hmc_site_source/content/english/about/index.md

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About Handmade Cities	About	about	About Handmade Cities	false	title title_class image side content_class bg_img grid About Handmade Cities mb-20 text-center text-white center mt-16 mb-12 parallax img true /images/starry_night.png title content color content_class Sponsor-free tech events **100% indie.** We reject sponsorship because we must be allowed to criticize anyone’s software. Accepting “free” bags of money destroys our ability to change the software industry. #FC6D36 text-white title content color content_class An obligation to software quality The industry’s incentives erode ownership to extract rent from consumers. We’ve abandoned the love for our craft, the user's quality of experience, and their right to privacy. #A456EA text-white title content color content_class Self-host wherever possible Essential services for our conferences and meetups are processed in-house. For example, our servers personally generate your conference ticket—removing spying middlemen like Ticketmaster. #6B8EE8 text-white title content color content_class Reasonable growth As a [polyglot](https://vimeo.com/661662233), our founder intends to expand even outside the United States. Since we wish to retain independence, however, we’re only growing through increased audience support. #60E3C4 text-white title title_class subtitle subtitle_class image image_class section_class transition bg_color content_class content Abner Coimbre text-white -mt-2 Founder !text-[#F7CE3B] /images/people/abner_2022_512.webp rounded-full text-white start start_class start_style start_color start_dark start_dark_color /images/transition3.svg -scale-y-100 mask-size: cover;mask-position:center; black /images/transition3.svg black #060610 mt-4 [Abner](https://abner.page) is founder of Handmade Cities and the sole organizer for our conferences.<br><br>At a young age he was mentored by Kennedy Space Center on how they make software. After winning NASA’s Intern of the Year, Abner published an essay on their programming philosophy: featured in the [news](https://observer.com/2017/07/a-look-into-nasa-coding-philosophy-kennedy-space-center-programming/). He was subsequently promoted to launch control engineer.<br><br>Abner founded the [Handmade Network](https://handmade.network/), an online community learning to make quality software. He went on to work under Jonathan Blow for several years and finally Cyan Worlds to ship the [Myst remake](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1255560/Myst/).<br><br>Now in his early thirties, Abner's mounting concern of declining software standards—both ethical and technical—pushed him to run conferences and meetups full-time, with a conviction we need independent organizing more than ever. (He still loves [programming](https://terminal.click) though.) title title_class image side content_class bg_img grid notice Our Advisory Board mb-20 text-center text-white center mt-16 mb-12 parallax img true /images/starry_night.png title content color content_class Zac Nowicki Tech lead at [Kagi](https://kagi.com) Search. #9B8EE8 text-white title content color content_class Mary Bush Seattle indie developer (formerly in logistics/healthcare tech). #9B8EE8 text-white title content color content_class Jon Stevens Senior game developer at Bitshift Entertainment: new studio by Notch, creator of Minecraft. #9B8EE8 text-white title content color content_class Matt Nite Organizer at [Software You Can Love](https://softwareyoucanlove.ca): plus meetups, workshops, and more. #9B8EE8 text-white title content color content_class Unlisted Member Indie dev. Former co-worker and colleague of Abner's. Values privacy but willing to share more when requested. #9B8EE8 text-white title content color content_class NASA Observer Unofficial observer with no voting power. Well-regarded hardware engineer at NASA. Due to current climate, their involvement is anonymous. #9B8EE8 text-white **Note:** The board is a volunteer role. Member's opinions are their own, not their employer's. title title_class subtitle subtitle_class bg_color image image_class content_class section_class content Morgan Rammell text-white Event Coordinator !text-[#F7CE3B] #060610 /images/people/morgan_cropped_512.webp rounded-full !pt-24 text-white Morgan’s done corporate event planning for several years but is now interested in the indie space. She oversees the logistics of running and facilitating Handmade conferences, working with the venue to solve any issues that arise in real-time.<br> Born and raised in Washington state you’ll find Morgan snowboarding, hiking, camping, and even rock-climbing! title title_class subtitle subtitle_class bg_color image image_class content_class section_class content Phil Homan text-white Technical Producer !text-[#F7CE3B] #060610 /images/people/phil_homan_512.webp rounded-full !pt-16 text-white Phil Homan, who goes by [PH Test](https://phtest.tv/), is a Seattle developer with a knack for multidisciplinary work: live-performance visuals, experimental programs, games, and video production—often with tools he made himself!<br> Phil joined Handmade Cities to help Abner with matters related to streaming, recording, and A/V support at the conferences. title title_class subtitle subtitle_class bg_color image image_class content_class section_class content Devon ([tek256](https://tek256.com)) text-white Editor !text-[#F7CE3B] #060610 /images/people/devon.jpg rounded-full !pt-16 !pb-32 text-white Devon is a guy who makes things.<br>(like a PSX style souls like in C on [stream](https://twitch.tv/tek256)) title title_class subtitle subtitle_class bg_color content_class section_class content Mr. Perkins text-white Secretary !text-[#F7CE3B] #060610 !pt-16 !pb-32 text-white Mr. Perkins is Abner's part-time assistant, always working through his backlog of texts, emails or invoices.