WordCamp Phoenix 2023 was an amazing camp! The location was perfect, the camp was well attended and the organizers, speakers and volunteers were awesome. I am so lucky to be part of it!
Arriving at WordCamp Phoenix 2023
The 1 hour flight from LA was very smooth. Those of you who have flown to Phoenix before will know that it can be windy most days and landing there can be a bit intimidating. bottom.
After checking in at the hotel, go down to the lobby and meet Erica Barboza We hadn’t seen each other since WordCamp US in 2022, so we gave each other a big hug.
Then I took a bite barrel & bushel Located in the hotel lobby, I was hooked for work and camping.
![barrel and bushel](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Barrel-and-Bushel.jpg)
speaker sponsor event
Thursday night was the speaker sponsor event Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company It’s in downtown Phoenix, a few blocks from the hotel we were staying at.
Walking to the place, I noticed how busy and bustling the area has become. Much different than the last time I was there in 2020.
Once inside I noticed a group of WordCampers and couldn’t wait to say hello to everyone.
we encountered James Tyrone I am easily amused. Ericka and I haven’t seen James since his WordCamp US in 2022, but got caught up in a new project he’s working on at the company.
We had a big hug over a local beer. Adam Warner Chatted from GoDaddy Dave Ryan At Bluehost and Newfold Digital.
I’ve known Dave for a long time, many camps ago. Dave lives in Phoenix, he is also one of the camp organizers, and he told me that he was very busy at camp.
He had a cast on his arm after he fell and injured himself, but he said he was fine and very well.
![speaker sponsor event](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Speaker-Sponsor-Event.jpg)
then i found Cathy Zant of KadenceWP. Cathy and I have known each other for years, and had run into each other the night before each camp while checking into our hotels in our swag-laden bell carts.
I promised her a big hug, so I gave her a really big hug and hugged her many times throughout the camp.
What can I say, I’m a big hugger!
After enjoying the local tacos, Raquel Landefeltthe camp’s sponsor, Wrangler, took the stage to hand out gifts to each speaker and thank all the sponsors.
Lead organizer Matthew Clancy also took the stage to introduce himself and say thank you. We all know that without the incredible hard work and passion of the organizers, nothing gets started.
As the night wore on, we met many old and new friends. Maddie Osman From Blogsmith, and Jessica Spurt, is also part of the organizing team. And we had great conversations with everyone.
first day of camp
WordCamp Phoenix 2023 was held jackson eventA large, beautifully restored former fruit and vegetable warehouse built in the 1930s, within walking distance of downtown Phoenix.
I loved this venue in 2020 and still think it’s the perfect place for this camp.
prepare
Erica and I went inside and received our registration badges. The first thing we did was stop by the Souvenir Table to pick up some WordCamp Phoenix memorabilia and thank the volunteers who were there for all the work they did at these camps. .
we found Michel Frechette, Community Engagement Director of StellarWP. Earlier, Michelle tweeted that taking a picture of her with her and retweeting with a specific tag would make a donation. big orange heart Its focus is supporting and promoting positive well-being and mental health within the remote working community.
So the first thing I did was take a picture of it with her and post it on social media, as did many other people at the camp.
![Michelle and Anna WordCamp Phoenix](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Michelle-and-Anna-1024x634.png)
Cathy Zandt was standing and hugging the first booth at the entrance of the venue, the Kadence booth, and of course again!
Someone posted on Twitter that if you were at camp, you should say hello. Chad Beatty We scoured the table with one of our sponsors, Rocket.net, and did just that.
I also met Baljinder Singh at wpspins.com. He was helping out at the Happiness Bar and we chatted for a bit.
Waiting for camp to start, I came across Alex Vasquez He was part of the organizing team we met at the 2019 WordCamp Long Beach. Matt Kopala With SiteDistrict on the trips I follow on social media. He at Bluehost also said hello to Devin Sears. I’ve known Devin since his first WordCamp in 2019 and have always had great respect for him.
It was nice to see them again and catch up.
from day one
On the first day, I was able to attend several presentations. “Social Media and Growing Your Audience” by Darreyl Davis was very interesting.
Darrail is from Ohio and has lived in Arizona for 15 years. In his presentation, SocialHe talked about how to create engaging content for media, how to optimize your website for maximum visibility, and how to measure the success of your marketing campaigns.
In addition, we invited a surprise guest speaker on the stage, Madison Gaffneya social entrepreneur, community builder, and educator with over 100,000 followers on social media, answers questions from attendees while sharing her experience and how she got to where she is today. Did.
Before my lunch break, I also watched Keely O’Connor’s Making the Impossible Possible: Making a Lasting Impact on Communities by Doing Rewarding Work. It was an inspiring presentation that left participants with the idea of taking action, believing in themselves, being the director and producer of their own lives.
lunch time
At lunchtime, we enjoyed taco bowls in the outdoor area of the event space. Chatting with everyone around the round table. We sat in the shade, but the Arizona sun was nice and warm.
It was the perfect setting for lunch!
![Lunchtime at WordCamp Phoenix](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lunchtime-at-WordCamp-Phoenix-1024x573.jpg)
In the afternoon, we followed Cheryl Marquez on a very interesting and hot topic: “Blogging in the Age of AI: How to Stay Relevant and Competitive”.
She explained various AI tools and their limitations. I thought it was a very interesting presentation.
After the first day of camp, Erica and I compassA revolving restaurant on the top floor of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix.
Dinner was delicious as was the wine and the view of downtown Phoenix was amazing. But the best part was sharing personal stories between us.
We became closer that night.
![Erica and Anna at Compass](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ericka-and-Anna-at-the-Compass.png)
Second day of camp
On day two of WordCamp Phoenix, Erica and I attended a number of presentations.
In the morning, I saw Alicia St. Rose at a local meetup. She talked about her editor at Block in her presentation “Invited to Block Party”.
Alicia was very informative and there was party music at several points during the presentation which made for a fun time.
Then I heard James Tyron talk about the new site editor in “Shooting hoops with WordPress’ new site editor: Tips and tricks to improve your site building game.”
Before lunch, I saw Maddy Osman talk about Content UX in “Content UX: How to Create a Great Reader Experience.” I liked it when she saidA good user experience is almost invisible”.
I agree with that 100%.
Lunch time at the camp on the second day
Lunch time came and it felt like the morning had flown by so quickly. We sat in the outdoor space again and chatted with the people sitting at the tables. Maddie Osman, Christina Hills WebsiteWorkshopCreation.com Cheryl Marquezand Donald Luke, who is part of my local Santa Clarita meetup.
I’ve been to so many Zoom Meetups over the last few years because we’ve both attended virtually.
In the afternoon, Femi Lewis in “Building an Online Presence: A Brainstorming Exercise to Develop a Content Strategy,” Robert Windisch in “How to Scale WordPress/WooCommerce,” Subh Sahal in “Securing Your WordPress Website,” and more. I saw the presentation. : Best Practices and Tips for Beginners”.
Every presentation was really interesting!
With that said, it’s time to close the meeting. Matthew Clancy invited all the volunteers on stage and gave them a special thank you for their work. Volunteers are an integral part of the camp and they really deserve our thanks.
![Closing Remarks WordCamp Phoenix 2023](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Closing-Remarks-WordCamp-Phoenix-2023.jpg)
after party
An after-party was also held at the Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company. It was held in the same covered outdoor patio where the speaker sponsor event had been held the night before.
It was a very nice night and the Arizona weather was perfect. We were all exhausted from two days of camping, but ready to party.
We had drinks and food and talked to many people. Carol Stambaugh Jessica Spurt of the Organizing Team. I then met some of the attendees I had never met at the sponsor and speaker dinner, including Tammy White and William Bay.
Before we knew it the clock had struck midnight and we had to go back to our hotel and get some rest. Especially Erica who was leaving for a long trip to Costa Rica the next day.
![Afterparty in Phoenix](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/After-Party-in-Phoenix.jpg)
Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to Erica. She held back her tears many times in the hotel lobby. I miss you Erica and I look forward to seeing you again at camp.
The next day, I headed to the airport to catch my flight back to Los Angeles. We took pictures of downtown from our hotel room floor and said goodbye to Phoenix (or see you later).
![from the hotel](https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/From-the-Hotel.jpg)
Another WordCamp Phoenix is in the works!
A big thank you to the organizers, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and of course the Phoenix WordPress community.
Until next year!