Week-in-Review: WordCamp Baltimore Just Keeps Getting Better

Tim Sisson has been lucky enough to attend the last three WordCamps in Baltimore on behalf of BoldGrid. And, according to Tim each year just keeps getting better.

In Tim’s words:

I truly love the city and the people who call it home. I’ve spoken at two of the three camps and WordCamp Baltimore is one I look forward to each year. Baltimore has always been such a friendly town to me and this year was no different. I always say there are two types of WordCamps. First, you have the big camps, like Miami. They are massive and so much fun! Those camps you typically catch up with friends from around the US and Canada, if only for a few minutes to say hello. Then, there are the smaller camps like Baltimore, where everyone feels almost like family. It’s really about the quality of the conversations and friendships that are built and nurtured at these camps, and that is why Baltimore is a favorite of mine.

BoldGrid proudly served as a Global Sponsor at WordCamp Baltimore. The camp hosted more than 200 people this year, giving Tim the opportunity to build some great relationships with organizers, other sponsors, and attendees. He said he feels that these conversations during smaller camps like this one allow him to have an enormous impact on brand knowledge and understanding. And he should know: as the community manager at BoldGrid, building relationships is a big part of what he does everyday. He felt that WordCamp Baltimore and its fantastic organizers made this easy. The first day of a WordCamp usually starts early, and Saturday, October 14, 2017, was no different. The inner harbor of Baltimore already began bustling (even at 7 am). The Camp took place at the IMET Building. A Coast Guard ship floated in dock just outside the building. As it turned out, the ship was the last remaining survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack during WWII still in operation.  Tim set up the booth quickly and watched from the upstairs sponsor area as attendees came in and registered for the day. After a short introduction from Wes, the lead organizer for the WordCamp, and the Keynote from Aaron Campbell, the day began with some great talks from volunteer speakers. One of the great things about WordCamps: speakers volunteer their time and knowledge because they believe in supporting the WordPress community. Chicken Rico, a Peruvian restaurant in the Inner Harbor, only a few blocks from the WordCamp provided lunch. Tim raved about the fare, and said Chicken Rico ranks among his favorite WordCamp meals. Chicken, rice, beans, and plantains (there may have been mixed veggies too, but Tim said he’s more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy). Sounds like a delicious and hearty meal.

After lunch, Tim have his presentation, called “ Strategies for Content Curators. “ He said he had a lot of fun doing it, and he hopes the attendees enjoyed hearing it as much as he did giving it. Although he started with a few empty seats, the room filled up as he went. For Tim, good audience interactions make for good speaking engagements, and the audience at Baltimore did not disappoint him.  

Tim summed up his weekend in Baltimore, saying:

“All in all, thanks for some great memories, Baltimore. To Wes Linda, and the organizing crew in Bmore, you did another stellar job putting on one of my favorite camps! We’ll see you next year!