Picture a woman who is part of the all-female WordPress 5.6 release team; nominated for Rochester 2020 Technology Woman of the Year; and recent winner of the Yoast Cares Award.
She’s a powerhouse mentor for women in technology and the WordPress community. She spends her days supporting GiveWP customers to ensure their fundraisers are set up for success. By night and weekends, she volunteers as a local WordPress meetup and WordCamp organizer. There is no stopping this woman.
Would you believe me if I told you that she is also over 50?
Michelle Frechette: Defying Technological Stereotypes
Like many people in the WordPress community, we first met Michelle at WordCamp Pittsburgh in 2016. Her energy and passion for people and all things community was clear from “Hello!”
We quickly learned that Michelle has an impressive job history and list of accomplishments. So, we recruited her to build our Customer Success Department from the ground up. Her efforts have contributed to a large number of 5-star online reviews and long-term customer relationships.
We couldn’t be more proud to have Michelle on the Team!
Just in the past few years, Michelle has:
- Won the 2016 Up and Coming Business Woman of the Year for Rochester Women’s Network
- Served as a WordCamp US Volunteer Organizer for two consecutive years.
- Served as a local WordPress Community Organizer for her area on the east Coast
- Spoken at too many WordCamps to count
- Won the Yoast Cares Award
As anyone working in technology, Michelle’s list of achievements is impressive. As a woman above the age of fifty, it’s even more inspiring.
Your WP Coffee Talk Barista
You might also recognize Michelle from her podcast, WP Coffee Talk. In 2019, she started this podcast to interview WordPress professionals about their experience with WordPress as a software and as a community. In addition to many members of our own team, Michelle has interviewed many people who are involved in the making of WordPress.
What Else is in Store for Michelle?
Michelle is always full of upcoming events and accolades, and now is no exception. Here’s a few upcoming events or announcements that you can plan to hear from Michelle about.
- Rochester’s Tech Woman of the Year
Michelle was nominated for this award by her co-worker and TeamGive member Amanda Gorman. We think she’s a shoe-in. Winners will be announced next week. - WordPress 5.6 Marketing Team cohort
The next release of WordPress coming to your website will be a result of a lot of work from a lot of hard-working women. This all-woman release team includes our own Michelle as part of the Marketing Team cohort. - WordCamp Philly
Michelle will be on a new and unique panel called the “Guppy Tank” at WordCamp Philly this September 26. WordPressers will get to present their WordPress project idea and have Michelle and others give them their expert insights and suggestions. - Hey Pressto
Michelle is also presenting two topics at the Hey Pressto conference this year. It’s a ClassicPress and WordPress conference that happens on Twitter. She’ll be sharing how she learned to “Stop Worrying and Start Coding” using the Hello Dolly plugin and “Reach Donors, Inspire Donations, and Build Community.” - WC Rochester
WordCamp Rochester wouldn’t be complete without a great talk from their local legend. This year Michelle will be talking about all she’s learned through her experience building and running her famous WP Coffee Talk podcast.
What Others Say About Michelle
We are admittedly and unabashedly biased when it comes to Michelle. But you don’t have to just take our word for it. Here’s what many from the WordPress Community have to say about Michelle:
“Michelle is a volcano of great ideas that she generously shares with the world. I got to know her through her commitment to the WordPress Community as an organiser, speaker and contributor. The energy she brings to everything she does is unparalleled. Mad love and respect ♥”
Francesca Marano
“Michelle is so kind, and gives back to the community so much! She is so beloved that she is even the “honourary Canadian” in our WordPress Canada chats.”
Jill Binder
“Ever since I’ve met Michelle, I’m a fan. A fan of her loving and friendly way of moving through the WordPress community, adding value everywhere she goes. It doesn’t matter if she has to help organize an event, give a presentation, host a podcast, or help customers at GiveWP, she can do -and does- it all. So it can’t be a surprise that she’s one of the stars on the WordPress 5.6 team.
For those who haven’t met her yet, you should when you have the chance. She’s awesome!”
Taco Verdo
“Michelle is an inspiration to me. She is simultaneously caring and kind while being unafraid to stand up for herself, others, and what is right. She’s an incredible person.”
Christie Chirinos
“I am endlessly grateful to have gotten to know and work with Michelle through WordPress. Michelle’s passion for our community is inspirational, and her incredible energy and enthusiasm makes people feel welcome and supported. She has an amazing gift for connecting with others, and her generosity of spirit brings invaluable joy to everything she touches.”
Angela Jin
“Michelle is amazing. She always looks for opportunities to help other people and looking for ways to lift others up. WordPress is blessed to have her in our community!”
Kathy Zant
“Michelle is an incredible individual. She is kind and caring and constantly ensuring that other people are cared for before herself. She is wicked smart and hilarious. She is the type of person that you can not get enough of. The kind that when you hear her laugh you want to seek it out because you want to be laughing with her too. I consider myself blessed to know & call her a friend and I hope that continues for years to come.”
Tessa Kriesel
“Michelle Frechette is a great leader in WordPress. She demonstrates and nurtures community, clear communication & customer success in tech.”
Chris Badgett
Meet Michelle
If you are a GiveWP customer, most likely you’ve already met Michelle. Either way, Michelle would love to help you have success with GiveWP. Book a demo here and ask for Michelle!
You can also find Michelle online at Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and her personal website.
Do us a favor: if you appreciated learning about Michelle today, give us a comment below, or send her a Tweet and mention @GiveWP.
Hattip to Jer Clarke for the photo from WordCamp Montreal
About the Author
