"The State of Plone 5" – Eric Steele, Plone Release Manager

opening address, June 18

First introduced to Zope back in 2001, Eric quickly ran away and became a ColdFusion developer for the next 4 years. During that time, he built his own content management system, which still runs, largely unchanged, serving as a shining reminder of the stupidity of his youth. Eric began working with Plone in 2004, building online learning tools for students in Nigeria. He joined Penn State University's WebLion Group in 2005. There, he became an add-on developer, core contributor, and destroyer of cubicles. In 2009, he wasn't smart enough to say 'no' to an invitation to become Plone's new release manager, a decision he's both loved and regretted ever since. Eric oversaw the development of the Plone 4 series and is now working to push Plone 5 onto the masses. Eric has developed a deep obsession with the topic of generational change in Open Source projects and would write a doctoral dissertation on the topic if he weren't busy doing things that are actually fun. Eric currently works for AMP Sport where he's using Plone to help build better Olympians in the US and Australia. He can be found online at willrantforbeer.com and on Twitter as @esteele.

"Why I Am Not an Open Source Developer" – Brian Silverman, MIT Media Lab

opening keynote, June 19

Since the late 1970s, Brian Silverman has been involved in the invention of learning environments for children. His work includes dozens of Logo versions (including LogoWriter & MicroWorlds), Scratch, LEGO robotics, TurtleArt and the PicoCricket. Brian has been a Consulting Scientist to the MIT Media Lab, enjoys recreational math, and is a computer scientist and master tinkerer. He once even built a tic-tac-toe playing computer out of TinkerToys.

"The Sociology of Open-Source Community" – Steve McMahon, Plone Foundation Board

closing keynote, June 19

Steve is a partner in Reid-McMahon, LLC, a Plone consultancy specializing in work with non profits. He also does extensive volunteer work with the Davis Community Network, and has been a member of the Plone Foundation Board since 2007.  For years now he has been übersprintmeister at Plone Symposia, wielding his many talents as teacher, cheerleader, full-spectrum geek, and wise (not so) old man to the betterment of at least two communities: Plone and Davis.  Apocryphally, it is said that Steve is not a sociologist, but that he sleeps with one.