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In this episode, I sat down with Raquel Manriquez, Community Manager at Elegant Themes, to discuss her exciting new venture - PressConf. This event is a spiritual successor to the legendary Pressnomics conference, which was a cornerstone event for WordPress business professionals. Raquel shares her journey of launching her own business, Wonderland Curious, and how the idea to revive this beloved conference came from a genuine need in the WordPress community for a dedicated business-focused event. What makes this particularly special is that Raquel secured the blessing from Pressnomics founders Josh and Sally Strebel before moving forward with this new iteration.

What really struck me during our conversation was Raquel's authentic approach to honoring the legacy of Pressnomics while bringing her own vision to PressConf. The event will maintain key elements that made Pressnomics special - like hosting it at the Mission Palms Resort in Tempe and keeping presentations exclusive to in-person attendees (no recordings). But she's also adding her own touch with structured networking time to maximize the valuable connections made at these events.

The WordPress business community has been missing a flagship event focused purely on the business side of WordPress, and PressConf aims to fill that void. Hearing Raquel's passion and seeing the talented team she's assembled gives me confidence that this will be a must-attend event for WordPress professionals in 2024.

Key Takeaways for WordPress Professionals

• PressConf will be a single-track, business-focused WordPress event with no recordings - you must be present to experience the content
• The event features invite-first speakers, targeting industry leaders and known names in WordPress
• Unlike WordCamps, this is specifically designed for "hallway trackers" - people who value high-level business networking
• The venue (Mission Palms Resort in Tempe) is specifically chosen to create an intimate setting that encourages networking
• There will be structured networking time built into the schedule, separate from talks and social events
• The event runs April 23-26, 2024, with two full days of talks and one day for activities

Important URLs & Resources

• PressConf website: https://pressconf.events
• Twitter: @Press__conf
• Instagram: @pressconf
• Early bird tickets available at $680 for VIP access and $580 for general admission