Michelle Huffaker - From Pratt to WordPress: Creative & Cultural Journey

Send us Fan MailAn unexpected conversation with a woman who visited a college roomate on a trip to San Diego with her husband and never left. The conversation with Michelle touches on her upbringing in New Orleans, Louisiana, and her educational journey. Michelle describes her nerdy childhood and the move to a specialized high school in upstate Louisiana, which led her to attend college at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Her experience at Pratt included studying communication design in an era before digital design was prominent, learning traditional graphic design techniques. She later taught herself web design and development using tools like Dreamweaver and HTML/CSS, adapting to the evolving digital landscape.Michelle and her husband Sandy eventually moved to San Diego, where they raised three children. Despite considering relocating to New Orleans in 2005, they ultimately decided to remain in San Diego due to her husband's established career as a photojournalist. The couple did purchase a fixer-upper in New Orleans, which they maintain and visit regularly while tenants occupy part of it. Michelle speaks fondly of New Orleans, praising its vibrant cultural scene, street music, and art.Michelle reveals her professional background, focusing on web design and her extensive experience in the field. She emphasizes her role as a problem solver for her clients, handling web design and business strategy, and her fascination with learning new technologies, including AI. Despite the challenges, she enjoys being the hero for her clients and values the freedom and flexibility her work offers, which enables her to pursue various interests.The conversation also delves into Michelle's involvement in the WordPress community. She recounts attending her first WordCamp in Long Beach and networking with notable figures in the WordPress space, such as Sabrina Zeidan and Cammie MacNamara. Michelle expresses a deep appreciation for WordPress and the community, which has been instrumental in her professional growth and provides a supportive environment.Lastly, Michelle shares her reading preferences, favoring historical fiction and books that feature resilient female protagonists. She prefers physical books but often listens to audiobooks to multitask. The discussion concludes with a recommendation to feature Noel Tock from Human Made on a future episode of the podcast, highlighting his significant contributions to the WordPress community and inspiring humanitarian efforts.