Presented in Beach.

After years of general fatigue, a myriad of tests without an answer, a catheter was inserted through my hip eventually winding its way to my heart, discovering two blocked arteries. After successfully re-opening them, I set out on difficult cardio-rehabilitation to regain heart fitness. During the next three months (including a leave of absence from work), I set out to restore my physical, spiritual and emotional well being. This speech details a 3-month journey of rediscovery the things that nourish and nurture each of these three areas — a thirst for learning, unearthing my dormant creativity and all things WordPress.

I set out to become more mindful of the things that bring me positive energy including truly engaging in the Community — 4 WordCamps, 16+ WordPress Meetups and Events, designed a Wapuu, and a website build/brand to give back. From Castaic north to Palmdale (northernmost Los Angeles County), east to Riverside and all ports of call in-between (Pasadena, Whittier, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles) learn what makes good clubs while finding a network of common minds and colorful characters and gain inspiration to start the WordPress Santa Clarita Valley Meetup, over 8,000 Miles later.

In this presentation, you’ll learn:

• What are the benefits of attending WordCamp?
• Why join a WordPress Slack Channel?
• Why volunteer to help at a WordCamp (experience being on both sides of the table)?
• What is a WordPress Meetup?
• What are the ‘five rules’ of hosting a WP Meetup?
• How to get started? From visiting your local WordPress Meetup to even starting your own.
• How to harness the energy from attending a WordCamp in your WP Meetups?
• What are the benefits of attending a WordPress Meetup?
• What is WordPress.tv?
• What are my favorite WordPress podcasts?
• Who are the faces of WordPress Community?
• Learning resources – Codex, videos and more.
• Why would I do something so crazy (deal with LA traffic)?
• My takeaways or goals (get better at WordPress, start a local Meetup, etc)

Presented by Toren Ajk in Discussion.

What is AMP and why should you care about it? This presentation will give an overview of the AMP specifications and what are the benefits. This will include case study examples. Next I’ll discuss the challenges of implementing AMP, AMP and Gutenberg, and AMP plugins and page builders.

Presented by Rory Heaney in Workshops.

Setting up your own custom site with ACF and Twig (Timber), we’ll explore how to effectively execute custom development and prototyping.

At the end of this workshop, you’ll have the confidence to enhance your personal development and hopefully take the next steps into a broader understanding of just how much you can accomplish on your own!

Let’s do this!

Presented by Chris Lema in Workshops.

In this workshop we’ll cover everything from how to get your store configured, to the tips and tricks for making it findable and how you can bring traffic to it. We’ll talk about the various things you can do to optimize it for speed and performance, and cover what integrations may make the most sense.

Presented by Robert W. Price in Venture.

Building Membership Communities with WordPress.

Presented by Nathan Ingram, Samantha Zehngut in Beach.

Has a client ever wasted your time in a consulting session? Ever had a one-hour consultation turn into 3? Have you experienced the sinking feeling that comes when you leave the consultation and realize you failed to ask a key question? This talk provides answers to these issues and more. Attendees will leave with a clear, memorable outline to manage the client consultation.

Presented in Beach, Discussion, Venture, Workshops.

Presented by Devin Sears in Venture.

Giving you the knowledge to make an educated choice in choosing a host. We’ll explore the different pieces of the hosting puzzle so you can make the best decisions for your site.

Presented by Saied Abbasi in Venture.

We’ve all been there. Your site looks beautiful on mobile, tablet, and desktop but 768 pixels to 900 pixels is a disaster. Creating a truly responsive website experience goes beyond using bootstrap. Front-end Developers consistently find themselves creating elaborate sets of media queries that are time consuming to create and difficult to maintain.

This talk will explore browser-compatible innovations in CSS that you should start employing in place of media queries. The end result will save time and create more adaptive web experiences.

We will walkthrough practical use cases for the calc() function, Flexbox, and CSS Grid.

Presented by Jessi Gurr in Discussion.

This talk is geared towards freelancers who are ready to “grow up” and join the dog-eat-dog world of running a successful website design or marketing agency. We will cover some of the basics of incorporating a business, and give some tips and advice for freelancers with the entrepreneur bug. A quick rundown of what will be in the speech:

• What type of business do I start? LLC, S-Corp, Corp – what’s the difference?
• Renting office space: what to look for and questions to ask your landlord.
• Funding: how much does it cost to start a business, and how do I secure funding?
• Employees: How to find quality employees, and how to determine pay rates.
• Business Planning, Goal Setting, and Processes: how to set your new business up for success.

If in a discussion setting, freelancers will have the opportunity to briefly describe their current situation. We’ll have full worksheets to help establish goals and a plan, and I will talk about my own experience starting a business. Iceberg grew from 2 employees in a basement to a full staff of 7 full-time employees (and an office dog) in less than two years.

Presented by John Hawkins in Venture.

In this session, I’ll be showing a handful of page editors and how you can use them to build beautiful page layouts quickly and easily without writing a line of code.

Presented by Erik Mathy in Venture.

WordPress sites are being asked to do more and more complex tasks. What used to be purely a blogging platform is now being used for e-commerce, breaking news, online magazine publishing and more. The question arises, after a site is released, how do we insure that new features don’t break existing features? Further, how do we make sure that new processes don’t make development too cumbersome? Enter Behat, a behavior driven testing framework and it’s WordPress specific implementation: WordHat. Using simple, story driven language, Behat makes writing tests simple. I’ll talk about how WordHat can be used to implement simple functional automated testing on your complex WordPress sites.

Presented by Brenner Adams in Beach.

How to leverage some of the most popular video game design principles to drive more engagement for your WordPress Blog or ecommerce site. Learn the basics of Status, Access, Power, and Stuff in order to find unique ways to implement these human behavior principles into your customer engagement strategy.

Presented by Andrew Norcross in Beach.

A sort of 101 on what General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) means for developers (and site owners), and how to approach certain aspects of it.

Presented by Jared De Jong, Tim Heggem, Leo Postovoit, Sam Jadali, Andrew Norcross in Discussion.

A panel on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what it means to you.

Presented by Eric Debelak in Venture.

So you’ve probably heard about Gutenberg, but how do you start building your own Gutenberg blocks? We’ll cover tooling and the basics to create simple blocks. I’ll also walk through a simple example to help attendees feel comfortable enough to get started.

Presented by Michelle Rodriguez in Workshops.

It can feel intimidating changing careers and learning a completely new thing. Let us provide a place of support and empowerment. Are you just starting out with learning to code? Have you been working in the field for awhile and looking to lend a helping hand to those on their way up?

Then come on out to Girl Develop It’s mentoring workshop, nicely hosted by WordCamp Orange County. You’ll get a chance to meet others just like you, learn more about our classes and our mission, and see if any of our classes might be a great fit for you.

We’ll start with some general info about our mission to help underrepresented groups develop the skills they need to get great tech jobs, and we’ll break up into smaller groups to have smaller discussions with mentors who are already working in the tech field. This is your chance to figure out what to do next, what skills you need to work on, and what you really need to land the job you want!

Presented by Bernard Ablola in Discussion.

Bernard will teach you how to:

• Generate Multiple Streams of B2B Leads
• Ethically Spy on Marketing Strategies of Your Competitors
• Leverage WordPress to create a killer landing page
• Leverage Linkedin and Email Marketing to Leads
• Stay Top of Mind with Very Little Advertising Budget”

Presented by Mikel Bruce in Venture.

What if getting more good clients for your business was as simple as casting a spell? Mikel Bruce, CEO of TinyFrog Technologies, will share proven marketing and sales tips on how to conjure up & charm more ideal clients for your business… and how to elude those evil projects that drain your resources & time.

Presented by Tim Strifler, David Blackmon in Discussion.

WordPress is the most popular website platform on the planet, and a big reason for that in part is due to the large ecosystem of both paid and premium plugins and themes. If you’re looking to start building products for WordPress, there are a few things to consider before entering the already highly saturated marketplace. How do you gain users for your WordPress product while being able to make money? How do you find time to concentrate on adding new features or creating new products? How do you keep yourself from drowning in support queries? These and other questions will be answered by two expert WordPress product developers, David Blackmon (of Aspen Grove Studios & Divi Space) and Tim Strifler (of Tim Strifler Online Solutions & Divi Life). Join David and Tim as they share practical advice for anyone looking to start and scale a WordPress product company.

Presented by Jennifer Brueske in Venture.

How to find reputable plugins to enhance your WordPress without breaking your site. Also discuss security and why using outdated plugins may cause vulnerabilities.

Presented by Jan Cavan Boulas in Beach.

The path one should take in life shouldn’t be the obvious one. Do not plan your career meticulously, but instead, take calculated risks that have bigger upside potential than the size of the downside risk. Most importantly, give back and put faith in relationships with people that have helped develop you.

In this talk, I will be sharing with you my story on how I started out as a struggling young designer living in the Philippines, scouring the Web for jobs. I eventually found blogging in 2007 which opened up a multitude of new and exciting opportunities for me including a move to the USA.

Presented by Chris Ford in Beach.

For the past eleven months, Chris has been working on refining the project management system at Reaktiv Studios.In this talk she’ll share how our team’s project onboarding checklists, Asana templates, Freckle time tracking budgets and reports, Harvest Forecasting tools are used to eliminate repetitive tasks, giving them more time to focus on doing what they do best: bringing out clients biggest ideas to light.

Presented in Beach.

Take your Google Analytics knowledge to the next level in this intermediate session that covers beyond-basic tactics including: Event & conversion tracking, custom reports, custom segments, custom dashboards, secondary dimensions, filters, referral spam, self-referral issues, and cross-domain tracking.

Presented by Gary Johnson in Discussion.

Stop showing up and throwing up to networking events… it doesn’t get business, it wastes your time. Whether you are an Introvert or Extrovert, Gary Johnson’s techniques will show you how to network effectively so that you’ll never waste time at a networking event again.

Presented by Mike Karikas in Venture.

Have an idea for a plugin that you don’t want in the WordPress plugins directory?  Maybe it’s a plugin you’re selling, something just for clients, or it uses an interesting license.  In this session we’ll explore how to gain the same benefits of the WordPress plugin directory, like providing automatic updates, by building your own plugin server – just like successful commercial plugins do.  Welcome to the world of “Off-Grid Plugins”.  Get ready to code!

Presented in Beach.

Our forth annual plugin competition. Watch teams talk about how they developed their plugin and why. Who will walk away with the prizes as the winners of Plugin-A-Palooza 2018???

Presented by Drew Wilde, Jessi Gurr, Jamie Schmid in Workshops.

Project Management in three different styles. From corporate process to freelance teams the level of project management you bring to bear is going to vary. However, the core principals are going to remain the same.

Presented by Yvonne Conway-Williams in Beach.

Ransomware is like that troll under the bridge: even if you pay the toll you or your data might still get eaten. With the high price of getting your information resurrected, this is one encounter you simply want to avoid. Instead, take the initiative to level up your risk mitigation skills. After experiencing this presentation you’ll always roll with advantage versus ransomware.

Presented by Aaron Holbrook in Beach.

Here at Zeek Interactive, I’ve put together a system that allows us to deploy code worry-free. The system automatically brings in PHP dependencies, WordPress plugins, builds assets, runs security scans, deploys the files quickly and performs automated visual regression tests, all while keeping the team informed via Slack on the status of the deploy.

This talk is recommended for anyone who has ever had to get code from their local machine and push it to a server. If you have ever been frustrated or annoyed at deploying code and wondered if there was a better way, don’t miss this talk.

Presented by Jamie Schmid in Venture.

Ecommerce sites are super easy to underestimate. WordPress’ notoriously low barrier to entry may trick you into thinking that developing an ecommerce site would be a piece of cake – but even in WordPress, it’s anything but. First time ecommerce site builders will find that the tasks seem endless, and become more and more complex as you unearth them. Compounding this, is the growing importance of website security. If you’re processing payments online and collecting customers’ personal data, it becomes utterly critical. In fact, ecommerce security is a step you absolutely cannot skip.

In this talk, we will cover security basics, along with ecommerce specific considerations, including securing transactions, navigating confusing PCI compliance laws, and understanding penalties that are sure to inspire some serious discussion in your projects. We’ll follow a transaction from start to end, examining the potential vulnerability points along the way and how to address them. Running an online business is a big challenge any way you slice it, and many clients don’t realize that they are only one hacked account away from financial ruin — ensuring their site is fully locked down is one less thing to worry about.

Presented by Alicia St. Rose in Venture.

Every Hero Needs a Sidekick…er Sidebar!

Often forgotten, misused or relegated to billboard status for flashy ads, the Sidebar needs to be given the respect it deserves. Sure, the primary content is the big cheese, but have you ever seen a reliable “Call to Action” button stuffed in the middle of the main content. How about that impressive testimonial from your last client? Or your current Kickstarter campaign widget? Eventbrite event widget? Instagram feed? The Sidebar has an infinite array of uses and can look like anything and show up strategically or everywhere on your site. It can play a vital part in your overall Information Architecture and all nature of plugins provide their own nifty Widgets for the sidebar. In this session, we’ll go over everything you need to know to maximize your Sidebars, including what to show in them, helpful plugins and how to create new custom ones for your own specific use.

I’ll show you that you should never neglect your sidekick, the Sidebar, if you want to be a Hero online!

Presented by Steve Zehngut in Beach.

Description coming soon.

Presented by Bob Watson in Workshops.

Social Media Mastermind Orange County (SMMOC) was founded by Bob Watson in May 2009. SMMOC is a facilitated discussion group providing a safe* environment to share and learn social media, technology and the Internet. Come ready to listen and participate!

From our beginnings when we met at Peets coffee in San Clemente we have grown to a solid base of over 900 members worldwide and our meetings are now primarily held at The Vine, located at 5151 California street, Irvine in the University Research Park (California and Bison).

Our format is simple; no questions is a dumb question, no pitching of products or services, we have one conversation at a time, and we are an “acronym-free zone”.

Presented by Aaron Campbell in Venture.

The internet is the single most effective information sharing tool in all of history. We can build on the work and progress of others in a completely unprecedented way. The implications for the progress of humanity are both serious and exciting!

But it’s also in danger. Find out why Aaron thinks open systems and the open web will steer our future or how the lack of them will ruin it.

Presented by Amber Hewitt, Jennifer Bourn in Workshops.

Typography is the art and technique of arranging type for legibility, readability, and beauty. While it sounds simple, like just choosing a font or two, there are typography rules, best practices, and subtle tricks professional designers know that elevates their work to a higher level. In this session, learn everything you need to know to master typography like a pro, including designer secrets to nail the little details of spectacular type for your WordPress site.

Presented in Venture.

This talk will provide an overview of web accessibility standards and will demonstrate how to use existing tools to ensure your themes, plugins, and content are compliant with those standards. This talk is designed for WordPress developers of all skill levels who want the sites they create and manage to be as accessible as possible. Topics will include: Selling your clients (and yourself) on web accessibility, an introduction to WordPress accessibility guidelines for theme and plugin developers, an overview of manual and automated accessibility testing tools, common accessibility pitfalls to avoid, and where to learn more about web accessibility tools and standards.

Presented by Kitty Lusby in Venture.

Words move the world. It is words that start wars and words that end them. Our words are the foundation for new friendship, the spark that lights a romantic fire, and the inspiration to change our lives for the better.

Most of the time, though, words are just more noise. Whether you’re a content marketer trying to use WordPress to build your small business, a volunteer helping your favorite nonprofit gain momentum, or a budding revolutionary using your voice to move mountains, you’ve got to learn how to write persuasively if you’re going to accomplish anything. In this session, we’ll talk about how to do that.