Keynote Address: Michelle Ames

Michelle Ames

We’re pleased to have Michelle Ames here to present this year’s keynote address, “The Care and Feeding of the WordPress Community: Me, You & Us.”

The WordPress community is comprised of people and their relationships with one another and the open source CMS itself. Combined we are a global neighborhood, complete with volunteers, freelancers, employees, a marketplace, and a multitude of opportunities; opportunities for relationships, working, learning, teaching, sharing, volunteering, and more.

At its foundation, its most fundamental part, this neighborhood is built by every individual member. We are each an integral part of this growing, morphing phenomenon, so it is up to us to ensure that it is a robust living organism.

How do we do that?

  • For Myself: by making sure I stay healthy both physically and emotionally
  • For You: by checking in on my friends and coworkers to help where needed
  • For Us: by contributing to the community in thoughtful and deliberate ways

This talk will share ideas to keep us all healthy, learning, and flourishing, for the betterment of ourselves, each other, and the WordPress neighborhood.

About Michelle:

Michelle Frechette Ames
Michelle Frechette Ames

Marketing is a passion for Michelle which is why she completed her MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. Michelle has over twenty years of experience in higher education; ten years owning a web design and marketing company, and currently serves as the Head of Customer Success for Impress.org (makers of bothGiveWP.com and WPBusinessReviews.com).

Michelle is a veteran of public speaking. She’s been an instructor for a wide variety of topics including Using Quantitative Data Analysis Software, Meditative Drawing, Intro to WordPress, and Marketing for Massage Therapy. Michelle speaks at conferences all over North America. You can find many of them recorded on WordPress.tv including “Little Things That Make a Big Difference” and “Hidden Features of WordPress Revealed,” as well as panel discussions on marketing and women in technology.

When Michelle isn’t organizing events, she’s attending them, exploring photography, and mentoring people in her local community.

Michelle is the author “A Good Firm Handshake (and other essential business tips)” available on Amazon.com.

Say hi to Michelle on Twitter at @michelleames and check out her photography at clickhappydesigns.com.

Published by Ben Dunkle

Ben Dunkle is a professor at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY where he serves as Chair of the Department of Communication and teaches digital media courses. Ben is a practicing consultant, offering web design and development, illustration, and training services to business, non-profits, and anyone who needs them. As an artist, he creates prints, paintings, drawings and 3D work; as a designer he makes icons, fonts and custom lettering. Ben has organized and spoken at numerous WordCamps and runs a monthly WordPress users meetup group in Buffalo, NY.

WordCamp Buffalo, New York, USA is over. Check out the next edition!