Speaker Highlight: Jamie Schmid

Here’s a little bit about Jamie Schmid, who will be speaking at WordCamp Milwaukee…

If you were going to spend this weekend creating a plugin that doesn’t exist, what would it be?

A plugin that adds an archive and taxonomy template page to the custom posts menu, giving you the opportunity to add custom content/fields through the admin, in addition to your template loop content. This would make it easier on both developers and Admin users, to keep all of the custom post type content accessible from a single location.

Do you use Themes & Child Themes, Roll your own, or both?

I always build my own themes. I find commercial themes to be too bulky and complicated when I am starting out with a completely custom design/content, but I give major props to the commercial template builders out there – it’s no small feat to build a site customizable to the many options that their users will require.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that WP consultants will face in 2013?

Being able to build websites that hold up to the new standards of Admin usability. Users are getting more and more used to Admin interfaces that give them complete customizability of their website, from experience with all the major social media websites.. They are going to want, and expect, more and more control, which for consultants means more forethought in the way they build their websites to allow for the most flexibility.

What’s the biggest misconception you encounter about WordPress, and how do you clear it up for your clients?

That WordPress is complex, confusing or difficult for Admins to use. Sometimes they have had a bad experience with WordPress.. maybe they used it “back in the day” when it was a blogging platform posing as a CMS, maybe they inherited a poorly-built website.. But this is no longer true!! I am always excited to show these users their new website admin panel, because it has come a LONG way since then, and a well-built WordPress site is very easy and intuitive to manage.