@JoelECarlson – Hello everybody, and welcome to the PM version of Twitterview. Our guest is fitness & marketing fanatic @KellyOlexa. Lets go!

@KellyOlexa – Hello!! TGIF!

Q – #1    So to start @KellyOlexa – Where did you grow up, and what are some of the steps you took in life to get where you are today?

A:    I grew up, kind of all over the place. Born in Toledo, moved to Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus (OSU) then Chicago

NOT an Army brat, but Dad was in Sales and got promoted all the time, we were transferred

To answer 1st question – the most important steps I’ve taken professionally to get me here: building relationships.

Focusing on the long-term over the immediate. Always a win.

Q – #2    Good advice!So what is is that you are currently involved with professionally, and where does fitness fit into your work?

A:    It’s funny because although my blog KellyOlexa.com certainly is now a part of my “work” or my personal brand, that was

Never planned. I started blogging when I was in a sales role for another company. It was primarily for accountability

I became interested in getting fit when I started gaining that “Corporate 10″ after college

Originally, I kept my fitness passion and my blog SEPARATE from my “work”, my 9-5 job.

I had no idea that eventually my blog, my blogging, my vlogging would all begin to work for me, and provide business

was never my intention to make $ from my blog. When I say business opportunity, blog opened the door to new friends.

those friends often had Biz ? regarding social media, how to use it for their business, or how to REACH bloggers.

Now, I work at NMS (www.nms.com) and my familiarity with blogging/vlogging/blogger relationships helps our discussions

Additionally, I’ve ended up meeting business contacts by originally talking about fitness topics, business came second

Q – #3    So when people either say “What do you do for work?” or “What’s your job title?” what do you tell people?

A:    I work with New Media Strategies, providing customized social media strategy for Fortune 500 brands.

I also work independently with several fitness celebrities and small fitness companies on more “fit” focused objectives

AND! I’m just now finishing my first book, on social media for business, of which I am very proud!

Q – #4    Does that fit on a biz card? :)  So who are say 10-15 people that you follow on Twitter for inspiration, humor or help?

A:    I WISH it could fit on a business card!! I usually say, “Just Bing Me.”

Some of my favorite friends that inspire me, teach me and help me: @armano, @thebrandbuilder, @kriscolvin, @lizstrauss

Of course @garyvee who changed my life! @cbarger and @connieburke are sassy and smart. @ScottMonty is solidness.

Also @Hoo_dee_Hoo @jylmomIF @todaysmama @krista_parry @amylburford @galexina @chcgogrl @erinjshea all ladies that ROCK

Q – #5    Also, what’s the title of the book, and when will it be available?

A:    I can’t share title of the book yet, or my publicist will shoot me!! But she tells me it could be published w/in 3 mo

Q – #6    Okay, we’ll wait and prevent the shooting. :) So what Social Media “tools” have you gravitated to use the most, and why?

A:    Well without a doubt Twitter is my boyfriend. Facebook is like my ex-boyfriend that I’m still friends with.

Blogging is my little sister. You can’t take it away from me, it’s soooo important.

Twitter is where I have met and connected with EVERYONE that has changed my life professionally over the past 2 years

I have over 30 contributors in my book (that were interviewed) and I met ALL of them and became friends via Twitter.

Twitter for the biz professional is a MUST do. Of course it is also a MUST DO RIGHT. Spammers like @ameliaguyen: NO

Q – #7    AMEN!  Now to more about you and the FAVS question: Favorite – restaurant, store, summer activity and tech gadget?

A:    Favorite tech gadget: I cannot function without my Crackberry.

FAV restaurant is 1) Any good sushi restaurant, in particular NOBU 2) Houston’s for steak 3) @ajbombers for burgers

Favorite stores: @bakersshoes @potterybarn @anntaylor @victoriassecret #jectv <—Although HELLO some of these BITE at SM.

My new favorite summer activity, just started RUNNING, due to @amylburford’s influence.

Another favorite Summer Activity: drinking margaritas.

Q – #8    A very active life! So if you could invite just 1 person (dead/alive) for dinner, who would you ask, and why?

A:    Joel Osteen. Because I am never ever walking away from hearing him speak or reading him and NOT happy/excited.

Q – #9    Any personal fitness or work goals that you’ve set for yourself for the next 6mos to 1yr?

A:    I want to reach the ability to run for a full hour, non-stop. I want to do unassisted pull-ups; SOME DAY.

Work goals are to get bigger and better every week, to never stop learning, to always put relationships & others first

Yes! Thank you so much @KellyOlexa for your time and sharing some of yourself today in your Twitterview. Have a great weekend! #jectv

Q – #10    Cool! To end today, what thought or mantra would you like to leave with everyone following today?

A:    Aim High, Never Settle.

@JoelECarlson – Yes! Thank you so much @KellyOlexa for your time and sharing some of yourself today in your Twitterview. Have a great weekend! #jectv

@JoelECarlson – It’s time to par-tay with @Partray on today’s AM Twitterview. Let’s get things rolling!

@Partray – Good morning! I’m so excited to be a part of this!

Q – #1    So to start @Partray – Where did you grow up, and what were some of the steps you took to get where you are today?

A:    I’m from StP. I always knew I wanted to work in TV, specifically @wcco. In HS, Darcy Pohland mentored me…

… and that eventually led to two internships. After college @ KU, I worked in KC for 2 yrs. 14 mos ago I came to @wcco.

Q – #2    The passing of Darcy must have been especially tough on you.  My sympathies. :(  So what is your role at @wcco?

A:    I always called Darcy my guiding light, now she’s my guardian angel.

My role @wcco is morning producer. I write the 4:30 & 5 am newscasts. That means I pick, research & write all of the stories

I get to work at 10pm and don’t stop writing and researching until my show’s over at 6 am. It’s a crazy schedule, but its worth it.

Something I <3 is we use a lot of SM in our AM shows. It’s fantastic, bc our viewers get to be a part of the show.

Q – #3    About the 4:30am show, what prompted the creation of that program, and was it hard to get the “crew” to agree?

A:    The 4:30 show was in the works before i moved to AMs (I used to produce the 10p ‘cast). Everyone was on board b/c there was a need…

.. for local news that early. The feedback we’ve recieved has been great. People love that we’re on when they’re up.

and, (here’s a secret) we’re all a little loopy @ 4:30 – so if you tune in, you don’t know what we’ll do next!

A really cool thing we do with the 4:30 show is called “Who’s up? What’s Up?”

We ask viewers to go to @wccowire and tell us what’s up.. then read it on TV. It lets us have a convo with viewers, which is great.

Q – #4    That’s great that you get some creative freedom. Probably get some “Sleepy Tweets” too. :) What drew you to news?

A:    Like many in the media, I’m super curious & not shy. I’ve always wanted to know everything about everything.

I also think you can’t stop learning. And in the news, you’re constantly learning and exploring. Also, I get bored easily

.. there’s so much to absorb and so many directions you can go in. I literally do 5 things at once. But I like that.

Q – #5    How neat for you! Are you an AM person? Also, who are 10-15 people that you follow for learning, humor or inspiration?

A:    I’m really a night person – but I guess at one point the PM becomes AM, right?? :o) the adjustment hasn’t been bad

Some people I <3 to follow: superrockstartastic coworker @ericamayer, @derusha is good for laughs & knowledge…

for news: @wccobreaking, @wcco (obvi), @mpr, @npr, @cnnbrk… for sports: @wccorosen, @perkatplay, @minnesotatwins

oops – I meant @derushaj! (lord knows Jason loves all the mentions he can get!!) ;o)

I honestly follow so many random people that i get a really great mix of news, sports, bloggers, casual tweeters, businesses & more

oh, and i love following @seanaskinner. He’s a photog at @wcco and has totally embraced SM – he sends out pics & story info.

Q – #6    Lots of good folks at @wcco. Now for the FAVS questions – Favorite: restaurant, store, summer activity & Nat news anchor?

A:    yay! I’ve been thinking about my FAVS all morning! OK get ready…

burger: @bulldogNE. Restaurant: Champps in StP. Ice Cream: Grand ole Creamery. Store: toughie, depends on my mood.

Summer activity: #twins & @stpaulsaints games, bikes, lakes, anything outside! esp live music… Best local band: Root City Band

No true fav news anchor, I think @katiecouric does a great job, & I think Diane Sawyer is a good story teller too

But in town, I think @wcco has the best on air team by far. a ton of experience, knowledge & skill. I’ve always been impressed w/them

also, (quick plug, sry) the AM team @WCCO is GREAT on SM. We have the @wccowire, we tweet & use FB pages every AM.

AM Weather updates from @morningwxguy & latest on overnight news from @HollyWagnerWCCO. best way to know in the AM.

Q – #7    @KatieCouric uses Social Media well too. Do you see how news is delivered to be changing? No just info, but stories?

A:    absolutely! SM is completely changing the way we get & deliver news. Everything is instant (re: @wccorosen & Favre)

that’s a cool think about @wcco. We use all SM so we can share what we know with everyone in their own language.

for instance, @derushaj tweets & blogs all day long so you’re constantly going along with him.. we use that same concept on @wccowire

@wccowire keeps you up to speed with stories as they develop & shows you the cool things we’re learning/seeing thru the day.

a lot of our reporters & photogs are SM users so it’s easy to

I think people expect their news right away & it does make our jobs a little more difficult, but hey, we want info RIGHT NOW too.

Also, SM lets us tell different stories differently. On TV you see the final product. with Twitter & wcco.com you get the latest..

.. so you can keep checking back for more. But it’s not as “final” as TV. But it’s give & take

There’s an art to TV storytelling. Pictures, sounds, writing – there’s a finesse you can’t get through web & 140 characters

Q – #8    BREAKING NEWS happens more frequently now due to cable & the internet. To end today – what goal or mantra can you share?

A:    Fight the good fight (do what u believe in) & Keep learning & keep exploring. There’s a lot out there to discover

@JoelECarlson – Curiosity and being inquisitive can be good things! Thanks @Partray for your time and the work that you do. Have a GREAT weekend!

@Partray – Thanks you too, this has been a lot of fun! Enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather!!