{"id":8,"date":"2017-11-01T21:30:11","date_gmt":"2017-11-01T21:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2018.calgary.wordcamp.org\/speakers\/"},"modified":"2018-04-26T20:34:10","modified_gmt":"2018-04-27T02:34:10","slug":"speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAurooba Ahmed\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Professionally that means I\u2019m a front-end web developer at Wanderoak, a company I co-founded with my best friend. We work with creative and inspiring businesses striving to make a positive difference in this world. I love my job and am grateful everyday that I have it.<\/p>\n

I strive to create easy to use systems people can use to further their vision in the world.<\/p>\n

Wanderoak<\/a>\u00a0
\n@aurooba<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Brennan\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Kevin Brennan is the owner and operator of Build Studio Inc., a Calgary-based web design and development firm specializing in WordPress.<\/p>\n

Kevin started his career in the non-profit sector, working in marketing and communications. After 8 years, he struck out on his own as a freelance web and graphic designer, building websites for small to medium sized companies. In 2011, as work was pilling up, he started Build Studio. Since then, Kevin and his partners have built websites and brands for companies large and small.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKurt Archer\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tShannon Smith\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Shannon Smith is a platform services specialist with WordPress.com VIP. She delivers content solutions to some of the biggest names in media, marketing, and enterprise. Shannon has over 15 years experience in open source web development. She is a long-time supporter of diversity, accessibility and internationalization, and was a WordPress Montreal community organizer for seven years. Shannon is also a hiker, poet, and mum of four.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCalum Lykan\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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I love to tell stories, it’s my passion and my world. And what I love most is a challenge, give me a theme, a concept an emotion and then give me a second till a story springs to mind.<\/p>\n

That is the best way to tell a tale.<\/p>\n

Life needs breathed into the stories and with each new telling they take flight and form.<\/p>\n

So come along to an event and hear a tale, and just remember if the opportunity is there challenge me or ask as many questions as you like.<\/p>\n

I’ve told stories in a wealth of locations from libraries, schools, community centers, public houses, theaters, festivals, the streets, in distant lands and even in ancient Redwood Forests and loved ever minute of ever experience.<\/p>\n

I was born and raised in Ayrshire in the heart of Burns country growing up surrounded by the stories from this rich and beautiful area. And like the Bard I moved to Edinburgh (not on the back of a donkey but in a Fiat Panda….I reckon he had a smoother ride) to develop as a professional Storyteller and Tour Guide, becoming a regular contributor at such nights as Cafe Voices and The Guid Crack.<\/p>\n

And that wasn’t enough. Early in my career I formed The Burgh Blatherers Group, a development group for new and up and coming storytellers in Edinburgh. The idea was to give the opportunity to test out stories and build confidence telling to groups of people. This group I am happy to say is still running and although I have handed over the running of it, due to a busy schedule and travel, I am still a member and attend meetings whenever possible. <\/p>\n

These days you can find me telling out of Calgary, Alberta all the way over in Canada where I perform at Fringes and local historical events. <\/p>\n

Scottish and Irish folk tales and legends, Norse and Greek myths, tales from Europe, Asia, America are just some of the stories I love to tell.<\/p>\n

Traditional Scottish Folk & Fairy Tales
\nHistorical Tales
\nWhisky Tales
\nRussian Folk and Fairy Tales
\nCeltic Tales
\nNorse Saga\u2019s and Stories
\nGreek & Roman
\nTree stories
\nAnimal stories
\nTales from the Ocean
\nPirate Tales of High Adventure and Skullduggery
\nHalloween Tales
\nGhosts and ghouls
\nChristmas Stories
\nHistorical Walks and Tours
\nGhost Walks and Tours
\nWorkshops <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tChristina Workman\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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When you love WordPress and you love teaching kids, what could be more natural than teaching WordPress to kids?! Christina has been teaching coding to kids as young as 5 for the past few years through Kids Code Force.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDan Stephenson\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Since building his first website in 1997 Dan Stephenson has enjoyed keeping up with the ever changing landscape of digital media ever since. He has been a passionate WordPress developer since he first discovered the project back in version 2.0 (Duke).<\/p>\n

Dan works at SAIT, where he teaches web development in the New Media Production & Design program.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tJoel Klettke\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Joel Klettke is a freelance conversion copywriter and strategist from Calgary, Alberta. He runs Business Casual Copywriting, where he\u2019s helped clients like HubSpot, InsightSquared and WP Engine turn more visitors into customers. He also owns Case Study Buddy, a done-for-you case studies service that helps clients capture and share customer success stories. You can follow him on Twitter @JoelKlettke.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNathan Knowler\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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I am a web developer and designer from Surrey, BC. After moving to Calgary last May, I freelanced before becoming a full stack developer at True Market this past January. I am primarily a WordPress developer, utilizing the Roots.io stack to build powerful WordPress solutions. I also have experience building applications with Laravel and React.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tShawn Hooper\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, Shawn has been building web applications since the late 90s, with a focus on WordPress since 2011. He is the Director of IT at Actionable, a learning and development startup based in Toronto. He is a core contributor to the WordPress open source project, and has spoken at WordPress events in Canada, the United States and Australia. Shawn is the lead organizer of WordCamp Ottawa 2018.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBrian Hogg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Hello! I’m the creator of several free\/premium plugins, author of several courses including Working with WordPress and JavaScript and Plugins for Beginners, former lead organizer of WordCamp Hamilton, and co-host of Between Two Posts. You can find me online for all the things at brianhogg.com <\/a>\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWilliam Jackson\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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William Jackson, M.Ed. graduated from South Carolina State University earning\u00a0a Bachelor\u2019s in Education, furthering his education earning a Masters of Arts\u00a0in Teaching from Webster University a focus on Educational Technology,\u00a0Social Media and STEM.<\/p>\n

William\u2019s career includes teaching with NASA as a Internet and Technology\u00a0instructor, technology consultant with Florida Department of Education,\u00a0Professor with Edward Waters College; Educational Technology, Social\u00a0Media and STEAM.<\/p>\n

Involved in education over 25 years in elementary and higher education\u00a0as a Technology and Physical Education teacher. \u201cCoach Jackson\u201d or\u00a0\u201cProfessor Jackson,\u201d a media blogger, speaker on Cyberbullying prevention,\u00a0STREAM advocate. Is the Social Media Liaison for TEDxFSCJ and\u00a0for the Jacksonville Sister Cities International Exchange. Each requires\u00a0William to monitor, manage and update the Social Media platforms for\u00a0each organization. Provide training in how to manage content respectfully\u00a0to each committee. William is on the Board of Directors as well as a\u00a0consultant for Social Engagement for several non-profit groups in\u00a0Jacksonville, Florida.<\/p>\n

National \/ International blogger published in the United States, Canada
\nand the continent of Africa.
\nThe digital innovator for My Quest To Teach http:\/\/MyQuestToTeach.WordPress.com\/<\/a>
\nInstagram: http:\/\/instagram.com\/williamdjackson<\/a>
\nTwitter: @wmjackson
\nWilliam has spoken at multiple WordCamps from 2017 to 2018.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNathan Ingram\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Nathan is the Host at iThemes Training where he teaches WordPress and freelance business development topics via live webinar.<\/p>\n

He is also the creator of >ADVANCE Coaching, working with WordPress business owners individually and in groups to help them become more successful in their businesses.<\/p>\n

Nathan has been a freelance web developer since 1995, and is based in Birmingham, Alabama where he is the lead organizer of WordCamp Birmingham.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about Nathan at https:\/\/nathaningram.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tChristina Varro\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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For over 15 years, I have worked in web, digital media, and communications. I have also spent nearly a decade running my own business, managing projects for clients, giving creative direction, building websites and crafting digital media solutions using WordPress. I am passionate about sharing my experience and educating others with inspiring and practical advice, to build better websites and run their businesses more efficiently.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMichael Bourne\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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WordPress developer. Beer lover. Travel fanatic.
\nSince creating my first website in the late 90s, I\u2019ve enjoyed the challenge of sharing my knowledge with others while climbing the steep learning curve of web technologies myself. From being a staff member of a 100k+ user webdev forum in the early 2000s, to the present day as an active community member in several WordPress-based groups.
\nMy WordPress experience consist of website and plugin development for many businesses across the world, as well I am a 3-time WordPress repo plugin author. My projects tend to fall into the ecommerce world, so I\u2019ve become quite familiar working with and customizing WooCommerce. I like to create modern, customized websites that are optimised for both speed and conversions.
\nWhen I\u2019m not happily toying with WordPress and WooCommerce in front of a screen, you can still find me enjoying the downtown Calgary food scene with a local brew in hand, or simply flying off for my next adventure.<\/p>\n

Web: https:\/\/ursa6.com<\/a>
\nTwitter: @calgarywebdev<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTom Drake\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Tom Drake<\/a> has been blogging on WordPress for over 9 years at MapleMoney.com<\/a> and now runs multiple blogs with a focus on SEO that has led to over 700,000 pageviews a month. Tom brings together personal finance, travel, parenting, and entrepreneurship bloggers on the Canadian Money Bloggers<\/a> Facebook group and the annual EarnEvents.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLorraine Watson\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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A self-professed \u201cleft-brained creative big picture idea\u201d type (and crazy for cats), Lorraine\u2019s insatiable curiosity of life leads her to explore, question and push beyond the box. She brings a unique perspective blending together logic, intuition, creativity, and analysis.<\/p>\n

Lorraine left behind her role as a business system analyst in the corporate world to work as a consultant, and eventually found herself on an unexpected detour to becoming a holistic practitioner. In the early 2000s, she was drawn back to the world of IT with SEO, websites and online marketing. Not wanting to be part of the less-than-white-hat ways she saw it being used, Lorraine moved on to become a life coach.<\/p>\n

But SEO wouldn\u2019t leave Lorraine alone. In early 2017, she was drawn back into the world of helping people raise their visibility after connecting with those who approached SEO as a vehicle for good, and creating positive experiences – the way she knew it should be done.<\/p>\n

Where most people might see Lorraine’s work as an SEO strategist and life coach being an odd pairing, she views them as complementary skills aligned in the same direction. Both disciplines serve in helping you to understand yourself and your work more clearly, put your best confident self forward, and being found so you can bring your work to the world.<\/p>\n

Connect with Lorraine at these places around the web:
\nWebsite:\u00a0https:\/\/www.trispherefusion.com\/<\/a>
\nTwitter:\u00a0@LorraineEWatson<\/a>
\nLinkedIn:\u00a0LorraineWatson311<\/a>
\nFacebook:\u00a0Lorraine.Watson.311<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":13938967,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9l8d4-8","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13938967"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":695,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions\/695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.wordcamp.org\/2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}