Speaker Bios

Chris Breen:

Christopher Breen has been writing about Apple and technology since the latter days of the Reagan Administration for such publications as MacUser, MacWEEK, and Macworld. Breen, a senior editor for Macworld, currently pens Macworld’s popular tips and troubleshooting column, Mac 911. In addition to contributing to other areas of the magazine and web site, he hosts the Macworld Podcast. He’s the author of many books including The iPhone Pocket Guide and The iPod Touch Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press). When not engaged in journalistic endeavors he works as a musician in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Victor Cajiao:

Victor Cajiao is the founder of Typical Media Group LLC a company focused on production and consultation services for New Media producers. He also host and producer of the Typical Mac User Podcast and the Typical Shutterbug Podcast. Victor has been a part of podcasting and new media since April of 2024. An IT professional for over 18 years, Victor’s understanding of technology and teaching brings a focus to the show that enables the subscriber to learn, grow and have fun.

Bryan Chaffin:

Co-founder, co-publisher and sometime editor of The Mac Observer. Bryan began using Apple computers in 1983 in a high school BASIC programming class. He started using Macs in 1990 when the Kinko’s guy taught him how to use Aldus PageMaker, finally buying a Power Computing Power 100 in 1995. Today, Bryan is the Editor of The Mac Observer, and has contributed to the print versions of MacAddict and MacFormat (UK)

Chris Christensen:

Chris Christensen created “Amateur Traveler,” a weekly hour-long audio and video podcast, to keep you as far away from tourists wearing jean shorts and Big Johnson T-shirts as possible. Each episode explores world destinations with guidebook writers, journalists, and veteran nomads. You’ll learn the best place to find lobster paella in Barcelona, how to motorbike through India, and where to go for a far-flung family vacation. Whet your wanderlust by scrolling through the archive of more than 125 past broadcasts.

Adam Christianson:

My love affair with Apple began in the early 80’s when I wrote my first BASIC programs on the Apple IIe.

10 PRINT “Apple Rules!”
20 GOTO 10

My first Apple was a IIGS which I acquired by successfully talking my Dad out of purchasing a Mac Plus (Ahh, to be young and naive again). A steady stream of Macs followed. I made it through college using my trusty Mac Plus and after graduation migrated to a Performa 575. The Performa sustained me while working in pre-press for a successful Portland, OR advertising agency. In Portland, with the help of the local Mac User Group (PMUG), I quickly made friends with other Mac Geeks and officially joined the Cult of Macintosh. My career quickly moved from pre-press to IT services, while all along doing freelance web design and development under the name Terraform Creative. After and brief stint on the PMUG board of directors, I purchased a shiny new B&W G3, packed up my stuff and moved to San Diego to dry out. I began a new life as a Software Engineer and sought out new Mac Geeks in the San Diego Macintosh Users Group (SDMUG). I currently serve on the Board of Directors for SDMUG, as well as the Board of the San Diego Computer Society (SDCS). In August 2024, I discovered Podcasting and became instantly addicted. In early December 2024 I put out the first MacCast and I haven’t stopped since. I currently produce and publish the MacCast each week and I am having a great time doing it. The Macintosh and the Mac community continue to amaze and inspire me and I am happy to be one of the crazy ones.

Jeff Gamet:

Jeff Gamet is Managing Editor of The Mac Observer, contributing editor for Design Tools Monthly, and also co-hosts the Apple Context Maching, Design Tools Weekly and iPhone Alley podcasts. He is actively involved in the blogging and social media world. Jeff is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X,” and travels around the U.S. speaking on design and Apple-related topics, including popular events like Macworld Expo and the RSA Conference on technology security. Jeff dreams in HD.

Paul Garay:

Paul is an accomplished Mac-musician (since 1984), film & T.V. composer, podcaster, multimedia producer, and co-founder of MacVideoTraining.com. His credits include speaking at many different Apple seminars in the U.S. and Canada, co-hosting Apple’s Podcast Recipe on-line webinar, the founder of the Inside Home Recording podcast, and one of the founder’s of MacVideoTraining.com, a leader in video-based training for all Mac users.

Jim Heid:

Jim Heid began working with Mac prototypes in 1983, started writing for Macworld magazine in 1984, and has been on the masthead ever since. He’s the author of The Macintosh iLife series of bestselling books on Apple’s iLife software. At lynda.com, the world’s largest provider of on-line video training, he’s responsible for developing video courses on Photoshop and photography. Jim lives on the Mendocino coast and is a frequent speaker NCMUG and the Macintosh Computer Expo.

Bert Monroy:

Bert Monroy was born and raised in New York City where he spent 20 years in the advertising industry as an art director and creative director for various agencies as well as his own. Upon discovering computers with the introduction of the Macintosh 128 in 1984, he embarked on a new digital career. He embraced the computer as an artistic medium and is considered one of the pioneers of digital art. Bert’s work has been seen in every major trade publication of the computer industry. His work has also been featured in scores of books which include Making Art on a Macintosh, The Photoshop WOW Book, The Illustrator WOW Book, The Art of Digital Painting, The Grey Book and The Photoshop A to Z in Japan.

Tom Negrino & Dori Smith

Tom Negrino is an instructor and the author of more than three dozen books, including multiple books about the iWork suite and Microsoft Office. He is a longtime contributor to Macworld and other magazines. Dori Smith cofounded the Web Standards Project, founded the Wise-Women community, and has programmed computers for decades. Together, they’ve written several best-selling books for Peachpit Press.

Kerry Rego:

Kerry is a born and raised Santa Rosa local. Her background is in office management, executive & personal assisting, recruiting, and entertainment. She has two A.A.S. degrees, one in Software Applications and one in Computerized Business.
Kerry opened Kerry Rego Consulting in 2024, specializing in organization & efficiency of physical spaces, social media & technology training, and is a professional speaker. With current projects ranging from email marketing campaigns, social media classes, social media strategy, technology lessons, and a grassroots public relations campaign in conjunction with the City of Santa Rosa, things are busy for Kerry.

She is very active in her community in a variety of ways from the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Santa Rosa Alumni Board, Rotary, Hispanic Chamber, North Bay Organizers & Coaches, Go Local Cooperative and much more. She is married to Dan Rego, owner of a residential and commercial painting company, and mother to one child, Joy, who is 4.

Ronnie Roche:

Ronnie Roche is a Certified Member of the Apple Consultants Network. Her company, Design Solutions-Technology Simplified, specializes in one to one and small group instruction and general consulting for all things Mac. She also teaches seminars on Mac related computing and applications. Her motto is “I read the manual so you don’t have to.”

Kurt Schmucker:

Kurt Schmucker is the Senior Mac Evangelist in the Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) at Microsoft Corp. He’s primarily charged with customer and press interaction, helping to demonstrate Office for Mac both inside and outside the company.

Prior to Microsoft, Schmucker worked at Connectix where he was the vice president for Macintosh products, including Virtual PC for Macintosh. Prior to Connectix, he worked at Apple for over ten years, primarily in their Advanced Technology Group, and for the US Department of Defense as a mathematician and computer scientist. Kurt received graduate degrees in math and computer science from Michigan State, Johns Hopkins, and The George Washington University. He is the author of three books and has lectured internationally on object-oriented programming, UI design, and virtualization.

Outside of work, Kurt has been a fencer for many years, has three times been a member of the US team at the world championships, and has also been the coach of the US team. (Check out the pictures on http://www.naginata.org.)

Lesa Snider:

Lesa is on a mission to teach the world to create-and use!-better graphics. She’s a stock photographer and chief evangelist for iStockphoto, and founder of the creative tutorial site GraphicReporter.com. Lesa is the author of Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual (Pogue Press/O’Reilly) and many video training titles including From Photo to Graphic Art, Practical Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop Elements 8 for Photographers (all by KelbyTraining.com), plus Graphic Secrets for Business Professionals (Lynda.com). She writes a regular column for Photoshop User, Elements Techniques, and Macworld magazines, and contributes frequently to CreativePro.com and Layers. Lesa is also a member of the Photoshop World Dream Team of instructors and can be spotted teaching at other conferences such as Macworld Expo, UCDA Design Conference, Geek Girl Boot Camp, Graphics of the Americas, Santa Fe Workshops and many more.

During free time, you’ll find her carving the twisties on her sportbike or hanging with fellow Apple Mac enthusiasts. Lesa is a proud member of the BMWMOA, F800 Riders Club, and CoMUG.

Derrick Story:

Derrick Story is a professional photographer, writer, and teacher. He has poured his passion for photography into authoring several books, including The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers and The Digital Photography Companion (both O’Reilly Media). He is also a Senior Contributor for Macworld magazine where he writes a digital photography column, and a regular presenter on the popular training site, Lynda.com. Online, Derrick has formed a virtual camera club called The Digital Story (www.thedigitalstory.com) that’s open to all photography enthusiasts and features a weekly podcast. Derrick is a member of the conference faculty for Macworld, and speaks regularly at technology events. He is also the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro pro camera gear. You can follow Derrick online via his Twitter account: Derrick_Story.

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