WordCamp Phoenix 2024 was a blast! I really like the WordPress Group in Phoenix, they’re very heat and welcoming and I really feel fortunate to have the ability to attend yearly.

Arriving for WordCamp Phoenix 2024

My quick flight from LA was delayed by one hour attributable to a floor cease in Phoenix because it was raining fairly a bit over there. That didn’t cease me from being excited and completely satisfied to be on my option to the camp.

As I used to be checking within the resort, I bumped into Marcus Burnette from GoDaddy, who was additionally staying on the identical resort. I had not seen Marcus since WordCamp Atlanta final 12 months, so it was good to rapidly catch up.

After I used to be settled in my resort room, I went right down to the foyer to satisfy up with my group, Ericka Barboza and Marco Berrocal. By then, it was already time to move over to Arizona Wildness Brewing Co. the place the speaker-sponsor dinner was being held.

Marcus was within the foyer with Courtney Robertson additionally from GoDaddy. I had by no means met Courtney in individual, however we knew one another from the group’s social media, so we have been formally launched.

Since Marcus and Courtney have been additionally headed to the speaker-sponsor dinner, they provided to share a trip with us.

Speaker-Sponsor Dinner

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. is situated in Downtown Phoenix, in a really occurring space of the town, filled with eating places, bars, and nightlife.

As a result of it was a chilly evening in Phoenix (which is uncommon for this time of the 12 months), the dinner was held within the indoor space. After we walked in, the WordCampers have been already there having drinks and consuming scrumptious tacos.

All of us joined in and had nice conversations with many individuals, together with Perri Collins, who was going to talk on the final day a couple of social media subject.

After we had been having fun with drinks and tacos, Raquel Manriquez, the WordCamp Phoenix 2024 Lead Organizer, went round all of the tables and gave some thank-you presents (cute portray units) to every speaker.

I noticed Matthew Clancy, who was the Lead Organizer final 12 months and we received caught up as effectively. Everybody on this group is so superior!

First Day of Camp

WordCamp Phoenix 2024 was held on the Phoenix School which is likely one of the oldest group faculties within the nation.

Ericka, Marco, and I walked in and received our registration badges. The very first thing we did was to go thank the volunteers for all of the work they do at these camps.

After establishing the sales space, we began speaking to folks and giving out swag. Let the enjoyable start!

I went across the sponsor tables to say hello to the opposite sponsors whom I had identified for some time. That included Chad Beatty with Rocket.web, Chris David Miles with Bluehost, Jen Swisher with Jetpack, and plenty of others.

I additionally met a brand new sponsor I had not seen at different camps, CommercialNoise, led by Bruce Holland. We had a pleasant dialog about their internet hosting companies and what they’re all about.

On Day One, I used to be in a position to attend a number of shows, beginning with “The 2024 Distant Work Survival Information” by Kathy Zant. I’ve identified Kathy since 2019 and it was such a pleasure to take heed to her presentation.

In response to Kathy, it seems like though some main corporations are transferring staff again to places of work, distant work is just not going away. It is a good factor for many individuals, particularly on this group.

One other fascinating presentation I used to be in a position to attend was “AI Crash Course for WordPress Customers” by Keanan Koppenhaver. I really like that he saved saying that AI instruments will nonetheless require human involvement.

After Keanan, Robbie Adair talked about “Utilizing AI To Velocity Up your WordPress Builds”. Appears to be like like AI is of big curiosity within the WordPress group.

Lunchtime

At lunchtime, we loved scrumptious taco bowls within the outside space of the faculty and I had an opportunity to get caught up with Kathy Zant on her new place with Motivations AI. She spoke of how completely satisfied she is to work with nice folks comparable to Chris Lema and Jennifer Bourn whom I’ve identified for some time.

After Day One of many camp was over, Ericka, Marco, and I made a decision to have a relaxed and scrumptious dinner at The Compass which is a well known revolving restaurant situated on the very high ground of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix.

As all the time, the meals was scrumptious as was the wine, and the views of Downtown Phoenix have been superior. It was nice to have the ability to share a particular dinner and personal time with my group.

I reminded them once more how necessary they have been to me and that I couldn’t presumably do my job with out them.

Day Two of Camp

On Day Two of Camp, I additionally was in a position to attend a number of shows.

I watched Alicia St Rose speaking concerning the “The Story of a Customized Publish Sort Misplaced in a Phrase of Pages” and Chris David Miles about “Understanding Your Buyer Utilizing Personas and Empathy Maps”.

I then listed to the fireplace chat of Raquel with Jenny Poon and Odeen Domingo, who based the most important coworking group in Arizona, CO+HOOTS in downtown Phoenix.

Later, I bumped into Jen Miller whom I had not seen shortly and simply began a place with WebDevStudios. It was good to meet up with Jen.

I additionally met up with Wager Hannon with AccessiCart and we talked a couple of potential partnership with GreenGeeks.

All of the shows have been actually fascinating however unexpectedly it was already time for closing remarks! Raquel thanked everybody, particularly the sponsors and the volunteers who’re an integral a part of the camps and so they actually deserved our appreciation.

Marcus Burnette did a giveaway on behalf of GoDaddy for a Nintendo sport and the fortunate winner was Perri Collins who had simply given the final presentation of the day about Social Media.

The After Occasion

The After Occasion was additionally held at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. within the outside heated lined patio of this European-style beer backyard. It was a really chilly however clear night, however the patio heaters and firepit actually helped.

We sat and had drinks with the A2 Internet hosting Workforce after which we had an important dialog about WordCamps with Julia Golomb, a Group Workforce Organizer who lives in Northern California however travels all over the world for camps.

We talked to lots of people that evening, Sadly, it was getting late and we needed to head again to the resort and get some relaxation. It had been two lengthy and busy days and Ericka and Marco have been going to have an extended journey again to Costa Rica the subsequent day.

The following morning, Ericka, Marco, and I met within the foyer for breakfast and for goodbyes.

However wait, it’s not goodbye, it’s goodbye as I’m certain we are going to meet once more at WCUS in Portland in September!

One other WordCamp Phoenix Is within the Books!

An enormous thanks to the organizers, audio system, sponsors, volunteers, and naturally, the Phoenix WordPress group. We love them.

Till subsequent 12 months!