Friends & Mentors
I am not sure how many people can say that they love what they do for living. I am not sure if most people in web industry share the mutual feeling, but I sure do. Not only I enjoy what I do, but the people that I get to work with or have met over the years, I can truly say that some among all those talented & inspirational people I can consider to be my friends, even friends for life.
My list could be quite long but at least here the ones that I mostly draw my inspiration or learn from, or are there for me when I need a friend or a partner in crime.
Aarron Walter
Aarron is the author of Building Findable Websites: Web Standards, SEO, and Beyond and a lead UX designer at MailChimp. Ever since Aarron’s crash course on how to use Gowalla, I became big fan of the app and have been using it ever since.
Aaron Gustafson
Aaron is the author of Adaptive Web Design, Group Manager of the Web Standards Project (WaSP) and creator of eCSStender.
Andy Clarke
If you ever get to hang out with Andy at any of his speaking events, just remember to not let him anywhere near your phone. Trust me, I’ve leaned my lesson, so did he!
Andy McMillan
There is one thing for sure that I have in common with Andy and that would be that Build is definitely on our list of must-to-go to conferences.
Anton Peck
I have finally met Anton in person at An Event Apart Boston, right after adopting my Hockey Monster.
Brad Colbow
I met Brad at An Event Apart Boston, who is one The Brads, who is a great web designer and illustrator.
Brad Dielman
The other Brad who I also met at An Event Apart Boston and fun person to be always around.
Bridget Stewart
Guess where I “officially” met Bridget? If you were guessing An Event Apart Boston, then you’ve guessed it right.
Candi Ligutan
The minute I met Candi at An Event Apart Washington DC, my fellow Spiderwoman, we just clicked. She is there for me when I need a friend, solve a coding obstacle, or a partner crime.
Chloe Weil
Chloe is my fellow front-end developer at ISITE Design, while helping to keep all those boys in our tech department under control.
Chris Jones
I met Chris at An Event Apart Washington DC. When I need a jQuery related problem to solve, he sure is the man to save the day.
Dan Cederholm
I was in my last year in school at The Art Institute of Portland when I first saw Dan speak at WebVisions in 2006. His talk on Bulletproof Web Design has literally opened my eyes and has changed how I was coding to that day, only for better. Can’t thank this man enough!
Dan Rubin
Finally got to not only meet but also attend Dan‘s Hands-on Prototyping for Designers workshop at Interlink Conference in Vancouver BC where he was also part of our winning dodgeball team – Hot Pink Elephants.
Devin Olsen
Devin works with me at ISITE Design as a front-end developer who has some mad Java Script skills.
Eric Meyer
Can I just refer to Eric as the CSS Godfather? I mean he truly is. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself at any of his speaking events.
Ethan Marcotte
I am sure many are familiar with Ethan‘s A List Apart article on Responsive Web Design by now and have read his latest book. To learn more about the subject, make sure you see Ethan speak if you can.
Faruk Ateş
It first learned about Faruk through Dan Cederholm, when he used his website to demonstrate how we can start using CSS3 today at An Event Apart Seattle. We connected while cheering for our teams during 2010 FIFA World Cup but didn’t actually meet till 2011 in Portland where he spoke at WebVisions. Viva our winning dodgeball team – Hot Pink Elephants!
Francis Storr
I was introduced to Francis through Jeremy Keith few months prior to his relocation to Portland from UK with his lovely wife. Not only we share the same love for what we do but also for cooking.
Frank Šedivý
Before I met Frank in person at An Event Apart Washington DC, we were just Twitter friends but found a bond over our heritage being both born in Czechoslovakia.
Gavin Elliott
Gavin is a designer and organizer of DIBI Conference in Newcastle, UK who I got the pleasure of meeting at Interlink Conference where he was part of the outstanding speaker lineup.
Geri Coady
I met Geri, amazingly talented designer, illustrator, photographer and also my fellow Spiderwoman, during AEA’s Trivia Night in Boston in 2010, where we were on the same team called “Girls Under a Tree”.
Geert Leyseele
Geert might refer to himself as Veerle’s sidekick but I call him trouble that you just can’t help not to love to be around! I’m still amazed how much of sightseeing he managed to do in one day in Boston, Gowalla has a proof of that!
Jared Marcotte
I first met Jared at An Event Apart Boston and everytime I see him, I just have to go and get my hug from him. For those who don’t know, he is known as the better looking Marcotte.
Jeffrey Zeldman
It “only” took me a year to come up to Jeffrey after first attending An Event Apart Seattle to introduce myself and thank him for all that he has done for the web. I am just happy to take nice pictures worthy of making into his slides for any of his upcoming speaking events.
Jeremy Keith
First met Jeremy, author of his latest book HTML5 For Web Designers, at An Event Apart Seattle where he first ran his HTML5 workshop.
Jessica Spengler
I met Jessica at An Event Apart Seattle. If you enjoy homemade cooking as much as we do, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading her journal of culinary explorations, Principa Gastronomica.
Jonathan Snook
I would have never thought that Jonathan is one those shy people like me, considering that he has numerous speaking events under his belt. We met at Interlink Conference where we first watched a little bit of first playoff game between Canucks & Bruins, prior being a part of a winning dodgeball team – Hot Pink Elephants.
Mark Boulton
I first met Mark at An Event Apart Seattle and promised him then that I’ll come to cheer him on once he’ll speak at AEA. When I saw the lineup for An Event Apart Boston, I made sure to be there to show my support as well as get inspired. And I sure did.
Meagan Fisher
Meagan is wonderful designer and a front-end developer.
Naomi Atkinson
Finally met Naomi at Interlink Conference and enjoyed our lovely chats over tea & hot chocolate while visiting Portland.
Ryan Brunsvold
I got introduced to Ryan by Andy Clarke while in town during An Event Apart Washington DC. My life just have never been the same.
Sarah Parmenter
When I first met Sarah, it was at An Event Apart Seattle when the poor thing got an ear infection prior arriving. I brought her something to sooth her pain, so she could enjoy exploring downtown Seattle during her brief stay, while trying to resist not to buy everything that had a raspberry flavor. At the end of a day, we always found time for a good cup of tea.
Simon Collison
It wasn’t till Interlink Conference when I not only got to meet Colly but also see him speak and attend his very insightful workshop on Analytical Design. The next thing on my list would be to finally attend his wonderful and award-winning New Adventures conference in 2013.
Tim Kadlec
Finding myself more and more developing for mobile devices, Tim, who also organizes Breaking Development Conference, has been one of the people that I’ve been looking up to for resources.
Veerle Pieters
It was through Dan Cederholm how I first heard of Veerle during his panel at WebVisions in 2006. I very much enjoyed take the role of a tour guide in streets of Boston where we finally met at An Event Apart.
Whitney Hess
Within less than 2 months that I met Whitney on three different occasions, she’s been battling all sorts of infections. Regardless, she is an amazing & inspiring user experience designer, writer, speaker and a Glee fan.
Luke Wroblewski
Luke seems to be the go-to-guy when designing for mobile web, the best conference note taker, as well as Thriller dance moves teacher.
