Joseph Yoder is a founder and principle of The Refactory, Inc., a company focused on software architecture, design, implementation, consulting and mentoring on all facets of software development. Joseph is an international speaker and pattern author, a long standing member of the ACM, and also a long standing member and president of The Hillside Group (a group dedicated to improving the quality of all facets of software development). Joseph is the author of many patterns, including being an author of the Big Ball of Mud pattern, which illuminates many fallacies in the approach to software architecture. Joseph has organized and participated in various international conferences which includes: presenting tutorials and talks, arranging workshops, and organizing and chairing leading technical conferences held throughout the world, including conferences such as Agile, Agile Portugal, Encontro Agile in Brazil, AOSD, CBSoft, JAOO, QCon, PLoP, AsianPLoP, SugarLoafPLoP in Brazil, OOPSLA, ECOOP, SATURN, and SPLASH.