Speakers

If you are interested in speaking at WordCamp Omaha 2019, then click here to submit

Jessica Spangler

 Jessica is an Omaha based IT consultant. Having graduated with a Spanish degree it was only natural she’d end up working with businesses to plan their IT budget. 

At Five Nines, Jessica works with small and medium sized businesses to create their IT plan and budgets. Using a proven methodology to strategize and prioritize IT spend in alignment with her clients business goals, she not only finds the most cost efficient way to invest in technology but also helps her clients track, document and organize their annual technology initiatives. 

Outside of work you’ll find Jessica disconnecting from tech by hitting up trails and attending yoga classes at her favorite studio.

Jade Jensen

Jade Jensen is the Chief Operations Officer of Appsky, an Omaha based business that focuses on design, software, and consulting. In 2018, she graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with her Masters of Business Administration. Jade has a passion for entrepreneurship and technology, acting as a co-organizer for Omaha’s One Million Cups and co-organizer for Coffee && Code. Jade joined Appsky as the first employee, where she started in marketing and worked towards her role in operations. Her first exposure to WordPress was four years ago and now she actively works on WordPress sites for Appsky.

Rob Ruiz

Approaching the web with a strong and extensive background in many kinds of design, Rob Ruiz has been doing web design/development for over 15 years now and a WordPress user for since 2011. He’s been developing custom plugins/themes since 2014. Rob’s focus on market strategy, user experience, and user interface design gives him a unique edge in modern web development. Although he specializes in WordPress, his knowledge on modern HTML, CSS, Javascript, JS frameworks also makes him a senior level Front-end Developer 

Today, Rob works full-time at Proxibid as a WordPress Engineer developing custom WordPress-based solutions that integrate a variety of micro-services and REST APIs. He is also the owner of Bizzle Designs, which specializes in extremely customized WordPress-based websites for all sized of businesses. In addition to his professional career, Rob also leads the WP Omaha meetup group and periodically teaches classes and workshops on WordPress and Web Design.

Recently, Rob has also become an expert on other web frameworks like Angular and Ionic in addition to also learning React and Stencil.js

Rob is also a professional DJ, music producer, recording engineer, sound designer, and teaches all things music tech-related at Guitar Center in Omaha.

Becca Kroese

Becca is a hybrid at heart. As an experienced and self-taught front-end developer with a BFA in graphic design, she founded Skwintz in early 2013. Becca is devoted to using technology to improve the customer experience and has put this to use in the many projects she’s completed for small businesses to Fortune 150 companies. She loves chatting about emerging tech and user experience applications. In her downtime, you’ll find her with her family or reading a good book with a big cafe Au Lait.

Andy O’Neil

Andy O’Neil is a WordPress developer and integration & automation specialist. Andy is invigorated when building new systems and processes with technology. When Andy’s not riding trails on his recumbent trike, he can be found spending time with his wife and 4 children.

John Henry Müller

John Henry Müller makes things that make people happy. He is an independent designer with 18 years of professional experience. He helps his clients with brand/product strategy, experience design, and visual design.

Recently, John Henry worked as a Design Director at Hudl, a sports technology software used by teams around the world (including Premier League, NBA, NHL, NFL, NCAA, and 98% of high school football teams). At Hudl, he focused on visual design spanning both product and brand design, with a team of over 30 designers. John Henry led the visual direction of Uniform, Hudl’s design system. (uniform.hudl.com)

Before Hudl, John Henry was the design cofounder of a startup called Pack. Before that, he founded a design/dev consultancy called What Cheer, with clients including Squidoo, Hayneedle, Union Pacific Railroad, US Department of Energy and Saddle Creek Records. John Henry lives in Benson, Omaha, Nebraska with his wife, two daughters, dog, and two cats. He sits on the board of Maha—a conference and music festival. He was gluten-free before (and after) it was cool.

Justice Anderson

Justice is a former college professor who was tasked with selecting and teaching a content management system which brought him to WordPress. Justice has been working with WordPress on and off since 2009. After a brief time away Justice is reigniting his love affair with WordPress and plans to launch several new websites this summer and fall – stay tuned! Outside of technology Justice enjoys being the number one fan at his kids sporting events and learning about nutrition and fitness.

Travis Pflanz

Travis Pflanz is the founder of Search Centered Digital Marketing. Search Centered puts SEO at the center of every type of marketing campaign they create manage and implement for clients of all sizes – from WordPress SEO services to SEO managedWordPress hosting 

Travis has been an organizer of the WordPress KC Meetup since 2013 and an organizer of WordCamp KC since 2014.

When not SEOifying businesses online or creating WordPress websites, Travis can be found hiking through the woods while leading the pack at Kansas City Dog Club, training new Dog Socializer volunteers at Wayside Waifs, or helping run the pet food pantry at Spay & Neuter KC and serving as a member of their Advisory Council.

Andrea Garcia

Andrea serves as the Chief Mind Officer and client lead for Mind + Matter. Andrea supports client digital strategy, business operations, and business development.

Andrea graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Industrial Psychology and in 2008 with a Master’s in Business Administration. 
Following a ten year tenure at Cerner in marketing, sales, and client management she moved to an account focused role in Associated Wholesale Grocers’ in-house agency. Andrea enjoys creating meaningful partnerships to help her clients express and achieve their goals. In addition to Mind + Matter and Teach for America – KC she serves on the Emerging Leaders Board for the Kansas City Sports Commission. 

When not at M+M Andrea can be found watching soccer, taking or teaching a yoga class, playing with her little beige puppy, or Instagramming her latest meal.

Mat Casner

Mat Casner is a creative business owner and freelance entrepreneur. He is a multi-disciplined creative and communication professional with over 20 years experience in web development (including WordPress), graphic design, video production and marketing. He also coaches and mentors other creatives and freelancers. 

Mat is the president of Redlogic Communications, Inc., his freelance design agency. He serves dozens of advertising and marketing communications clients, ranging from large corporations, small businesses and non-profits organizations. He has worked with brands such as Sprint, Helzberg Diamonds, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Dimensional Innovations and Junior Achievement. He helps these businesses and organizations achieve their business goals by helping them design, develop and execute effective branding, web and social strategies, print collateral, advertising and marketing communications.

Mat is based in Mound City, KS (pop. 650), an hour south of the Kansas City metro, where he is currently the mayor and an active community volunteer. He lives there with his amazing wife, Regina, and four teenage children.

Jack Sellwood

I’m a technologist, designer, and streamliner. I founded WEDGE, a minimalist agency, and find joy in tidying up technology.
I try to live a life that focuses on people, experiences, and mystery. Dinners with friends, long walks through Omaha, and yoga help me find purpose. Streamlining my life helps me stay focused on those priorities. A minimal wardrobe, few possessions, and unstructured time help me feel grounded.

Today, I work at Flywheel as Product Manager for Local, The #1 local WordPress development tool. Having built over 30 WordPress sites, I’m passionate about making team collaboration and developer tooling a more delightful experience.

David Vogelpohl

David Vogelpohl is the VP of Web Strategy at WP Engine, a digital experience platform for WordPress. David’s teams at WP Engine focus on WordPress growth strategy with customers, partners, and within WP Engine itself.

Key initiatives David’s teams have worked on include building and launching plugins in partnership with partners like Amazon & Hubspot, launching integrated AMP support in Genesis through WP Engine’s partnership with Google, helping to support WordPress core particularly around the Gutenberg launch, and helping to shape overall ecosystem strategy in the products WP Engine builds and maintains.

David is also the brand lead for the StudioPress & Genesis products within the WP Engine business. Genesis is the #1 theme framework in WordPress and supports a thriving and global community of advanced WordPress developers. See less

Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly has 11 years of experience as a designer and art director in the Omaha area. Two years ago he made the switch to a development career with Plumb Web Strategy where he works as a front end developer with a focus on WordPress. His experience in the agency world has translated over to a keen understanding of his clients’ needs and expectations. Chris also teaches as an adjunct instructor where he shares his knowledge with his students at Metropolitan Community College.

Abby Langner

Web developer, educator, mother, baker, bowler… WordPress saves this busy lady a lot of time and tedium as a front-end developer! Abby loves math, too, and as a former high school math teacher in Omaha, loves to create web resources for teachers to better engage students with the content.

April Goettle

I’m a Web Designer at B2Interactive in Omaha, Nebraska, where I work primarily developing and designing WordPress sites. Currently I work remotely about 75% of the time. I’m entering my senior year at UNO in the IT Innovation program, and am a current Do Space Women in Technology Fellow, working on a project – Remoter.tech – to promote remote tech jobs in the Midwest.

Dave Ryan

Dave Ryan is an Interdisciplinary WordPress Developer at Bluehost, where he focuses on helping build WordPress and supporting the WordPress community.

In the past Dave has worked for large publishers and universities, scaling high-traffic WordPress sites by blending his skills in information design, journalism and web development.

Dave lives in Phoenix, loves a good taco and will like every photo of your dog on Instagram.

Tyler Stokes

I was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska but currently live in Omaha, Nebraska. I am a Happiness Engineer at Flywheel. I love helping people do their best work! I have an Associates Degree in Computer Information Technology from Southeast Community College. I am a big Husker fan, GO BIG RED! I have over 8 years of experience in making websites as a freelancer. In my free time, I enjoy watching the Huskers or Detroit Lions football games, spending time with my fiancé, Cortney, working on customer websites, development projects, or going to concerts.

Josh Collinsworth

Josh Collinsworth is a graphic designer turned frontend web developer, who spends his days helping solve WordPress problems as a support lead at Flywheel. Passionate about good design and typography (especially on the web), cool front-end code, and making nifty things on CodePen.

Justin Trowbridge

Justin is the Business Development Officer for Contemporary Analysis. Over his career Justin has worked at Fortune 100 companies connecting people to technology. In his role at Contemporary Analysis Justin acts as a “data visionary” and helps companies see what is possible with data. Justin is an actual Laird of Glencoe & Lochaber Scotland (technically). With degrees in both Industrial Design and Marketing he can “translate” concepts from the very technical elements to laymen’s terms.

Patrick Stevens

I live for wisdom, sports, startups, coding cool stuff, creative marketing, mobile tech, music, and movies. I’m passionate about learning and bringing value to those around me. I have a unique background that includes the military, account management, sales, and building businesses prior to launching my career as a web developer and digital marketer.

Glen Ingram

Founder of WebSearchPros. I have 12 years of experience in online marketing.  I worked for a large Yellow Page company for 10 years and launched Web Search Pros 7 years ago.

We have built over a thousand of websites and ranked hundreds of sites for thousands of phrases to page 1 of Google.  We specialize in building websites that meet W.C.A.G 2.1 AA standards.  This means sites that work for those with disabilities and help protect businesses from lawsuits and increase their reach. I am a member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

Larissa Uredi

Larissa Uredi is the CEO of No-Where Consultants and has over 13 years of web and digital experience. She’s been building web experiences since before WordPress was a thing and enjoys creating beautiful, functional websites and digital experiences for micro and medium-sized enterprises.

Brock Ellis

Husband. Dad. Evangelist of the open web. Year-round shorts wearer. Diet Dew addict. Chaotic good. Pos 5. Adherent of pragmatism. Member of the Stugotz Army.

Sergio Esquivel

Sergio has been a WordPress developer a little over 4 years. He currently works as a full-stack web developer at Firespring in Lincoln, NE

Stacy Carlson

Image result for stacy carlson lincoln

Stacy L. Carlson is a serial entrepreneur and self-proclaimed systems and process nerd from Lincoln, Nebraska. She is the Partnership Manager for Smile, a software company that creates TextExpander and PDFpen. She is a 2014 Alumni of the nMotion Accelerator and she was a co-facilitator of nMotion’s pre-incubator program, Prelaunch, which helps entrepreneurs validate their early business ideas through customer development and validated learning.