Tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m an avid Mac user, social media fanatic and cat lover. I’ve been married to a writer for 28 years and we live on a small island in Puget Sound, Washington state.
Please share a brief history of your company or your work with WordPress:
Cat’s Eye Marketing, our first company, provided graphic design, copywriting and marketing support for clients in the greater Puget Sound area for 20 years.We did mostly print design in the early years, with a major refocus on web design 11 years ago.
Three years ago, I started looking at CMS software and was immediately drawn to WordPress—and I haven’t looked back since. Although I still design some websites and blogs by referral, my true passion is in training and support end users. That expanded part of the business, bobwp.com, is now where I spend most of my time: in helping individual clients with online support and training, as well as training and teaching business and corporate clients in onsite settings. In the last 16 months, I have taught and presented more than 60 WordPress-focused workshops.
What is your favorite plugin?
Aw, come on. Just one? Okay, of the premium plugins, it’s a tie between Backup Buddy and Gravity Forms. In the category of free, I love the ease of Vipers Video Quicktags and what jQuery LIghtbox for Native Galleries does with the WordPress default gallery.
Tell us about your latest WP project:
Well, I have several going on, but the one I most excited about is a series of webinars I will be doing this fall on WordPress, as well as some more local hands-on workshops.
Share one WP tip:
This one is short and sweet: Back up!
What inspires you?
Teaching and helping others. I love it when I am teaching a workshop and suddenly I hear this small, barely audible expression of surprise from the back of the room. Someone has had an “ah ha” moment.
Any tips for people just getting started with Blogging or using WP?
Yes. With WordPress, don’t give up. And blog only if you have the interest. Because otherwise, you won’t be able to sustain it. If you force it, your blog won’t succeed. It will just be a thorn in your side.
Do you have a WP hero?
Too many to list.
What is your motto?
The glass is half full.
What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you at a conference?
I noticed a very young, somewhat nervous, man standing by himself. It seemed like he was finding it hard to strike up a conversation with someone. I introduced myself and we had a nice talk. About halfway through, he looked at me and said, “Wow, I didn’t expect so many ‘old’ people here. It kind of freaks me out.”
Who is the most interesting person you have met through social media?
Danny Brown
What is your idea of success?
A client who says to me, “Now I really get this WordPress thing!”
Why did you choose your topic for WC Chicago?
I work with a lot of startup bloggers and businesses who want to use WordPress. A user-friendly site is imperative to their success.
What do you hope the attendees will get out of going to your session?
Ideas that they can walk away with and implement—now.
How can we reach you?
http://twitter.com/#!/bobWP
http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdunn1
http://www.facebook.com/SavvyWordPress
http://biznik.com/members/bob-dunn
