Share your expertise at EvolveDrupal Boston!

June 6, 2025

Microsoft NERD Center
Cambridge, MA

Join industry leaders and inspire the digital community. Whether you’re a developer, designer, strategist, AI enthusiast or technologist with a bold idea or powerful story to tell, we want to hear from you.

Submit a session

EvolveDrupal returns in

45
Days
12
Hours
44
Mins
29
Secs

Speakers

Gain insights from top innovators in design and tech.

Steve
Persch

Director, Developer Relations
Pantheon Platform

About the speaker:

Steve draws on years of development experience—and a past life in theatre—to bring clarity, strategy, and the occasional laugh to the world of web platforms.

Session details:

The Dramatic and Poetical Tale of the Website Hierarchy of Needs
#
Tech & AI

What happens when a web team drifts apart?

When shared goals fade and each role optimizes in isolation? This session explores the all-too-familiar story of a simple stakeholder request that sparks a chain of miscommunication across siloed teams. Through poetic narrative and practical insight,  learn to spot the signs early and realign around shared goals. Reconnect your team before you get lost in the WebOps weeds.

Steve
Persch

Director, Developer Relations
Pantheon Platform

Penny
Kronz

VP of Client Services & Support
DubBot

About the speaker:

Penny Kronz has over 18 years of consulting experience with website best practices and accessibility for higher education organizations. Penny has also worked as a website administrator for the Division of Public Health in Georgia. She prides herself on staying up-to-date on accessibility requirements. She has the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) certification through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).

Session details:

ABCs of Website Accessibility
#
Digital Strategy & Comms

A is for Accessibility, B is for Barriers. A run down of web accessibility terminology in a simple, approachable format.

Penny
Kronz

VP of Client Services & Support
DubBot

Shawn
Perritt

VP, Brand Strategy & Creative
Acquia

About the speaker:

Shawn leads the creation of bold, consistent brand experiences across digital channels. With a passion for design and storytelling, he brings creativity and clarity to every touchpoint.

Session details:

Brand Trust and Emotional Connections in the AI Era
#
Tech & AI

In the age of AI, trust is the new currency—and branding is how B2B marketers earn it. This talk explores how authentic, human-centered branding drives long-term growth. Learn why emotional connection beats instant results and how tools like AI and DAM systems support (but can’t replace) the human touch.

Shawn
Perritt

VP, Brand Strategy & Creative
Acquia

Michael
Miles

Director of Web Development
MIT Sloan

About the speaker:

Mike leads teams that build and grow impactful digital experiences. He’s also the host of the Developing Up podcast and a frequent speaker on open source and developer growth.

Session details:

Effective Bug Handling in Drupal Projects: Strategies for Success
#
Tech & AI

In the world of Drupal development, managing bugs effectively is crucial for creating high-quality and reliable websites and applications. This session looks at practical ways to find, track, and fix bugs in Drupal projects. We'll talk about how to use bug tracking tools in your Drupal workflow, improve teamwork among developers, site administrators, and QA engineers, and communicate clearly with stakeholders.

Using real-world examples from Drupal projects, we'll show how good bug management leads to better performance, stability, and happier users. Attendees will gain insights into prioritizing issues, reducing disruptions, and ensuring that quality assurance is a key part of the Drupal development process.

Michael
Miles

Director of Web Development
MIT Sloan

Jim
MacLeod

Author
The VIsual Marketer

About the speaker:

Jim brings a strategic, design-driven approach to branding, content, and digital experience, shaped by years across startups, agencies, and enterprise teams. He’s led rebrands, launches, and digital transformations—and is the author of The Visual Marketer, a crash course in creating smarter visuals in an AI-powered world.

Session details:

Your AI Visuals Are Fine. Until They’re Not.
#
Design & Strategy

A design talk for marketers in the age of AI. Learn how to make AI visuals work—even if you’re not a designer. Through real stories and practical tips, discover how to guide AI with key design principles and create content that connects, not just looks good. Because reach is easy—resonance takes intention.

Jim
MacLeod

Author
The VIsual Marketer

Elizabeth
Costello

Technology Experience Advisor
JSI

About the speaker:

Elizabeth Costello is a Technology Experience Advisor and Drupal Manager at JSI Research & Training Institute in Boston. She co-leads a team of designers, developers, and content managers to build web applications that improve individual and community health and education. She brings expertise in digital strategy, product management, UX design, and accessibility.

Session details:

Surface Untapped Drupal Data with Google Analytics
#
Digital Strategy & Comms

Do you find that the standard Google Analytics reports don’t convey the details you need to understand how your audience engages with your Drupal site? Do you wish web reports actually provided the data you need to evaluate your content strategy and site architecture? Join this session for a case study and roadmap for using Google Tag Manager and GA4 to surface untapped data and insights into an easy-to-use dashboard.

Elizabeth
Costello

Technology Experience Advisor
JSI

Join our speakers on stage!

We're accepting session proposals on digital strategy and communications, web development (Drupal, WordPress and more), AI, UX/UI design, business use cases, as well other CMS and tech topics.

Submit a session

We’re taking over the block:
on Friday, June 6th, grab your badge and find your people.

Attendees

Why attend EvolveDrupal?

For speakers

Enjoy free registration with full conference access, network with industry leaders at exclusive pre-summit events, and share your expertise with a diverse audience of professionals.

For attendees

Learn from 30+ expert-led sessions, build valuable connections at receptions and networking events, and enhance your digital skills.

For sponsors

Gain prominent visibility with sponsor recognition, showcase your projects through speaking opportunities, and enjoy free tickets for your team and discounts for your guests.

Topics

Digital Strategy & Comms

Explore how clear communication and effective education strategies drive engagement, learning, and community growth

Tech & AI

Discover how emerging tech and AI are transforming industries, from automation to real-world applications and ethical innovation.

Design & Strategy

Uncover the power of design thinking and strategic planning to create impactful, user-centered digital experiences.

AGENDA

Selected sessions

More and more sessions will be added over time. The full schedule will be coming soon.
Stay tuned!

Effective Bug Handling in Drupal Projects: Strategies for Success

Tech & AI

Michael Miles

Director of Web Development

MIT Sloan

Description:
In the world of Drupal development, managing bugs effectively is crucial for creating high-quality and reliable websites and applications. This session looks at practical ways to find, track, and fix bugs in Drupal projects. We'll talk about how to use bug tracking tools in your Drupal workflow, improve teamwork among developers, site administrators, and QA engineers, and communicate clearly with stakeholders. Using real-world examples from Drupal projects, we'll show how good bug management leads to better performance, stability, and happier users. Attendees will gain insights into prioritizing issues, reducing disruptions, and ensuring that quality assurance is a key part of the Drupal development process.
About speaker(s):

Mike leads teams that build and grow impactful digital experiences. He’s also the host of the Developing Up podcast and a frequent speaker on open source and developer growth.

‍

Your AI Visuals Are Fine. Until They’re Not.

Design & Strategy

Jim MacLeod

Author

The VIsual Marketer

Description:
A design talk for marketers in the age of AI. Learn how to make AI visuals work—even if you’re not a designer. Through real stories and practical tips, discover how to guide AI with key design principles and create content that connects, not just looks good. Because reach is easy—resonance takes intention.
About speaker(s):

Jim brings a strategic, design-driven approach to branding, content, and digital experience, shaped by years across startups, agencies, and enterprise teams. He’s led rebrands, launches, and digital transformations—and is the author of The Visual Marketer, a crash course in creating smarter visuals in an AI-powered world.

‍

Surface Untapped Drupal Data with Google Analytics

Digital Strategy & Comms

Elizabeth Costello

Technology Experience Advisor

JSI

Bruna Siqueira-Davis

Product & Digital Strategist

Evolving Web

Description:
Do you find that the standard Google Analytics reports don’t convey the details you need to understand how your audience engages with your Drupal site? Do you wish web reports actually provided the data you need to evaluate your content strategy and site architecture? Join this session for a case study and roadmap for using Google Tag Manager and GA4 to surface untapped data and insights into an easy-to-use dashboard.
About speaker(s):

Elizabeth Costello, Technology Experience Advisor, JSI
Elizabeth Costello is a Technology Experience Advisor and Drupal Manager at JSI Research & Training Institute in Boston. She co-leads a team of designers, developers, and content managers to build web applications that improve individual and community health and education. She brings expertise in digital strategy, product management, UX design, and accessibility.

‍

Bruna Siqueira-Davis, Product & Digital Strategist, Evolving Web
Bruna is a product strategist and UX specialist with over seven years of experience working with Drupal. She helps purpose-driven organizations align user needs with strategic goals through research, content strategy, and service design, shaping digital experiences for leading education, non-profit, and tech brands.

Brand Trust and Emotional Connections in the AI Era

Design & Strategy

Shawn Perritt

VP, Brand Strategy & Creative

Acquia

Description:
In the age of AI, trust is the new currency—and branding is how B2B marketers earn it. This talk explores how authentic, human-centered branding drives long-term growth. Learn why emotional connection beats instant results and how tools like AI and DAM systems support (but can’t replace) the human touch.
About speaker(s):

Shawn leads the creation of bold, consistent brand experiences across digital channels. With a passion for design and storytelling, he brings creativity and clarity to every touchpoint.

‍

Designing for Trust

Digital Strategy & Comms

Margot Bloomstein

Brand and Content Strategy Consultant / Adjunct Professor / Author of Trustworthy

Author of Trustworthy and Principal of Appropriate, Inc.

Description:
Our investments in clear communication, ethical innovation, and empowering digital experiences have the power to deliver trust—but more and more, people meet information with cynicism. Cynicism erodes their confidence and trust. To regain trust, we’ll look to examples in retail, publishing, government, and other industries that use content and design to empower people. Because when we give more control to users, they put more trust in us.
About speaker(s):

Margot Bloomstein is one of the most prominent voices in the content strategy industry. She is the author of Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap and Content Strategy at Work: Real-World Stories to Strengthen Every Interactive Project and is the principal of Appropriate, Inc., a brand and content strategy consultancy based in Boston.

‍

Storybook to Drupal: From Front-End Components to Live Websites

Tech & AI

Chaz Chumley

Web Application Manager - Drupal Marketing Technologies

UCLA Health

Description:
Creating a brand is hard. Implementing it is even more challenging. So, how do you take your brand, implement a Design system, and then get it to your website? We will discuss how to use Storybook, a front-end workshop for building UI components and pages in isolation, and how best for Drupal to consume those components.We will walk through just how simple it is to set up Storybook, create a component that is accessible, and how Drupal can include that component when rendering a Block, a Paragraph, or a Node.This is a front-end discussion that anyone who has a sound foundation of HTML, CSS, and Twig will be able to easily follow.
About speaker(s):

Driven by creativity and a love of learning, Chaz has built a career at the intersection of open source, education, and community. He’s authored Drupal books, taught thousands through Lynda.com, and contributed to high-profile projects like the Smithsonian’s digital initiatives. Whether mentoring, coding, or speaking at camps and conferences, Chaz brings passion, purpose, and a deep commitment to giving back.

‍

Design for Impact & Adaptability

Design & Strategy

Kristina Frantz

Former Chief Strategy Officer

Planned Parenthood Direct

Adrienne Smith

Senior Digital Strategist

Evolving Web

Description:
This session explores the collaboration between Planned Parenthood and Evolving Web to transform PlannedParenthoodDirect.org into a scalable, human-centered marketing platform on Drupal. Learn how custom blocks and flexible landing pages empowered content teams to rapidly test messaging while maintaining consistency. Gain practical insights for building mission-driven digital platforms that balance trust, performance, and editorial flexibility.
About speaker(s):

‍Kristina Frantz, Former Chief Strategy Officer, Planned Parenthood Direct
‍Kristina is a data-driven product and strategy leader with 15+ years in healthtech and femtech. After three years at Planned Parenthood Direct, she now works with a femtech fertility startup and a West African non-profit telehealth app, applying her expertise to improve healthcare access through innovative digital solutions.

Adrienne Smith, Senior Digital Strategist, Evolving Web
‍Adrienne has a masters in Information Studies and has been working in the digital content strategy space for the past ten years. She's an expert in tackling information architecture and content governance problems head on to enable efficient information retrieval and sustainable content management.

‍

‍

Reimagining the Digital Ecosystem at Rhode Island School of Design

Digital Strategy & Comms

Brian Clark

Senior Director of Digital Experience

Rhode Island School of Design

Description:
Join this session to learn how the Rhode Island School of Design launched a new Drupal-based Digital Experience Platform (DXP) as part of a major digital transformation. You'll hear about the challenges of unifying 100+ sites, gaining stakeholder buy-in, prioritizing accessibility, and creating a design system rooted in their new brand identity. The session will also explore lessons learned and practical insights from using Layout Builder and managing large-scale content migration.
About speaker(s):

As the Senior Director of Digital Experience at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Brian lead the strategy and execution of digital products and programs that transform and enhance the institution’s online presence, brand visibility, and user satisfaction. With 20 years of experience in digital media, marketing, and experience design, Brian has deep expertise in creating and managing digital ecosystems that advance an organization’s strategic priorities. Brian lives in East Greenwich, Rhode Island with his family.

The Dramatic and Poetical Tale of the Website Hierarchy of Needs

Tech & AI

Steve Persch

Director, Developer Relations

Pantheon Platform

Description:
What happens when a web team drifts apart? When shared goals fade and each role optimizes in isolation? This session explores the all-too-familiar story of a simple stakeholder request that sparks a chain of miscommunication across siloed teams. Through poetic narrative and practical insight, learn to spot the signs early and realign around shared goals. Reconnect your team before you get lost in the WebOps weeds.
About speaker(s):

Steve draws on years of development experience—and a past life in theatre—to bring clarity, strategy, and the occasional laugh to the world of web platforms.

‍

Connect
Learn
Inspire

Venue

Event location

EvolveDrupal Boston will be hosted at the Microsoft New England Research and Development (NERD) Center. Microsoft creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
View it on Google Maps

Address

One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142, United States.

Public Transit

Take the T to the Kendall/MIT stop on the Red Line.

Parking

Onsite parking available for $37 / day.

Airport

15-minute drive to the Boston Logan International Airport.

Our sponsors

upcoming

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