Hello,
My name is Carol Stambaugh, and I’m so excited to be your speaker coordinator for PressConf 2026. We’ve created this handbook to share important logistical information for you as a speaker. This document will be continually updated, so please bookmark this link and use it as your go-to resource. The link will also be pinned in the Speakers Slack channel for easy access.
Contact Information
- Slack: @Carol Stambaugh
- Text: 480-238-6813
- Email: carol@radiateu.com
- Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all.
Table of Contents
TLDR
- Off the record by default – Sessions aren’t recorded or live-streamed. No video, audio, or AI note-taking. Still photos only during sessions (not slides). You can change the rules if you want.
- Your session, your call – You set the tone, boundaries, and whether audience Q&A happens.
- Submit your speaker info ASAP – It’s simple, fill out the Speaker Information Form.
- Save the dates: April 8–10, 2026 – Welcome reception, two full conference days, VIP dinner, and after-party. Wonderday follows on April 11.
- Logistics are handled – Your ticket is covered, breakfast and snacks are provided, a speaker green room is available, and the venue is surrounded by great food.
Welcome
Hey, friends!
First off—thank you. Your participation helps make PressConf a reality, and we couldn’t be more excited to have you on this journey with us.
We’ve put together this handbook to give you all the key details you need as a sponsor—logistics, important dates, and everything in between. This will be your go-to resource, and we’ll keep it updated as new info rolls in. So, bookmark this link and check back as we get closer to the big event!
We can’t wait to see you at PressConf and make some magic happen together. 🧡
Event Overview
PressConf isn’t just another tech conference—it’s a highly curated, exclusive gathering designed for the decision-makers driving the WordPress economy. Unlike traditional WordCamps or other industry events, PressConf provides a focused, high-impact environment where meaningful conversations unfold in real time, without the distractions of a larger, more general audience.
A Conference Like No Other
- Exclusive & Off the Record – PressConf sessions are not recorded, live-streamed, or published in. The only way to be part of these groundbreaking discussions is to be in the room where it happens—which means attendees are fully present, fostering more open and candid conversations.
- High-Caliber Attendees – Expect a room filled with C-suite executives, founders, agency owners, and industry innovators who are actively shaping the future of WordPress. This is not a beginner-friendly event—it’s a space for the movers and shakers of the ecosystem.
- Deep-Dive Sessions – Our content is strategy-driven, not surface-level. Sessions tackle real industry challenges, future trends, and sustainability in the open-source space, leading to meaningful takeaways and potential partnerships.
PressConf is built to foster deep connections and discussions that can’t happen anywhere else. Your brand isn’t just sponsoring an event—it’s becoming part of an exclusive conversation shaping the future of WordPress.
Your Speaker Experience
PressConf is intended to be a respectful space where raw, unfiltered conversations can thrive.
As a speaker, you set the tone for your session—including your boundaries. We encourage you to communicate your preferences around participation, discussion, and sharing what you say and show to the audience at the beginning of your session.
The PressConf default is that video and photos may be captured before and after your session. During your session, only still photography is permitted and not of slides—video recording, audio recording, and AI-powered note-taking tools are strictly prohibited. You are welcome to lift this if you prefer.
Audience Q&A is welcome at your discretion and will count toward your total session time. Following your talk, PressConf media partners may want to chat with you about your session if you’re up for it.
If you have any concerns or preferences regarding photography, please let us know in advance—we’re happy to accommodate where possible.
Website Data and Public Announcements
Speaker Announcements
Speakers will be announced through social media. Once the announcements are made, we encourage you to repost and tell all your friends!
Your Speaker Page
We want all our speakers to have a photo so people recognize you for your presentation. You can add your picture to the site, by making sure you have a Gravatar.com account and that you have a picture of yourself uploaded there. Make sure you’re using the same email address in your Gravatar account and your WordPress.org account. If you need it changed, or if you need help, feel free to reach out to Carol.
If you have not already done so, please submit your speaker bio and headshot ASAP
– Bio: 100–150 words
– Headshot: High-resolution (minimum 1000px wide), JPG or PNG
Schedule
The schedule is posted here. Your session is either 55 minutes or 25 minutes in length. This is inclusive of Q&A. So if you want 5 minutes of questions and answers, you would limit your talk to 50 minutes or 20 minutes
Slides
- If you are doing Speaker slides, they are due to me by March 22nd. I know that you will likely be making changes to your talk up until the event. That is fine, please share with me what you have so far.
- Please use the media kit to make sure and stay within PressConf brand guidelines.
- We will have a “confidence monitor” for those using slides.
Important Dates
April 8, 2026: Arrivals and Welcome Reception
April 9, 2026: Day 1 and VIP Dinner
April 10, 2026: Day 2 and After-party
April 11, 1016: Wonderday
Location, Lodging, and Meals
Hotel – Tempe Mission Palms
Meals
As a speaker, you will be invited to our Speaker/Sponsor dinner where heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.
During the event, most meals are on your own. We’ll provide a continental breakfast each morning, and speakers are invited to a dedicated speaker/sponsor dinner. In addition, we offer a fantastic “Snack Shack” that provides snacks all day.
Tempe Mission Palms is located in a prime location in downtown Tempe with more food choices than anyone can hope for. Simply walk out the side door and you find yourself on Mill Avenue where the possibilities are endless. There are many dining options all within walking distance of Tempe Mission Palms.
Communication
General
Our primary methods of communication are email and Slack. We will invite you into our conference Slack and will notify you if that happens.
Email: Carol@radiateu.com
Slack: @Carol
During the Event
Primary Contact: Carol – by text or phone – 480-223-8613
Ticket Registration
Our team will handle your registration as a speaker.
Venue
Sponsor Lounge
Rather than an exhibit hall, our sponsors will be in the sponsor lounge complete with chairs so you can sit back, relax and have genuine conversatons.
Ballroom
PressConf is a single track event and all sessions will take place in the ballroom.