WebDevStudios Team Member Adam Silver Recaps WCUS 2025

After months of anticipation, it was finally time to head to Portland for WordCamp US. The week was packed with familiar faces, new connections, memorable conversations, and a handful of personal milestones that made this one unlike any other WordCamp I have attended.

The Journey to WCUS 2025

My trip began with a layover in Phoenix, where I surprised Jen Miller, WebDevStudios’ Director of Business Development, at the gate. I also bumped into PressConf’s Carol Stambaugh and Raquel Karina, two familiar staples of the WordPress community. When we landed in Portland, we were greeted by Autry, the Delivery Manager at WebDevStudios, a Pacific Northwest local, who drove us to our hotel. Bags dropped, a late lunch enjoyed, and already the week felt like it was off to a fast start. Later that evening, I met Mitch Canter, WebDevStudios’ Director of Engineering, in person. Let’s just say he was not expecting my height.

WCUS 2025 Contributor Day

The next morning started with breakfast with Jen and Mitch, before we made our way to Contributor Day. The energy in the room was incredible, and it was clear that many people had come ready to give back to the WordPress open-source project. I checked in, picked up my badge, and met Alfredo Navas, WebDevStudios’ Frontend Engineer, for the first time in person. He, too, joined the “surprised by my height” club.

Each of us gravitated to different teams. I spent time with the Photos team, Mitch jumped into Training, Alfredo explored WP Playground, and Jen worked on the WordPress Credits program with the Community team. Lunch was another highlight, filled with conversations with the WordPress community, including both old friends and new acquaintances. That evening, Mitch headed off to the speaker and sponsor dinner, while Jen and I joined a gathering hosted by Bluehost.

Connecting Through Conversation as an Enterprise WordPress Agency

Wednesday rolled right into previously scheduled vendor and partner meetings and Showcase Day, where innovation in WordPress was alive and well. At one point, I missed seeing Remkus—two tall guys, both seated, somehow invisible. We laughed and agreed to reschedule our meeting for Thursday. We also met with the WordPress VIP team to discuss their updated partner program. The day’s highlight was watching Jen and Mitch present Theme Switcher Pro through our work with the Jim Joseph Foundation. They absolutely nailed it. The presentation drew thoughtful questions and plenty of interest, including a nod from Matt Mullenweg himself.

That evening provided one of those fun “only at WordCamp” moments. Mitch and I wandered into what we thought was a private Automattic event. As it turns out, Matt had actually sent us an invite in Slack, though we did not realize it until later. He even offered credits to help us test ThemeSwitcher Pro on WordPress.com. Still, the story of us “crashing the party” will always be my preferred version.

Thursday brought our rescheduled sit-down with Remkus and GreyD to hear about their plugin that helps agencies streamline website builds and content workflows. It looks like something worth exploring further. Later that day, Mitch gave a demo at the Pantheon booth and, once again, crushed it.

Closing Out the Week

Friday arrived quickly, and the final stretch was just as full as the rest of the week. The morning was spent in a series of meetings and hallway conversations, tying up loose ends before everyone headed home. Around midday, our WDS team gathered for lunch at Shalom Y’all. Originally planned as a dinner, the move to lunch turned out to be perfect. It was one last chance to sit together, swap stories, and reflect on the whirlwind of the week.

Later that afternoon, I sat down with Matt Schwartz to learn more about his new service, Checkview.io. It is designed to make form and site testing easier, and it is definitely something worth keeping on the radar. Back at the hotel, I streamed Matt’s “State of the Word” since seating was limited, and then started packing for my very early flight on Saturday morning. The day wrapped up with a long overdue reconnection with two friends, Scot Rumery and Stephen Harvey from Rumspeed. We had not seen each other since WCUS 2023, so it was a real treat to catch up. Instead of heading to the official social event, we opted for dinner and a local professional women’s soccer game—a perfect way to experience a bit of Portland outside the conference bubble.

Reflecting on WCUS 2025

Looking back, it was a week that packed in more than I could have expected. A few milestones made it especially memorable:

• Episode 600 of my podcast went live.
• I reconnected with two friends I had not seen in more than twenty years.
• I was welcomed into my new role at WDS.
• Many people asked about my son Parker, offering kind words and support. The care from this community continues to mean so much.
• And, perhaps most special of all, I had the chance to meet several WDS teammates in person for the first time.

It was my first WordCamp as part of WebDevStudios, and between the conversations, the milestones, and the sense of community, it is one I will never forget.