- Email: akgraner at ubuntu dot com
- IRC: akgraner
Launchpad Profile: https://launchpad.net/~akgraner
Wiki Profile Page: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/AmberGraner
Bio
My experience in the F/LOSS and Ubuntu Communities steadily increased throughout 2009. Since February I have contributed – and plan to continue contributing – to the following areas of the community
1st Reviewer, Jono Bacon's latest book, The Art of Community
Participated and helped set up in Community Leadership Summit
- Staffed the Linux New Media (Linux Pro Magazine and Ubuntu User magazine) booth at OSCON
Helped Plan, Staff and execute Atlanta Linux Fest and UbuCon during this Fest
Negotiated Shuttleworth's announcement of Ubuntu -L naming from Atlanta Linux Fest
- Participated in Ohio Linux Fest and worked the Linux New Media booth
- Helped Plan Karmic Open Week
- Involved in Ubuntu Women Project
- Interviewer for Full Circle Magazine for the Women in Ubuntu Series
Launched the Ubuntu Community blog on the international Ubuntu User magazine site
Maintained personal blog about moving to Ubuntu and contributing to the Ubuntu community
- Participated Remotely in UDS- Karmic and advocated for people to use this method to participate
- Participated in Person in UDS -L as a sponsored participant
- Lead Ubuntu Women Session at UDS-L
- Lead Loco-leadership Handbook series at UDS-L
Wrote Blueprint for this project and started the handbook for this project
People are not born with leadership skills – they are learned and mastered over time. I have been developing these skills for more than 20 years. My leadership skills started with military service in the US Army, where I served as an Intelligence Analyst and Intelligence Editor during the first Gulf War. After leaving the military, I started work in the hospitality industry, and my first year in that field was recognized with a leadership award. While in the hospitality industry, I served in many leadership roles, including Reservations Manager, Revenue Manager, Director of Operations, and General Manager. In the community service realm, I have helped organize team activities such as Relay for Life, worked for the National MS society organizing walks, helped organize blood drives for the American Red Cross, and organized numerous educational programs for various churches.
Future Goals for team
To help the Project become a cohesive, well-respected, highly productive team within the Ubuntu Community. I want to see the Ubuntu Women Project become a role model for women within the Ubuntu, Open Source, and the broader Technology Arena. We already have the Full Circle Magazine Interviews, but we can do much more. I would like to see meet-ups, dinners, Ubuntu Hours, and other team-building efforts at Linux events around the world.
I want to make sure that governance is documented, and this includes how the channel(s) operate. I think the Ubuntu Women Project/Team should work enthusiastically with other teams in the community, which will help increase visibility and encourage women in all areas of our Ubuntu community.
I want to help the team recognize the unique experiences, opinions, and skill sets contributed by its individual team members, and help it foster an environment of tolerance with a policy to agree to disagree on occasion, without letting the differences of opinions stall the efforts and goals of the team. By thoroughly documenting team goals, I plan to help the team focus on reaching them together, while setting the bar high for other contributors within the community.
I want to see Ubuntu Women focus on recruiting, supporting, encouraging and retaining women in the Ubuntu project, doing so by providing positive role models, mentoring, encouragement, and resources for women. I believe Ubuntu Women's political activism should be within the Ubuntu Project, and its work should be done mostly through encouragement and support, not through confrontational rhetoric
Testimonials
Here others can offer testimonials in the following format:
"Amber is a wonderful contributor to the Ubuntu community, and she has demonstrated a high level of commitment and passion to help drive the Ubuntu Women project to success. She is organized, driven, fair and inspiring in her work. I would absolutely support her nomination for leadership". - JonoBacon
"As a member of the North Carolina LoCo team, and having worked with Amber on a number of events for the Ubuntu community in general, I can honestly say that there is not another person, that I have seen in Open Source and FLOSS, that is willing to go the extra 2 miles on any aspect of a cause that she believes in other than Amber. I often find myself helping out on events that I had never even heard of until a week prior. She has the innate leadership ability necessary to create success for any team as she has clearly demonstrated in every aspect of Ubuntu community participation that she has attempted thus far." - Jeremy Foshee
Amber came to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter eager to help. Well, I've seen that before. But when I saw the way she took instruction - sometimes minimal instruction - and made it work, I was surprised. Then I noted how she took correction, accepting it as a way to learn and do better rather than an affront to her ego, and I was amazed. She very quickly went from someone being taught to someone who worked with us as an equal, giving and taking suggestions as if she'd been there for a much longer period of time. I am impressed with her work ethic, her personality, and what I know of her activities outside the UWN. I have no problem in supporting her nomination for leadership of Ubuntu Women. - CraigAEddy
Amber has really jumped started the whole Ubuntu Women's project! Her enthusiasm and willingness to help make her an outstanding community member and leader. I have heard so many good things about over the past year and was glad to finally meet her at UDS and see that she is every bit as genuine and helpful in real life. I look forward to seeing her continue her leadership roles in the community and this project. Cheers for Amber! - Dinda, BelindaLopez
- Amber Graner first worked with us at OSCON 2009 by helping staff our booth, give our magazines (Linux Pro and Ubuntu User) to new readers, and sign up new subscribers. She quickly learned about our products and editorial mission and offered fresh new ideas for marketing our magazines. In fact, we thought her infectious enthusiasm, community involvement, reliability, and excellent communication and leadership skills made her an ideal fit for our team, so in October 2009 we invited her to be our Ubuntu Community blogger on our growing ubuntu-user.com site. I highly support her nomination for the leadership of Ubuntu Women. -- Rikki Kite, Associate Publisher of Linux Pro Magazine and Ubuntu User.
Having worked with Amber over IRC since UDS Karmic it's amazing the enthusiasm she brings to the table. Meetings over Skype to work on ideas and brainstorm on how we can progress. I got to meet her at UDS Lucid and work with her on a number of community events and it was a pleasure bouncing ideas off her and laying down plans for the work ahead. +1 czajkowski
Amber became involved in the Ubuntu community less than a year ago and I think she has not only hit the floor runnning, but is sprinting. Her list of growing accomplishments speaks for itself, but I've personally appreciated Amber's involvement with organizing Ubuntu Open Week, her insightful blog posts about becoming involved in the Ubuntu Community, and her participation at UDS-Lucid. I think she's more than demonstrated her commitment, passion, and enthusiasm to bring the Ubuntu Women Project together, focus on a clear set of goals, and most importantly get things done! I fully support her nomination for the leadership position of the Ubuntu Women Project. -- LeannOgasawara
In a short time Amber has certainly made her mark in the Ubuntu Community
A shining example is her involvement in organising the Atlanta Linux Fest/UbuCon. She has all my full support for the leadership position of the Ubuntu Women Project. -- ClaireNewman I first met Amber at the Community Leadership Summit and OSCon in 2009. I was initially impressed that there was a person on the planet capable of tolerating Pete's work habits. I became more impressed when, after more than 20 minutes of interaction with me, she had yet to become violent. 'Nuff said. Rock on, Amber.
-- KurtvonFinck Before Amber became involved the ubuntu-nc group was stalled. We'd had one Global Bug Jam and had a few people participating on IRC. Amber swooped in and gave the group a necessary shot of enthusiasm and got people excited about Ubuntu and open source. She doesn't do all of the work herself but she provides the momentum to get things rolling, which is the way it should be. --BradCrittenden
Amber is a smart person with a great capacity to learn, and she grows every single day. She adds a lot to the Ubuntu Women project
-- MelissaDraper Amber has been a friendly face in the Ubuntu Women project, always willing to help out where needed and working to be a force to keep it moving. -- PenelopeStowe
Amber is a focused, capable, high energy individual with a passion for Ubuntu that I have not seen before. She also has some of the most incredible social skills I have ever encountered. +1 from me. Amber rocks! -- MariaRandazzo
Although I have not worked with Amber with regards to Ubuntu Women, I have worked with her on other things. Amber is very passionate about all of her work. She is a hard worker, and is always looking for new ways she can contribute to the community. I have watched as she has taken the initiative to organize and plan several events in the past. Although the majority of Amber's work is of very high quality, she is always willing to listen to feedback from her peers in order to make her work even better. I believe Amber has all of the skills necessary to be an effective Ubuntu Women Leader. I fully support Amber's nomination. -- nhandler 2009-12-19 00:12:25
Amber is involved in the organisation of a staggering amount of Ubuntu related activities and wants to focus activities in a very positive direction. If you want an organised leader who gets stuff done then Amber is the right choice. -- AlanBell
Amber has shown time and time again that she is an awesome leader and is extremely commited to whatever she sets her mind on. The Ubuntu-Women Team has been making great strides, and I feel Amber has already had a significant impact on the team. There's no doubt in my mind that she is a wise choice for the Team Lead. -- itnet7 2009-12-23 04:37:07
Amber's enthusiasm serves as an inspiration to me. Her organizational skills and leadership abilities would be an asset to the Ubuntu Women's team, and I feel confident that she would move the team in a new, cohesive direction. And not only do I fully support her as the Ubuntu Women's team lead, I am thankful to call her my friend. -- MichelleQimo
I haven't been involved with the Ubuntu Community for very long, even though I've had the desire to be. I recently went to my first LoCo meeting here in North Carolina where I met Amber. She has been am amazing resource in helping understand the community and the various ways to contribute; showing a patient determination for new comers such as myself. I appreciate very much all the time she has taken in helping me, and would quickly say that she is a mentor. -- Daniel Caleb
Although Amber is relatively new to UW, she brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm that is very infectious. She has had a good impact on our team and integrated herself very smoothly. Definitely an asset to have. My +1 to her nomination. I love reading her ubuntu-related blogs. Svaksha
Amber is an important community leader for the users of the Ubuntu Desktop Edition.Based on this experience I believe that any organization would be fortunate to have her in a leadership position. RickSpencer
I've had the pleasure of working with Amber on several occasions. Her openness and professional approach to the projects she is involved in has earned her respect across the community. Having watched her take leadership of several community projects, I can eagerly recommend her for leadership of Ubuntu Women. -- dantrevino 2010-01-04 16:15:40
Amber is completely dedicated to the Ubuntu Community. She is a great example of how quickly someone can become an influential member if the right amount of time, dedication, and patience is invested. As a person, I believe she truly personifies the African "ubuntu" philosophy and will be an outstanding leader of Ubuntu Women. --robbie.w
Amber's been a crucial person during UDS and Ubuntu Open Week, she's always keen to help dig people out of holes when they're swamped! --jorge
Amber and I worked together to help organize the Atlanta Linux Fest in 2009. Without her hard work, we would not have been able to make it a successful event. Amber's leadership skills and devotion to Women in Open Source make her an ideal candidate for this position. -- Matir
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