Atlanta (May 17th): Need PHP Advocate for Panel Discussion

[MikeSchinkel]

Hi all PHP Developers:

Do you know a business-savvy PHP developer with the skill to give a great presentation in the Atlanta, Georgia USA area? If so, I'd really appreciate if you could either forward me their name and email and/or send me their name and forward to them a link to this post.

I run a business-focused web entrepreneur group based in Atlanta, Georgia USA that is having a meeting on May 17th about selecting the best technology for a web-based business. We plan to have someone representing PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, and .NET. Currently, I am still in need of someone to sit on the panel to represent PHP.

What we are looking for is a business-focused PHP advocate who has obvious experience with other solutions but that still chooses PHP over the others, has the presentation skills to explain why, and the business savvy to gain respect from our entrepreneurial audience (i.e., someone who is pragmatic and shies away from language flame wars.) Ideally the person would be/have been involved with at least one successful website with significant traffic implemented in Java technology ideally for a smaller company (i.e. not a Home Depot, Coke, or Delta Airlines.)

In the first hour each language advocate will present a five minute slide about the PROs and CONs of using their language for building websites and where it is most and least applicable. They should mention the open source and/or inexpensive solutions that are available for the platform especially any tools as well as CMS and other apps. The second hour will be for audience Q&A.

The meeting will be held at the Ga Tech Advanced Technology Development Center at 5th and Spring at 6:45pm. We are a four month old organization that has over 200 members. Our last meeting on SEO had 70 attendees; we expect this topic will draw 40 to 50. In addition, it would be great help to have as many PHP advocates in the audience as possible because we will be asking for shows of hands for who uses what technologies. Please RSVP at [1] if you are in Atlanta and would like to attend (RSVP is required.)

So if you know someone to recommend, I greatly appreciate it if you could let me know (sooner than later as time is running out.)

-Mike Schinkel
organizer@atlanta-web.org
http://atlanta-web.org
404-276-1276 (cell)

[grahame]

Mike, I would love to do that for you ... I do a lot of PHP advocay and training (other languages too!) .... but it's very short notice and you're halfway around the world. I don't suppose you would meet the travel and accommodation expenses for your speakers if they give their time for free?

[masonbarge]

Graham, if you're serious, I'd be happy to give you a free room. We have a nice private little guest bedroom (with bath) upstairs with separate zoned HVAC (yes you'll need air-conditioning in mid-May here -- welcome to the South, y'all).

I'm about two or three miles from Georgia Tech. It's a 5-10 minute drive or maybe 30 minutes on public transportation, due mostly to having to walk. Atlanta is a car town unfortunately. The only really good public transport is an excellent train running from inside the airport for $1.75.

[grahame]

Mason, if you're so close by, could you help Mike? Personally, I could be serious if he came back with an agreement to pick up my other out of pocket expenses - primarily travel. But at this late stage I think that all the cheap flights will have gone. I've emailed him and will keep you posted. Thanks for the accom offer ... that might be a nice change from a plastic hotel!

[MikeSchinkel]

Thanks for the thought. Actually, we want local people as my groups goal is to build out the local ecosystem and make connections for people and make it be know that local resources are available. Also, as it is not a for-profit meeting, there would be no funds to pay for flying in an expert from oversees, let alone six of them! But thanks for asking.

Are there not people in Atlanta who are running a reasonably high volume of traffic website know other platforms, and yet still use PHP?

-Mike

[MikeSchinkel]

Originally Posted by masonbarge

I'm about two or three miles from Georgia Tech.

So Mason, can you attend our meeting?

[grahame]

Originally Posted by MikeSchinkel

Thanks for the thought. Actually, we want local people as my groups goal is to build out the local ecosystem ....

OK ... thanks for letting me know, Mike; I know that we tend to buy locally when we can too. Hope your meeting goes well.

[masonbarge]

I will certainly attend if I can Mike, it would be extremely interesting. There are personal things that might interfere.

[masonbarge]

Originally Posted by grahame

Mason, if you're so close by, could you help Mike?

If you mean make a presentation, no, I'm not qualified. Believe me, I'm one of the minority of people who have no trouble speaking in public and I'd offer if I was even close to meeting the qualifications.

Mike, my best guess would be that Zend would be able to suggest someone who fits the bill.

[MikeSchinkel]

Originally Posted by masonbarge

If you mean make a presentation, no, I'm not qualified. Believe me, I'm one of the minority of people who have no trouble speaking in public and I'd offer if I was even close to meeting the qualifications.

Mike, my best guess would be that Zend would be able to suggest someone who fits the bill.

Thanks Mason. Cal Evans of Zend really could not offer any suggestions but fortunately I found Neil Green to help.

Hope to see you there (please introduce yourself, and please RSVP if you can attend so I can get an accurate count.)

-Mike