Cal Evans I am a man of many skills, but few talents.

Hey There, I'm Cal Evans

Cal Evans

Hey, folks! I'm Cal Evans – a storyteller, a teacher, and a technology leader who's spent decades diving into code, cocktails, and everything in between. Think of me as that guy who's equally at home wrangling PHP teams or mixing up a mean drink. As Captain Mal Reynolds once said in Firefly, "I aim to misbehave" – but only in the best ways, like turning complex ideas into fun, easy-to-grasp lessons.

A Bit About Me

I've been knee-deep in the tech world since the '80s, starting with a humble VIC-20 and progressing all the way to Windows, macOS, and my personally favorite Linux. Over the years, I've built and led software development teams at places like Zend Technologies, Nexus, Evolved Digital, and more. My PHP journey? It's been epic – from speaking at conferences worldwide to running the longest-running PHP podcast, Voices of the Elephant. I've organized events like Day Camp 4 Developers, where pros share real-world tips on everything from coding to career growth.

Projects

These days, I'm channeling my inner storyteller through new projects.

  • Check out Hearts n' Tales, my bi-weekly podcast that shines a light on small distilleries across the U.S. I chat with owners and master distillers about their wild rides – from family recipes gone right to those "oops" moments that turned into breakthroughs. It's all about celebrating the craft and the folks behind it.
  • Then there's Order of Mixology, my guide to becoming a confident home bartender. No fancy bar lingo here – just practical tips on tools, flavors, and the science behind a great cocktail.
  • I built that site using my new tool, StaticForge, a speedy PHP static site generator that's event-driven and super extensible. (Proud dad moment: I used it for this homepage too!)
  • I also built Florida Band Music, the official site for Florida Band – four road-worn musicians born in the bars and built on the road, playing their way from Pensacola to the Keys.

Personal

On the personal side, I'm an amateur mixologist who loves experimenting with spirits – rum's my jam, especially at conferences. I'm also a retired PADI Staff Instructor, so I've traded code reviews for coral reefs now and then.

Want to see me in action? Here's a fun clip from my keynote in Bulgaria, where I goofed around with the photographer: Watch on YouTube.

Me Around the Web

My Projects

  • Order of Mixology
    A practical guide for home bartenders who want to make better cocktails with confidence. It focuses on tools, technique, and the "why" behind drinks without the pretension.
  • Hearts n' Tales
    A spirits storytelling podcast featuring conversations with distillers and makers from across the U.S. It highlights the craft, history, and human stories behind every bottle.
  • StaticForge
    A PHP static site generator built around an event-driven architecture and Twig templates. It is designed for fast sites, flexible customization, and straightforward content workflows.
  • Day Camp 4 Developers
    An online developer conference and training project with conference-level talks and video sessions. It helps teams keep learning through practical topics and accessible delivery.
  • Cyrano's Apprentice
    A personal poetry collection, centered mostly on love poems written for Kathy, plus playful experiments in form. It is a creative archive meant to be read, shared, and enjoyed.
  • Autobiographical Fiction
    A curated collection of childhood and life stories turned into short, narrative chapters. The project preserves family memories with updated presentation and book-ready polish.
  • Florida Band Music
    The official site for Florida Band, sharing the group's story, members, and latest releases. It serves as the band's public home for fans, music, and updates.
  • 2390saratogabay.com
    A dedicated property listing site for a Saratoga Bay home in West Palm Beach. It showcases features, photos, neighborhood context, and direct showing/contact options.
  • aeocheck.net
    A pay-per-report AEO audit tool that checks whether businesses are visible to AI answer engines. It provides graded diagnostics, prioritized fixes, and ready-to-paste technical assets.

Things I've been quoted as saying

If you have never been a software developer, you have no business managing software developers.
-- Cal Evans

Managers, if you call your people "resources", don't be surprised when they call you "overhead".
-- Cal Evans

The greatest productivity tool you can give a software developer is a door that closes.
-- Cal Evans

Pay attention to your employee's side projects; but not for the reason you think. Your newly hired Jr. Developer may be a leader in an open source project.
-- Cal Evans

It is your managers job to manage your work. It is your job to manage your career.
-- Cal Evans

When hiring developers, if you aren’t considering remote developers, then you aren’t looking for the most talented, just the most convenient.
-- Cal Evans

Somedays you are the windshield, some days you are the bug.

If it is my day to be the bug then may I be an explosive-tipped, armor-piercing bug, and may the windshield rue the day it decided to block my progress.
-- Cal Evans

Don't be worried about making mistakes. Be worried about making them again.
-- Cal Evans

Get in Touch

Got a story to share, a question about PHP, or just want to chat mixology? Hit me up through my contact form. I promise to respond faster than Homer Simpson grabs a donut.