simple Custom CSS, Manage WP, Calendly, 17Hats
What’s your workspace setup like?
It varies from day to day, usually most productive though while sitting at my awesome (thrifted) bamboo table & refinished sunshiney yellow chairs in my dining room. 🙂
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
SnagIt videos screen capture videos for client tutorials or troubleshooting steps instead of trying to explain steps via email.
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
Still figuring this one out…
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?
Chromecast
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Bargain hunting
What do you listen to while working?
Indie Pop, Motown, or Big Beat 🙂 – I’m all over the map!
What do you do to stay inspired?
Spend time with other creatives or do home projects
What are you currently reading?
Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown
What’s your sleep routine like?
Usually 10:30-6:30 (Not by choice, my 2 year old is an early riser!)
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Real life is lived in seasons of investment, not in moments of perfection.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see ????? answer these same questions
Eats You Can Walk To With Your Feets
WordCamp Northeast Ohio is truly a national event, drawing people from distant lands like Los Angeles and Atlanta. Some are even coming from as far away as Pittsburgh and Michigan. Whether you’re coming from near or far, we want to make sure you find a great place to eat lunch on Saturday. To that end, here’s a rundown of some great local institutions that are a quick walk from our venue.
Ray’s Place
- American/Bar/Pub Food
- 4.5/5 rating on 182 reviews
- 0. 2 Miles, 4 minutes walking
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Franklin Square Deli
- Classic Deli Sandwich Shop
- 4.5/5 rating on 46 reviews
- 0.2 Miles, 3 minutes walking
Pufferbelly Ltd.
- American Cuisine
- Restaurant is housed in a former train depot overlooking the Cuyahoga River
- 4/5 rating on 121 reviews
- 0.2 Miles, 3 minutes walking
Wild Goats Café
- Breakfast and Lunch
- 4/5 rating on 62 reviews
- 0.4 Miles, 7 minutes walking
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Taco Tanto’s
- Mexican / Mexican Fusion
- 4.5/5 rating on 39 reviews
- 0. 2 Miles, 4 minutes walking
Bar 145
- Upscale Pub Food
- 3.5/5 rating on 109 reviews
- 394 feet from venue
Bricco
- Modern Italian Cuisine
- 4/5 rating on 52 reviews
- 13 feet from the venue
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Twisted Meltz
- Gourmet grilled cheese and craft beer
- 4.5/5 rating on 28 reviews
- 0. 1 Miles, 2 minutes walking
Swenson’s (Special Mention)
- 2.4 Miles, 6 minutes by car
- Classic Drive-Up Burger Joint
- LeBron’s hometown favorite and an Akron tradition since 1926.
- A Galley Boy, Potato Teasers and a Peanut Butter milkshake will make your trip.
- 4.5/5 rating on 97 reviews
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Mike’s Place (Special Mention)
- Very unique décor, from the X-Wing out front to the different themed rooms you can dine in.
- Gigantic, inventive menu spanning most types of food- they sell them as collectibles.
- 4/5 rating on 212 reviews
- 1.4 miles, 5 minutes by car
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Lastly, if you’re looking for something a bit more nation-wide, we have a few great chains just around the corner.
-
Five Guys
-
Chipotle
-
Buffalo Wild Wings
Venue, Parking, Registration & More…
Hard to believe WordCamp Northeast Ohio is just days away, Saturday, June 11th!
In order to ensure your weekend goes as smooth as possible, we’re sharing all the nitty gritty details before you get there…
VENUE
Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center
215 South Depeyster Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Phone: 855-353-4031 or 330-346-0100
Enter the venue from the front (Main Entrance) or rear of the building. WordCamp Sessions will be located on the first floor in the rear Conference Center rooms.
For more info on our venue, or to reserve a last minute room, check out our previous post.
PARKING
We recommend parking at the Kent Central Gateway Parking Deck located across from the hotel & conference center on South Depeyster Street
$10 Total – for Registered Hotel Guests
(in-and-out privileges all weekend)
$5 per/day – for Non-Registered Guests (no in-and-out privileges)
Click here for additional parking locations & details.
REGISTRATION
Saturday & Sunday at 8 AM
Registration tables will be located on the first floor at the rear of the conference center just outside our session rooms.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Breakfast: Bagels, cream cheese and muffins
Lunch: 12:00-1:30 each day
– Saturday: Stretch your legs and visit one of the nearby restaurants in downtown Kent
– Sunday: Taco bar at the venue
Coffee, tea, and Coke products will be available throughout the weekend!
ATTIRE
WordCamps are casual events. Dress comfortably and plan for air conditioning indoors and humid/low 80’s with possible thunderstorms outside.
AFTER PARTY
Saturday 6PM
Kent Lanes – 11th Frame
1524 S Water St, Kent, OH 44240
(330) 673-1448
Be sure to checkout our recent post for more After Party details.
TICKETS
Tickets are still available. If you haven’t bought yours yet, get one today!
For more information on what to expect if this is your first WordCamp, check out our earlier post.
Pack Your Bags for WordCamp Northeast Ohio (No Tent Needed!)
If you’re new to WordCamp, or just visiting from outside the area, you may wonder what to bring to WordCamp Northeast Ohio. Here’s the things we most recommend you include when packing.
Umbrella – Northeast Ohio can have some pretty unpredictable weather and this weekend is no exception! You can expect some scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast, so come prepared.
The venue is walking distance from the downtown area, so you’ll want to stay dry, especially on your stroll to lunch Saturday afternoon. We’re expecting temps in the low-to-mid 80’s with some humidity as well, but fear not, our venue is air-conditioned! (Unfortunately, outside is not.)
Pen and Notepad – Unless you have an eidetic memory, you’ll most likely want to take some notes. And with our fantastic lineup of speakers, you’ll certainly want to capture a lot of their thoughts and inspirations as you go!
Laptop (optional) – If the machine is mightier than the sword (or pen) for you, then we recommend you bring a laptop to capture whatever inspires you most. Plus, you’ll have the advantage of looking things up on the fly (and if the opportunity arises, sharing your code or site). We’ll have free WIFI and charging stations at the venue, so you can recharge and limit your personal data usage during your stay, too.
VPN (optional) – If you’re suspicious about using the WIFI at our venue, we won’t judge you. Feel free to tap into your own secured VPN (Virtual Private Network) during the event. A VPN is inexpensive, and gives you the added security a public WIFI just can’t deliver alone.
Mobile Phone/Smart Watches – We encourage you to Tweet, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Slack and do whatever else it is you do these days to stay connected (#WCNEO). We just ask that you do it quietly, and keep your devices silenced during all presentations (because interrupting our awesome speakers with your social media shenanigans is just not cool!)
Device Chargers – We’ll supply the power at our charging stations, but come prepared with your own cables. Also, realize tech can be unreliable, so it never hurts to carry a travel charger or battery backup source. (Sharing your personal power source is a great way to connect with new friends, too).
Your Curiosity – Get the most bang for your buck and come prepared to ask questions. You’ll have access to great WordPress community resources during WordCamp Northeast Ohio, all touting a variety of skills and experiences to interest you.
And keep in mind, like at all WordCamps, our speakers, volunteers and organizers are donating their personal time and expertise to you. They pay all their own travel expenses and present to you for free.
So, take advantage and make the most of their time and yours, by picking their brains about all things WordPress while you’re there!
We look forward to seeing you soon.
If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, there’s still time to buy your ticket now!