Kingpin Interview with Maura Teal

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  Q1: What is your history, and when did you first become involved in WordPress?  

My parents were both software engineers for an important bank, which meant that I always had access to a computer and the internet while I was growing up. I created a couple of websites, and even wrote a small amount of programming however for the majority part I was convinced I would like to become a graphic designer. It was only when I entered college that I discovered WordPress and realized that my path to work was in writing code, not graphic design.

Today, I'm a web development engineer at FanSided which is an Time Inc owned web property ( and WordPress Multisite network with 360+ websites) which serves more than one million people daily. I'm also involved with the recent WordCamp Phoenix occasions as an organizer.

  2. What should readers know about all the stuff you're doing in WordPress today?  

It's a great and challenging task at FanSided creating writing tools for over 1800 members on the network while also thinking about what innovative technology we can take advantage of in order to improve readers' experience on the front-end of the website.

One of the most intriguing challenges that I've had to face over the last 12 months is the development of a caching solution for remotely made API calls. We needed ways to cut down on the wait time that some users experienced when the cached call was over- often these are lower-priority calls like "related post" or something similar, but certainly not ones that need to be recent up until the next. What resulted from these needs was a caching REST system which updates expired value in the background (on the basis of crons) instead of waiting for the load of the page.

  Q3: What obstacles faced you in your journey there to get where you are now professionally?  

I've had a lot of luck with my professional career to date. Every job I've held following my departure from freelance work has been a building block that has its own particular issues. As a lead developer at every agency, I discovered I continued to improve quickly when it came to writing code. However, working directly with clients and the process we referred to as "Client translation" didn't always come easily. I took pride in the ability I had to impart knowledge to others, but the learning process of translating technical terms during discussions of the product and features with clients who aren't technical was an acquired ability.

As I began my job at FanSided when I started at FanSided, I came to the realization that even though the clients may come in a different package (we're not an agency, but we do build and support products) there are chances to offer translation services for clients while I mentor junior developers and interact with the editorial team of the company. Even though we'll spend a lot of our time wrangling the code on our computer, the most important part of our jobs is helping others.

  Q4: What has been awe-inspiring for you since appearing within the WordPress world?  

The people. The WordPress community. I was introduced to WordPress through a close friend as we hacked away at websites in a café near my university. I'd never attended an event like a meetup or WordCamp in fact any sort of tech community event. I was initially impressed by the welcoming attitude during my first WordCamp followed by my first meetup, and honestly, I was amazed at the speed at which people were able to assist me when I mentioned an issue I was having with a piece of code. There was no feeling of competition, only knowledge-sharing and a feeling of pride in helping others.

  Q5: What will the future look like for you and the WordPress world?  

In a similar fashion I am looking to follow the WordPress Core design guidelines on improving the editing and customizing experience in WordPress. Improved usability and a simpler interface benefit the ecosystem in general and, as technology advances the standard for what's "easy to make use of."

  Q6: What are you consider when choosing a WordPress hosting service?  

The kind of hosting I would recommend depends upon the kind of website that you're sharing on the internet. However that when it comes to WordPress hosting, I'm searching at a handful of specific functions that aren't going to come from a standard shared hosting environment.

Beyond all of the above, though, is support. Support is what's most crucial aspect for me when I recommend the non-developer self-hosts his own website, I would like to ensure that the help they'll receive is beginner-friendly. In a business hosting environment, the level of support offered should be of an even higher level. It's our hope that we never have to use it, but for keeping a business or project online is essential to understand which company is working with you and ensure that the support accurately reflects this.

  Questions 7: What are you like doing while far from your laptop?  

The first thing I was interested in before I got into computer technology was riding horses, even though I don't play at a professional degree, I do still enjoy spending some of my mornings in the saddle and teach an occasional riding lessons. Photography is also a passion of mine as well as working on my car.

  Question 8: Whom should we interview next & why?  

Carol Stambaugh ( @carolstambaugh) an entrepreneur, co-founder, and a core element to Arizona WordPress. Arizona WordPress community.