Karla Campos, a Miami-based WordPress community volunteer with more than a decade of involvement, is a lead organiser for WordCamp US 2025 in Portland. With a background in media and marketing that includes roles at Telemundo and iHeartRadio, Karla moved from local meetups and regional WordCamps into larger organisational responsibilities. The 2025 event is notable for being her first flagship WordCamp both as an organiser and as an attendee.
How she joined
Karla describes her path to the role as serendipitous. She responded to a volunteer call in May 2025 and joined the organising group. Even with experience running large public events, she was surprised by how much time and effort the role demands.
Production company versus community team
WordCamp US works with a production company to handle venue logistics such as room layouts, sponsor booths, signage, photographers, and making sure the venue meets sponsor expectations. Karla’s co-lead, Megan Marcel, manages that vendor relationship. Karla leads communications and marketing for the event, handling attendee communications, accessibility requests, dietary needs, visa questions, and the large volume of email. She coordinates a volunteer communications team that includes Caroline Harrison and leans on mentors and previous organisers for guidance.
Time, finances, and impact
Organising the event is volunteer work. Karla pays her own travel and lodging and estimates she is spending about 30 hours a week on the event in the weeks leading up to it. The commitment has encroached on personal time and sleep; she reports waking at 2 a.m. worrying about tasks. Despite the strain, she finds it rewarding to support the community. There are scholarships for organisers but they are limited and competitive.
Planning and resources
The organising team relies on documentation from prior years, active Slack channels, and mentors drawn from experienced community members and hosting partners. Even though Karla joined relatively late in the cycle, the team follows a clear roadmap and maintains strong internal coordination. On-site walkthroughs are planned; Karla intends to arrive a week early to review the venue in person. After the event the team will manage venue clearance and conduct debriefs to capture lessons learned.
Attendance, goals, and concerns
At the time of the interview approximately 730 attendees were registered, with a planning target of 1,000. The team expects attendance could be lower than in some years due to travel hesitancy, recent controversies in the WordPress ecosystem, and the event returning to the same venue as the previous year. Karla remains optimistic and points to targeted efforts to increase participation, particularly among students and newcomers.
Student and newcomer initiatives
WordCamp US 2025 aims to be welcoming to students and first-time attendees. Student tickets are priced at 25 dollars with proof of enrollment, while regular tickets are 100 dollars. The organisers are partnering with colleges to bring students interested in web development, AI, and career opportunities. In some cases faculty are able to tie attendance to course credit or summer projects, depending on institutional rules.
Community vibe and support
Karla emphasizes the friendly, collaborative atmosphere that differentiates WordCamps from more corporate tech conferences. Newcomer support includes the WP Trail Buddies program, led by Michelle Frechette, which pairs veteran attendees with first-timers so newcomers have someone to meet and navigate the event with. Karla highlights the value of hallway conversations, on-the-spot help with real website issues, and the community’s willingness to share knowledge.
Contributor Day and new experiments
Contributor Day will include a new hackathon-style approach, with details to be announced by the contributor lead. There will also be a remote collaboration option for the Testing Team, enabling people who are not physically present to participate in contributor activities and broadening accessibility.
Lessons and reflections
Karla admits she underestimated the time and emotional energy required, but says she has adapted and enjoys the challenge. The organising team has more ideas than they can implement this year and is documenting what works so future organisers can build on their progress. Karla expresses deep appreciation for volunteers, mentors, and the production team who together bring the event to life.
Logistics and wrap-up
Organisers will remain after the event to manage cleanup and vendor closeout. The team expects the venue to be physically cleared by the scheduled date, with follow-up discussions continuing for a couple of weeks to finalise learnings and next steps.
Final note
Karla thanked prospective attendees and highlighted the event’s focus on the future of WordPress, AI, and the ways technology shapes businesses and careers. For more information on schedule, speakers, tickets, and resources visit us.wordcamp.org/2025.