After more than 15 years of building and maintaining a successful business mainly based on Joomla, Josean decided that the time had come to collaborate with the Joomla project. After attending the Forum for the future in January 2020, he joined the Marketing team.
Thanks for participating, Josean! Could you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in San Sebastian and currently live with my wife and daughters in Zarautz, a coastal town in the Basque Country famous for surfing and its long beach. As for work, I founded the company ACV multimedia with my partner Edurne Rubio in 2001, and we have two offices in the province of Gipuzkoa.
What do you do for a day job, and if this includes Joomla, how?
As mentioned before, I’m one of the founders of ACV Multimedia, a design and creative services agency. In 20 years recently turned, we have over 300 clients and 200 websites running. And of those websites, easily 95% are created in Joomla! We always try to make custom websites even if we use a template. However, since three years ago, we have learned to use frameworks and plugins from recognised developers to get results just as professional but with less effort.
How did you get involved with Joomla and the J! Community?
In 2019 I was invited to be a speaker at the JoomlaDay Madrid. I talked about our company and our experience working with Joomla in ACV Multimedia. A few months later, I attended the Forum for the Future event in Marbella, and there I realised that I could contribute to the project and started to work as a volunteer.
What made you become a volunteer?
At the Forum for the Future event, I realised that I had spent 15 years taking advantage of other volunteers’ work to benefit my company. At that moment, I thought it was time to change that and take part. I also believe that Joomla 4 is a significant turning point for the future of Joomla, and we have to try to get as good as possible to that day.
Are you involved in the Joomla community, apart from in your official position?
At this moment, no. I can’t give more time at the moment with work and family. Maybe in the future.
How did Joomla change your life?
I achieved to create a successful business thanks to Joomla, almost nothing 🙂. Besides business, I’ve met many people and made excellent friends. Plus, a CMS that is Open Source and also motivates and helps personal ethics.
What did you learn and/or gain personally from being a J! Volunteer?
I have learned that sometimes things go slow because many people want to share their opinions. And being all volunteers, the speeds and views are various. The truth is that it is a challenging job. You learn not to get overwhelmed and to be as diplomatic as possible, not to hurt sensitivities and to be able to make a group and not divisions.
Do you have a memorable Joomla-moment?
I remember my first JoomlaDay in Logroño very affectionately and especially the one in Sevilla. I had my first contact with the Spanish community, and I will always carry them in my heart. The Forum for the Future in Marbella is also unforgettable, but it was a different circumstance.