WordCamp Is What You Make It: 2024 Edition

This year’s WordCamp in Portland was an enriching experience filled with all the things that make WordCamp unique: hallway chats, new connections, and memorable moments. As I’ve learned over the years, WordCamp is what you make of it—an event shaped by your goals and what you’re seeking. This year brought me a mix of good laughs, inspiring sessions, and a deeper appreciation for the WordPress community. Here’s a look back at what made WordCamp 2024 one for the books.

A Venue That Delivered

This year’s venue was top-notch, easy to navigate, and had plenty of large spaces to meet and chat with fellow WordPressers. Portland, as always, added to the experience. I’ve been visiting Portland for nearly two decades and have always been aware of the city’s significant number of people experiencing homelessness. While I felt cautious, as I do in all cities, traveling with a group helped ease any concern. TriMet became our go-to during the day, while Uber was perfect for evenings, and every driver was fantastic.

The People You Meet

One of the best parts of WordCamp was finally meeting people I had only interacted with online. It was particularly special meeting members of WebCami Cafe, my small Facebook group for web designers. Connecting with them in person made the event so much more meaningful. It was like experiencing WordCamp with old friends I knew so well through chats. I also had the pleasure of meeting so many Twitter friends. Despite Twitter’s current state, I stick around for these wonderful folks.

Highlights from the Sessions

The sessions were inspiring this year. I thought the Showcase Day was a nice add!

• I particularly enjoyed learning how The New York Post uses the block editor. While their content might not always be my cup of tea, their approach to the editor was inspirational.
• Michelle Frechette’s talk on customer service was fantastic. As a one-person operation, her tips were practical and immediately applicable. One big takeaway? Stop apologizing all the time. Thank you, Michelle! I’m excited to put my pom-poms on my skates. (SLIDES)
• Carrie Dils, whom I’ve admired throughout my career, gave a highly insightful talk about creating a course. I’ve had this on my list for 2025, and her advice will be front of mind when I start planning.

Cherishing Friendships

Spending time with dear friends was a highlight of WordCamp. Since Bob Dunn moved to Portugal, I treasure every moment I get to spend with him (missed you, Judy!). WordCamp also allowed me to catch up with Nathan Wrigley, Mark Westguard, and his wife, Casey. The WS Form party was unforgettable—rooftop views, fantastic food, and even better conversations. It was an honor to be included.

A special shoutout to Bud Kraus for inviting Ann Marie and me to one of the best vegan dinners I’ve ever had. We met new friends at the table, and I loved hearing about their experiences traveling to WordCamp Europe and Asia.

My GoDaddy Family

GoDaddy always feels like home base at WordCamps, and their staff party was a highlight. I had great conversations with their team and met some new faces. As always, the swag, especially from ManageWP, didn’t disappoint. Thanks again, Predrag!

Having Adam Warner bring his family along was a real joy. It reminded me how WordPress has brought treasured friendships into my life. Even if our time together was brief, catching up with the GoDaddy crew made me incredibly grateful.

Dam Good Times with Beaver Builder

The Beaver Builder team never disappoints. Ann Marie and I had excellent conversations at their booth with fellow designers who love the tool just as much as we do. My clients adore Beaver Builder, which is why it remains my favorite tool for building websites.

We had a blast hanging out with them at the StellarWP party, too. Beaver Builder’s team operates like a family, and it’s a pleasure to support them and never a dull moment spending time with them.

A Fun Detour: Nike’s Corporate Store

One unexpected highlight of the trip was our excursion to Nike’s corporate store. As conference attendees, we were invited to shop with a 40% discount—an offer I couldn’t resist! Although they didn’t have the specific shoes I was looking for, that didn’t stop me from doing some serious damage with the discount. The drive there was a lot of fun, and I want to extend a big thanks to the organizers for arranging this perk for all of us.

A Cozy Stay

Staying with my dear friends Ann Marie and Michelle was a huge plus this year. Our downtime was just as enjoyable as the event. We ate some fantastic meals, visited Voodoo Doughnuts, and made a run to Powell’s Books. Michelle and I stopped at a great dive bar called Quality Bar and explored several hotels along the way. Special thanks to Ann Marie’s mom for letting us stay at her timeshare.

Thoughtful Touches and Special Moments

The sponsor area was centrally located, and the booths and swag were some of the best I’ve seen at a WordCamp. I also want to highlight the memorial for those we’ve lost, especially my dear friend Jocelyn Mozak, who passed away in March. The organizers did an excellent job, and I’m deeply grateful for the tribute.

Having worked the sponsor booths in past WordCamps, I know firsthand how hard those teams work. The exhaustion after teardown and the joy of connecting with users are memories that stick with me. This year, Michelle won a PS5 from WPEngine, a huge highlight for our group.

Seeing old friends like Sandy and Chris Edwards, the Yoast team, and so many from StellarWP brought me so much happiness. There were many I only had a passing moment with (Jennifer Bourn) but we have next year to look forward to!

The Q&A—A Mixed Bag

I didn’t attend Matt’s Q&A live, but I caught the stream with my friends. The tone of the session surprised us. As an independent business owner, I’m somewhat removed from the larger WordPress ecosystem’s internal drama, but it felt like there was more to the story than what was shared. While I’ve never had a client confuse WP Engine with WordPress.org, many have confused WordPress.com with WordPress.org.

As I watched, my thoughts turned to the sponsor booth teams. I know how tough it can be to represent your company at such an event, and my heart broke a little for anyone who might have felt the weight of that conversation, especially newer employees representing their companies for the first time.

The comment about Canada didn’t sit well with me either. Referring to Canada as a vassal state felt unnecessary. Having spoken at WordCamp Vancouver, I can confidently say Canada is second to no one. (And thanks for the Canadian chocolate, Shanta!)

That said, I want to take a moment to express how grateful I am to Matt Mullenweg for creating WordPress. The platform has given me the tools to build my business and connect with an incredible community. However, I was disappointed with how concerns about venture capital, WP Engine, and contributions were addressed during the Q&A. While I agree that contributions are important, the way this message was delivered felt off, especially for those of us who aren’t directly involved with these bigger entities or may not have the resources to contribute in the same way.

Reflecting on Contributions

My contributions to WordPress haven’t always followed the traditional route, but I’m proud of them nonetheless. I’ve volunteered at WordCamp Seattle, co-taught a WordPress Meetup for years, and attended a Contributor Day, but I haven’t found a specific team that fits me yet. But I’m open to exploring more.

As a solopreneur, I take pride in introducing small business owners and organizations to WordPress and building community among web designers. Those contributions matter. I believe that the free plugin providers and other deserve their fair share of recognition, too. Just as there are many ways to use WordPress, there are many ways to give back.

Eager for the Encore: WordCamp 2025, Here We Come!

Despite the Q&A buzzkill, I refuse to let it overshadow an incredible WordCamp experience. The organizers and volunteers deserve all the applause for their hard work. The after-party was fun, and this event reaffirmed that I’ve chosen the right career. I could never work on a submarine!

If you are hesitant about attending WordCamp 2025, I urge you to reconsider. Ann Marie, Michelle & I booked our room for next year already. WordCamp is truly what you make of it; for me, it was another unforgettable event!