September 15, 2019 — Starting a software company and building it from the ground up is an appealing option for many. It can be rewarding, but it also comes wrought with many challenges. In this presentation, I will talk about the how we built ServerPress from a concept to the challenges, pitfalls, and successes we’ve experienced along the way.

I’ll cover the ways in which your roadmap evolves as you go from a company of zero customers to a company of over 60,000. Most importantly, I’ll give you a chance to learn from our mistakes when building your own software company.

January 23, 2019 — Some believe that the first thing a Customer Service Representative should do when they are dealing with an issue is empathize with their client. Emotions are key when it comes to empathy, so how can one, in a world where almost everything is done via text, empathize?

In this talk, Marc will go over five key factors that drive almost every customer to get to the point of reaching out, how to “read between the lines” of their issue, and determine the emotional elements involved so that you, as a service rep, can empathize with your customer and give them the type of support that will earn you years of customer loyalty.

With over 20 years of experience in supporting customers through various forms of text, Marc knows the strengths and weaknesses of the medium and will show you how to maximize the power at your fingertips to make your customers happy.

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December 8, 2017 — In this talk, I plan to get down to the nitty gritty of what I went through, how I overcame it, and what I’m doing to continue down the path of both physical and mental health. It will be very personal, raw, honest, possibly uncomfortable at times (for me), and hopefully inspirational, as I plan to share not only my own story, but the stories of some of the others within our Community who have been through their own journey (with their permission, of course).

April 21, 2016 — “Ideas must work through the brains and arms of men, or they are no better than dreams” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

The time has come. You’ve put your nose to the grindstone and built your skill set to the point where you’re ready to take the plunge, put on the entrepreneur cap and become a freelancer. You’ll be free to make your own decisions, work your own hours, and work from anywhere, any time! At least that’s how it may seem.

And then . . . reality. Fear of loss of security, too much responsibility, too many commitments and not enough time. Suddenly you find you’re working for a couple bucks an hour and you’re ALWAYS busy. And before you know it, you’re working for peanuts and burning out and/or losing your sanity.

It’s an all too common story and one that most of us have been through at one point in time or another.

In my presentation, I will share tips that I’ve picked up through my own journey as a freelancer to help you manage your new career while avoiding most of the pitfalls associated with being a freelancer. I’ll share some of my successes, but as importantly, my failures in order for you to start and maintain a successful freelance business.

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November 21, 2015 — Throughout my years as a WordPress Developer, I’ve watched a Community grow and thrive by looking to lift others first before lifting themselves. In my talk, I’ll share the story of how I was able to leverage the knowledge I had, along with the relationships I’ve built throughout my time in the Community to help children who had no place to go when their families fell apart. My goal is to show you how you can take something that’s bigger than you (the Community) and use it to change lives for the better.

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February 20, 2015 — This talk covers 12 steps on how to get the most out of your WordCamp as well as how to start giving back to the Community on Day One. If you are new to WordPress or WordCamps, set yourself up for success by making sure you don’t miss this great kick-off to our two-day event!

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June 29, 2014 — Developing your WordPress site locally will save you tons of time and prevent that “oops” moment when something breaks on a live site. This session shows you how to utilize tools and incorporate them within your workflow in order to save time and prevent mistakes.It explains the components needed to create local development sites, show you how to do it by utilizing time-saving techniques and then demonstrate the steps required to deploy your site once complete.

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May 4, 2014 — Some of the great business minds from the WordPress community share their perspectives on selling WordPress products.
Panel Moderator: Kiko Doran

February 9, 2014 — Developing your WordPress site locally will save you tons of time and prevent that “oops” moment when something breaks on a live site. This session shows you how to utilize tools and incorporate them within your workflow in order to save time and prevent mistakes. It explains the components needed to create local development sites, show you how to do it by utilizing time-saving techniques and then demonstrate the steps required to deploy your site once complete.

Presentation Slides »