@JoelECarlson – Having a good Wednesday? If not, check out today’s Twitterview with my guest @timotis of GdB. Lets get this thing started!

Q – #1    So @timotis, you’re originally from the Chicago area and started studying music. How did you end up switching to SM and PR?

Tim: It was on a whim. In 2007, the agency I worked for said, hmm, this stuff is taking off. How would u like 2spearhead it?

I’ve been unknowingly an expert since 2005 ;)

Q – #2    Better to use expert over guru right? :)  Can you give a brief rundown of how you to got to be with GdB?

Tim: Right. I was looking for an opportunity to learn more than I already was and what was presented to me was a duel role

I met with my now boss’ wife, had to give a presentation to the agency on my understanding and my take on social media.

Boss was so impressed I was asked out to coffee next day and was offered the job. I LOVE my job.

correction: *dual. Then again, I suppose there’s a fight over what department owns social media lol. Here, it’s PR.

Q – #3    You’re a real believer in companies that build a strong brand. (@McDonalds) IYO is that easy to do with social media?

Tim: No, with social media you must think long-term. One-off campaigns may give a bump, but we’re talking about building

Brands like @McDonald’s do a great job bc they integrate in every facet of their operation. It’s about trust & triggers

more on that: trust = brands need to be human, approachable. Triggers: talk about things that everyone is talking about

@JoelECarlson - Agreed! Social Media can start as a “grass roots” approach for a new biz, but it has to build beyond that.

Tim: saying that, a local brand that does it really well: @summitbeer (GdB client)

Q – #4    More about you. Your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, comfort food, hobby or non-work interest.

Tim: Dakota Jazz Club- awesome food, fun atmosphere. You might say I’m a 40 year old stuck in a 27-year old’s body

Store would have to be BestBuy. Comfort food is mashed potatoes or pot roast (I like hearty meals)

My wife and I are working on giving back to the community. We are blessed with a lot. So perhaps a coffee shop for the homeless

I also write songs. The goal is to go around to nursing homes and churches and perform them. Encourage/inspire others

In my leisure time, I enjoy running. I know people say runners don’t run for any reason, but c’mon now. It’s fun

Q – #5    Exercise should be fun! What if you could pick 1 person, dead/alive to have a meal with. Who would you choose and why?

Tim: Martin Luther King, Jr. To introduce a message at a time that message was hated and do so with a great outcome, wow.

Division is commonplace in the world and keeping one’s integrity and mission amidst it is hard to find. Ppl compromise

Q – #6    With your background and experience, what kind of schooling/training would you recommend to people interested in SM?

Tim: Great question. You absolutely need to know Web design. If ur client asks you to create a social presence, it’s key

It’s important for companies to work w/ media partners and see how they can leverage digital buys to drive the message

You also need to be intellectually curious. ALL THE TIME. I say “intellectual” bcuz there are dumbheads out there.

We’re all aware of those gurus who think updating on Facebook = intellectual expertise

@JoelECarlson – The 5 W’s Who? What? Where? When? Why? are important! Thank you @timotis from your time and insights today! Have a great day!

Tim: anytime, Joel.

On what felt like the 1st day of Spring in Minnesota, the MN Food Bloggers group had their 2nd meetup at the South Minneapolis restaurant owned by Scott Pampuch, Corner Table.

Corner Table is located in the King Field neighborhood of Minneapolis and has a wonderful feel to it when you step inside.

Stephanie Meyer, the organizer of the group, has many and wonderful connections with the Food Bloggers in Minnesota, and so getting a ticket to this event is a prized gift.  You get the opportunity to meet many talented people who cook in a variety of styles and complexities. Each with their unique take on cooking, and they are also very welcoming when you get to meet them for the first time in person.

To say that Scott Pampuch knows how to cook and put on a good spread of food is an understatement. You can tell when he talks about his work that he really has a passion for it.  His presentation shows that he genuinely loves what he does and takes care in doing so. Below is just a brief showing of what his talents are.

The group that assembled together all came because they are Food Bloggers, or at the very least, a foodie. They aren’t looking to talk about the latest prepackaged food product or brand, they want to hear and taste things fresh from the market, garden or farm.

The topic was food, but even here, the paparazzi where in full effect. Snapping up pictures of the various food offerings and the foodies in the flesh.

At the event, Scott shared a new offering that he is going to make available soon, it’s a CSK or Community Supported Kitchen service. It will allow people to get on a weekly basis, a box of foods that have been prepared for families of 2 or 4, which are quality farm foods for people in the metro area.

After the presentation was done, Scott invited all of the guest that were interested, to come into the Corner Table kitchen and cook up the contents of a CBK box.

Scott Pampuch, Corner Table and Stephanie Meyer all did a great job with the 2nd, in what hopes to be many, MN Food Blogger events.  If you are a foodie and enjoy lively discussions as well as taste testing a variety of quality food, make sure you get a ticket this wonderful event.