We are pleased to have two excellent Keynote speakers at our very first WordCamp Jacksonville.

Accessibility: Empathy in action

Robert Jolly is an accessibility-focused Project Manager with nearly 20 years in the industry. At the inaugural WordCamp US, his session helped kickstart a conversation about the importance of accessibility and we are happy have him continue that conversation on Saturday afternoon at WordCamp Jacksonville.

At this session we’ll learn not just what accessibility is, but why it matters to all of us. We’ll learn how to become empathetic with users unlike ourselves and how that new outlook can empower us to create more inclusive, accessible sites.

We’ll learn some key traits of both inaccessible and accessible sites. Robert will share tools to evaluate our own sites that will lead to greater accessibility and usability. And relevant to all of us, how improved accessibility can expand our the reach of our message.

Connection + Education + Inspiration Equals: My journey into community

Kathy Drewien has been a vital part of the Atlanta WordPress community for many years and put that to good use as the Lead Organizer of WordCamp Atlanta this year. Kathy is passionate about the WordPress community and will be sharing with us about the amazing people that are the heartbeat of WordPress.

People like her friend Nicky who moved a year ago to a city where she knew no one. By happenstance, she wandered into a WordPress Meetup three weeks before WordCamp and volunteered to help attendees in the Beginner’s Workshop. This year she was the lead designer for the WordCamp Atlanta website.

People like Tricia who attended WordCamp in 2012 with the single goal to move her website from hosting on WordPress.com to self-hosted. Through active involvement in local Meetups Tricia’s confidence grew and an idea blossomed. Two months ago she launched the business of her dreams using WordPress.

And then there is Mickey, the co-owner of a small web design agency. He attended WordCamp in 2012, yet had no idea there was a Meetup three miles from his home. Today Mickey is a driving force in the growth of the Atlanta WordPress community.