About Me: 

Hi, I’m Marcel, a passionate Drupal enthusiast. I was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania—home to the prestigious European Youth Capital title in 2015, where I actively participated in volunteer activities. Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s second-largest city, is a thriving academic hub, with 11 universities and a growing reputation for top IT talent.

My professional journey began with founding ZetNet, a networking and telecommunications company in 2003, following my departure from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca’s Telecommunications programme. At ZetNet, I provided high-speed internet connectivity to thousands of customers in Cluj-Napoca at a time when such speeds were inaccessible to many. We delivered 100 Mbps speeds and later tested 1 Gbps connections (when that was just a dream for the home users) with Interlan, Romania’s largest national internet exchange (IX). I also hosted Interlan devices in my data centre, connecting local players and improving services citywide. For more on how an IX works, here's a brief video explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuBde4Sn3f0.

Interlan, much like an open-source community, brought together smaller ISPs, challenging the monopolistic structures of big telecom companies and growing into a powerhouse that even larger players wanted to join. I’m proud of the role I played in this, contributing to the development of the Romanian internet landscape.

After almost a decade, I had to step back from ZetNet as large companies began aggressive customer acquisition strategies, offering unsustainable pricing models that made it difficult for smaller players to compete. However, I remain proud of the high-quality services I provided and the positive impact on my community.

While running ZetNet, I honed a wide range of skills in business management, finance, and marketing, alongside technical expertise in networking, web services, and web development. This is where I first discovered Drupal. I experimented with various CMS platforms, but Drupal’s flexibility and scalability stood out. I built websites for myself and friends, and even started a local Romanian Drupal group. Although the community took time to grow, it is now thriving, with Romanian companies contributing to Drupal’s global success.

Currently based in the UK, with regular visits to Romania, I remain deeply committed to the Drupal open-source community. I look forward to contributing further to this amazing ecosystem and collaborating with like-minded individuals.

Thank you for reading!

Statement of Candidacy Video: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yh_WGCzYD0
Board meeting attendence: 
none
Have you served on a board or committee?: 
No
If so, tell us about it.: 
n/a
What perspective will you bring to the board when discussing strategic topics?: 
As a former small business owner with experience in both development and design, I bring a practical understanding of the challenges end users face. I’m passionate about improving Drupal’s user interface and ensuring that high-quality, responsive templates are more accessible to the community, making Drupal easier to deploy and enhancing the overall user experience. In addition, I advocate for a more forward-thinking, scenario-based approach to strategic discussions. In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, it’s essential to consider emerging trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing integration of sensors and smart technology. These cross-cutting innovations have the potential to shape how we build and use web platforms like Drupal, and I believe our strategy should be flexible and adaptable to meet these changes head-on. My perspective is grounded in both user-centric improvements and a broader vision for how Drupal can stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
What existing board topics are you most passionate about? and why?: 
One of the topics I’m most passionate about is ensuring the Drupal Association’s long-term sustainability. This is critical not only for supporting the ongoing growth and development of Drupal but also for providing meaningful resources and backing to partners who can drive further adoption in the market. There’s a vast pool of talented young developers worldwide who could greatly benefit from using Drupal—and many might love it once they start. However, without strong local advocacy and awareness, we risk losing these potential contributors to other platforms that may seem easier or better promoted at first glance. By ensuring Drupal is introduced early, even in schools, and by equipping local advocates to foster interest in these regions, we can capture this talent before they gravitate towards less suitable alternatives. Once developers commit to a different platform, even if they later realise Drupal may have been a better choice for their needs, the barrier to switching back can be too high due to the learning curve. I’m passionate about reducing this risk by making Drupal more visible and accessible in emerging markets, ensuring the next generation of developers becomes enthusiastic contributors to the community.
What additional strategic topics would you like to introduce?: 
As a candidate for Director at Large, I believe Drupal’s strategic direction should focus on maximising its potential to solve real-world problems in specific industries. Just as a high-powered laser cuts with precision, Drupal’s powerful capabilities can be directed toward creating targeted solutions for various sectors through specialised Drupal distributions. These tailored solutions can increase Drupal’s market share by making it easier for businesses and organisations to adopt and implement. Rather than proposing entirely new topics, I suggest enhancing existing strategies such as "Understanding what the Project needs to move forward" and "Growing Drupal adoption through our own channels and partner channels." By focusing on specific use cases and leveraging the latest technologies, we can ensure that Drupal remains a cutting-edge platform that serves diverse needs—from small businesses to large enterprises. For instance, Drupal’s potential to integrate with smart devices and emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) presents an untapped opportunity. Imagine Drupal-powered systems automating restaurant operations through touchscreens or mobile apps, or companies using Drupal for employee management via fingerprint recognition. These innovations would not only broaden Drupal’s applications but also showcase its flexibility and scalability. As a Director at Large, my goal would be to ensure that Drupal stays ahead of technological trends by fostering initiatives that encourage innovation within the community. This includes not just adopting external technologies but also integrating Drupal into emerging markets like smart systems and connected devices. By promoting a scenario-based, future-focused mindset, we can help Drupal continue to evolve and remain relevant in an increasingly connected world. Ultimately, this approach would support the Drupal Association’s mission of growing adoption, encouraging community-driven development, and ensuring Drupal is well-positioned for the future. My vision is to create a Drupal ecosystem that empowers businesses and developers alike, while fostering a strong, engaged community.
What unique skills would you bring to the board?: 
I bring a blend of innovation, creativity, and strategic vision, coupled with a realistic and pragmatic approach. I’m highly organised and able to think strategically, while also prioritising the needs of the community and acting with altruism. My ability to see the bigger picture, combined with a focus on practical solutions, allows me to balance visionary thinking with grounded decision-making, ensuring both short-term results and long-term growth for Drupal.
How have your past contributions to Drupal prepared you for board candidacy?: 
I’ve been an active Drupal user and advocate for many years. Although I’m not a top PHP developer, I have contributed through patches, a sandbox module, and by actively reporting bugs and providing feedback on core and contributed modules. I often included detailed visuals such as screenshots and animated GIFs to make the issues easier to understand and resolve. One of my other ways of contributing was in translations, starting with Drupal 6. I even set up and hosted a l10n_server (localisation server) to support Romanian translations, which was later superseded by the launch of localize.drupal.org. Beyond technical contributions, I’ve always promoted Drupal outside the community. I encouraged friends, developers, designers, and small businesses to adopt Drupal. One such business successfully scaled up, using Drupal to build a platform modelled after Alibaba.com. Additionally, I founded the Romanian group on groups.drupal.org/romania many years ago, helping to build and strengthen the local Drupal community. These experiences, combining advocacy, technical contributions, and community-building, have given me a broad perspective on the Drupal ecosystem, preparing me well for board candidacy.
Why should we vote for you?: 
I bring a strong sense of dedication and seriousness to everything I do—though always with a healthy dose of humour! As highlighted in my previous responses, my commitment to Drupal and its community is unwavering. I am eager to contribute meaningfully to the Drupal Association (DA), bringing both strategic insights and a user-focused approach to the table. Each vote would be a great honour, and if elected, I will work diligently to represent your views and opinions. I am fully committed to serving the DA and the Drupal community with loyalty, transparency, and enthusiasm. Thank you for your trust and support!

Questions for the Candidate

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