Happy Friday everybody! Welcome to today’s Food-Friday Twitterview with my guest @ChefJML. Set your timers to 1hr and lets bake!

@John:    Good Morning Foodies & Friends!

Q – #1    So welcome @ChefJML. To start, where did you grow up, go to school, and what did you want to be when you grew up?

John:    I grew up in Grand Forks, ND, got my Masters in English at University of North Dakota, and I wanted to win an Oscar when I grew up

Q – #2    Really?? An Oscar for which category? By taking English, what was your plan for using that skill in the job world?

John:    It didn’t matter. I just wanted an Oscar (song, writing, acting). I started in Business and moved to English.

I loved creating new ways to dream through the written word. Many write about their past but I like to think of new ways to dream

Q – #3   Interesting! So take us then on your journey from college to becoming the “Pie Man”. What led you to food & the industry?

John:    I have a motto, “When you least expect it, expect it.” That’s been my life. Pie Man was all by accident but a happy accident

I graduated, found a position in management with Ecolab Pest Elimination in Grand Forks. I continued to cook up a storm but worked.

I lost everything during the 1997 Red River Valley Flood. Afterward Grand Forks looked like a war zone. I moved to the Twin Cities.

Worked at Ecolab World Headquarters,St. Paul. Eventually moved to Comcast in management and then in 2003 found I had throat cancer.

After surgery, I spent too much time in bed recovering. I started to write about gatherings I had at my home.

I keep steno notebooks–stacks of them. I take notes on gatherings, menus, who attended, funny stories and so on

Wrote my first cookbook, it was published, and asked to teach, appear on radio, etc. The big break was winning a contest at the fair.

I won a Ghiradelli Chocolate recipe contest. Later asked to compete at the National Pie Championship in Florida.

I made my Vidalia Onion Pie, Willard Scott was there with Today Show, talked to me and Food Network noticed.

Food Network was also there and started to film me baking, registering my pies, decorating and flew up to St. Paul.

Then Food Network contacted me once a year for a special or Challenge. I won a pie challenge three years ago

Q – #4    What a break for you! Was the writing that you did at home during your recovery, theraeputic for you?

John:    Extremely therapeutic. I couldn’t watch anymore TV. I think it helped the healing process.

I have to add that winning the Food Network Challenge for pie was like winning an Oscar for cooking.

Q – #5    I bet. You have some amazing pies that you’ve come up with. What are some of the unique ingredients that you’ve used?

John:    Coke Cola, Watermelon, Parsnips, Green tea

But Vidalia Onion Pie is my claim to fame.

Q – #6    Wow! So do you kind of have a formula in your head for coming up with them? What gives you inspiration?

John:    I become inspired by the foods I enjoy. My formula is that I can actually taste combinations of food in my mouth.

Like a vocalist is told to hear the note before singing it, I can taste the completed product when I designed it.

That’s what happened when I created my Crock Pot Apple Pie for Twin Cities Live (one of John Hanson’s favorites).

I write what looks like a computer flow chart putting together ingredients–if this does this or tastes like this, then….

Q – #7    I think @jbibl is actually following us now from @TwinCities_Live. :) Can you share the story of how you developed that pie?

John:    I wrote my “flow chart”, got up at 5am to put it together, unplugged the crock pot at 1pm and drove to the Twin Cities Live studio.

I hadn’t even tested it. John Hanson was the first to try it. Not the best thing to do on live TV. LOL

I just prepared another Crock Pot Apple Pie for his birthday that was earlier this month.

Q – #8    Cool! More about you. FAVORITE(S): Restaurant(s), store, comfort food, fruit, spice or seasoning, city to visit.

John:    Restaurant: Il Gatto and Tom Pham’s Wonderous Azia Kitchen west of the river. East of the river The Nook and Salut.

Comfort Food: Hot dogs and Mac & Cheese and a piece of pie. I love the Soup & Pie lunch special at Peter’s Grill.

I love all fruit but especially Rambutans on Hawaii. Spices: Anything from Penzey’s and Golden Fig Fine Foods.

Favorite city is Venice, Italy. I can’t get enough of it. I would love to live there & write, play piano, read for hours, and dream.

Venice will show up in my next cookbook and is heavily featured in my new novel.

Q – #9    Are there a few local and national cooks/chefs that you admire and who would you love to meet?

John:    Gosh I wish I could have met Julia Childs. I’ve met Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis, Marjorie Johnson. :)

I am in awe of Master Chef Danny Klekco and he’s a good friend but a mentor too, Chef Andrew (he’s a sweetie), and …

Laurie Crowell of Golden Fig Fine Foods. She’s amazing & one of the most generous loving people I know. Lucky to call her friend.

The Twin Cities is full of talented people that can cook and create. It’s a wondrous place.

Q – #10    To close, can you share what your new cookbook is going to be about and what your Culinary Travel Trips are?

John:    My next cookbook is called Garden County Italian. My travels eating my way through Italy and the things I’ve learned

Each year I host and escort culinary vacations to Tuscany. If you’ve seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun that’s where we are.

For one week we live and eat like Italians…and drink like them too. LOL

@JoelECarlson:     Is there a way people can sign-up for your culinary trip? Thanks John for your time and comments today. Keep cooking!

John:    Please visit my website http://www.GardenCountyCooking.com and check out our Culinary Vacations page.

Thank you Joel and your followers and mine too. This was a lot of fun! Big hugs and cook it forward!

Good Monday morning everyone! Today’s Twitterview guest is @Matt_Brickman or @wcco TV. So thanks for “tuning in” to #jectv to follow us!

Q – #1    To start @Matt_Brickman, please share with us where you grew up and attended HS and college.

Matt:    Good morning Joel! I’ve bounced around a bit. I grew up in Windsor, CT, HS in Marlboro, NJ & college at the U of IL

We moved for my dad’s job a couple of times, he’s a hospital administrator – currently working in Denver, CO

But, I’m thrilled to be in #MPLS now. I have two nieces (2 y.o. & 7 mo.) that I get to see whenever I want!

Q – #2    Interesting. What kinds of things/activities did you like doing in HS, and what was your major in college?

Matt:    I was your typical angsty (I made that word up) teen. I played football, didn’t study as much as I should have

But, I took a newspaper class my senior year, & really enjoyed writing.

So, I decided to study Broadcast Journalism at the U of IL, b/c who doesn’t want to be on TV?!

Unlike most mets, I didn’t always love the wx, in fact, I didn’t get into it until about a year into my career in news.

Q – #3    You found something that you enjoyed doing! So where did you intern 1st for TV, and what was your path to @wcco?

Matt:    I interned at @WICD in Champaign, IL when I was a senior at the U of I. W/ a few months left in the semester (cont.)

I was offered the overnight producer job. I worked from 11p-8a every day & went to classes my final 3 months of school.

After I graduated, I started news reporting & did that for about a year, until a week before my wedding 2 @katebrickman

My ND asked me if I’d try wx, I said “why not?” After my honeymoon, I started wx on the weekends & loved it immediately

I got promoted to AM wx, started the #MSSTATE Met program & 3 yrs later I got the offer to come to @wcco

Q – #4    I see. So are you NEW to MN? I see on the the Saturday @wcco AM news that you ask for places to check out locally.

Matt:    The “Best of MN” series on @wcco has been a ton of fun. One thing I’ve learned is Minnesotans love MN, as they should..

I get the benefit of having the best tour guides show me around MN, highlighting lots of great places along the way

@WCCO Saturday Morning w/ @jamieyuccas is the perfect vehicle to do those stories. It’s such a fun show to be a part of.

Did I mention that I’m having fun? :)

Q – #5    Did you know when you came to @wcco that you’d be a part of the SAT show? Have any memorable weather reporting stories?

Matt:    I knew that I’d be starting a new SAT AM show on @wcco, but, all I knew is it would be w/ “one of our new reporters”

I didn’t find out it would be w/ @jamieyuccas until a week or two before I started

I did a live shot at @WICD in 50 mph winds w/ swirling snow. The flakes felt like darts when they hit you. Not fun.

@JoelECarlson:     @Matt_Brickman You and @jamieyccas bring a very good caffeinated show. Lots of energy and enthusiasm. Good work!

Q – #6    On to more about YOU. Your FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book or blog, hobby or activity.

Matt:    I’ve been to @LoringKitchen a few times already b/c it’s so close. But also like @uptowncafeteria & @bluedoorpub

I’m a big online shopper – @Bonobos & @ctshirts are my favorite spots at the moment. I have too many ties.

@CKlosterman is my favorite author. “Killing Yourself to Live” = favorite book. Looking forward to “The Visible Man”

I love to run, I’m doing the #MonsterDash Half-Marathon this Sat. I also love taking my dog Gus to the dog park

And comfort food? I think I could eat fried chicken every meal of every day. Need to find the “Best in MN” soon!

Q – #7    Which dog parks have you tried locally and what breed of dog is Gus? Any other pets?

Matt:    Gus is a beagle-mix. We love the Lake of the Isles dog park, that’s our go-to. Minnehaha Falls is also great.

Q – #8    Has the @wcco crew prepped you for this coming winter? Clothes, weather terms and being disliked by the public? #wx

Matt:    They have. I’m OK w/ that. I grew up w/ New England winters, so snow & cold don’t scare me.

If I can brag about my wife @katebrickman quickly. Her film, “This is My Journey” just got accepted into the @Mplsuff

@katebrickman is by far the more talented, interesting & attractive Brickman.

Q – #9    Sure. In closing, any goals/accomplishments that you hope to achieve in the next year or two?

Matt:    I just want to continue to grow the @WCCO Saturday AM show. I think it’s a terrific show & offers something (cont)

that other newscasts don’t. It’s fun. You get all the info you need & at the end hopefully there’s a smile on your face

@JoelECarlson:    @Matt_Brickman Thanks for your time and comments today! Welcome to MN and enjoy exploring the state!

Matt:    Thanks Joel! I really enjoyed it!

Hi everybody! Got a sweet tooth or a mouth full of them? Then you’ll enjoy today’s Twitterview of @Sugar_Loco (Tracy Corcoran).

Q – #1    So to start with @Sugar_Loco (Tracy), where did you grow up and go to school? What did you want to be when you grew up?

Tracy:    I grew up in Lakeville, MN (in da burbs) and married my HS sweetheart…insert “awwww”.

I went to college a @stkate’s in St.Paul – LOVE it there. We recently moved back to Lakeville w/ our 2 lil ones.

Not exactly the hippest town, but a great place to raise a family!

I think I have the liberty to say that since I grew up here too. LOL

Q – #2    What was your major in college, and what did you do after you graduated?

Tracy:    My major was Pre-Primary Education Elementary Ed at @stkate. I was set on my major before I even entered college…

so I finished in 3 1/2 years. After I graduated, I taught Kindergarten & 1st Grade for 5 years.

When September rolls around, I do miss the classroom. But when I decided not to go back to teaching…

I started an @Etsy shop…which in turn started blogging, tweeting, etc. That has all led me to where I am today!

Q – #3    How did @Etsy lead to @Sugar_Loco and @launchHer for you?

Tracy:    When I began my @Etsy shop- @sweetharper, I quickly realized the importance of networking with others via…

social media & blogging. When you have an online @Etsy shop, your online presence is very important! I connected with..

Jenny of @monkeytoesshoes & Kara of @LaunchHERLaw through Twitter- we all had our own handmade ventures at the time.

Jenny (@monkeytoesshoes) & I shared a major LOVE for everything sweet. We started a Twitter competition of tweeting…

pictures of the desserts we were eating back & forth. That’s where @sugar_loco started! Jenny & I have only met…

twice in person since she’s in Denver. So we use social media to do a lot of our collaborating!

Q – #4    So what kind of sweet and sugary things do you cover? Desserts? Bakeries? Candy Stores? Homemade things?

Tracy:    We feature ‘Desserts by City’ w/ writers in #Minneapolis, #Denver, #LA, & #NYC. ‘Desserts Online’ which are desserts…

you can order. Interviews w/ pastry chefs & bakers. Recipes, pure YUM! Also, Loco Kids (we’re both moms) every Friday

Really anything sweet – decadent desserts, @cherrygarcia ice cream, candy from @sugarsugarcandy. We love SUGAR!

Q – #5    Besides Twitter, how else can people follow or connect with you online?

Tracy:    Readers stop by our FB page to tell us which desserts we just “HAVE” to try – that’s always fun

Readers can also leave comments on our blog/site too. We love to hear feedback and recommendations – esp local ones!

Of course we’re all about the newest craze…@pinterest too! I hope @daveostlund follows us – ha! http://ow.ly/757bL

Q – #6    Cool! More about YOU – Favorite(s): Restaurant, store, comfort food, cake or pie and recent blog or book.

Tracy:    Heartland in St.Paul. H & M. Pickles. Both {a la mode}. Decorate by @decor8.

Guilty pleasure? Real Housewives on @bravotv! I watch it on the treadmill while I’m wishing away the dessert lbs!

Q – #7    LOL!  So do you have plans in expanind @Sugar_Loco and @launchHER into other cities and areas?

Tracy:    YES! We’re always on the look-out for @sugar_loco city based writers http://ow.ly/757T8 We love sharing sweets!

@launchHER is growing too – actually the majority of our clients are not local even though we’re based in #Mpls.

Q – #8    To close, if you could ask and get the recipe to any dessert in the world, what would it be and why?

Tracy:    Well, I have a sentimental attachment to a few desserts I’ve had while traveling, maybe they’re more special since…

I can’t enjoy them any time I want – The Polynesian Black Pearl from Mama’s Fish House in Maui & any dessert from…

@exdesserts in #SanDiego visit their site & you’ll know why I can’t choose just one! {they have a new cookbook too}

@JoelECarlson:    @Sugar_Loco Thanks for your time and comments today Tracy. Happy eating! :)

Tracy:    Thanks for having me Joel! We love connecting with locals from any of the cities we make sweeter. #dessert

Hello everyone! Welcome to my Twitterview with my special guest, @scottmayermpls. We’ve got 1hr, so lets get rolling! #jectv

Q – #1    To start off with @scottmayermpls. Can you share a little about yourself? Where you grew up, went to school and your first job.

Scott:    i grew up in @Roscoe, SD – a town of 300 hardy German souls. Ended up in MPLS for law school @William Mitchell in St. Paul.

My first restaurant job was at the Ediner restaurant, which was located in Calhoun Square.

Q – #2    Interesting. Lets move forward to today. What kind of work do you do now and what drives you each day?

Scott:    I have a small business MAYER that focuses on event production and sponsorship mktg with @kitchmelly and @BrendanB26

I love my work because we work on extremely diverse events and projects.. And I meet terrific people

Q – #3    Some people may know you from the @IveyAwards locally. For those that don’t, can you explain it briefly?

Scott:    @IveyAwards is celebration of Twin Cities theater. It’s the one night everyone comes out 2 celebrate our 75 theaters.

@IveyAwards was just held last month @HistoricStatetheatre and it turned into quite the fashion-fest as well!

Q – #4    Wonderful! Now your next event is the @CharlieAwardsTC. How did it get it’s name, and when is it?

Scott:    @CharlieAwardsTC is an event coming up on 11/20 celebrating our local food & restaurant industry. Emphasis on FUN!

got its name from the Charlie’s Cafe Exceptionale – one of the 1st fine dining restaurants in Mpls.

Q – #5    What a nice tie-in with the name! So how are restaurants/cafes nominated? Menu items too? re: @CharlieAwardsTC

Scott:    Any MSP restaurant can enter http://www.charliesexceptionalte.com. There’s 100 entries, & any1 can vote 4 fave food.

We’re also giving awards 4 best rest, wait staff, lifetime achievement, community hero, etc.

But it’s less an awards show, and more of a schmooze-fest with live entertainment. & @RobyneRobinson!

Q – #6    Ah! I see. :)  Are there any categories based on location or geography? How long is voting open?

Scott:    For best food item, restaurants are grouped according to five neighborhoods. Voting until 10/28

You can vote every day at http://www.charliesexceptionalte.com

Q – #7    Also, are there any pre or post parties/events that will be happening in association with the @CharlieAwardsTC?

Scott:    There’s a VIP brunch benefiting 2nd Harvest Heartland & an after-party for everyone. Tix are on sale

Main show’s at @PantagesTheatre & after-party’s in IDS atrium.

Q – #8    What kind of awareness are you hoping to create with this awards program? What’s the spirit behind it?

Scott:    MSP is very unique becuz we have great restaurants AND great food orgs. We want 2 highlight in a fun non-compete way.

Weve got every1 from bartenders to media announcing awards. And we’re even creating a special opening musical

Q – #9    That’s exciting! At this point, for restaurants, how can they participate or get involved in the @CharlieAwardsTC?

Scott:    Go to http://www.charliesexceptionale.com and enter, then start spreading the word and get your fans 2 vote 4 U!

@JoelECarlson:     Good! So to close with you Scott, when are the @CharlieAwardsTC and what do people have to do to get tickets?

Scott:    @CharlieAwardsTC is 11/20 at 2 PM and go to charliesexceptionale.com 4 tix. You’re one good interviewer, Joel!

Happy Friday everybody! Welcome to the Twitterview of @bworden who’s Tweeting from Orlando FL today. Lets roll!

Q – #1    So tell us @bworden, for those that missed your video – http://youtu.be/oNnM3SNscmA where did you grow up and attend HS?

Brooke:    I grew up in Lanesboro, Minn. It’s this gorgeous little town in southeastern MN with more than 20 B&Bs!

I grew up on a farm one mile west of Lanesboro. The MN state bike trail runs through the farm I grew up on.

My daughters have a pony named Smore and he lives in Lanesboro. He looks like a hippo.

I graduated from Lanesboro HS in 1989. There were 22 peeps in my class.

I encourage everyone to come to Lanesboro and take pictures of my dad’s cows. That’s what the tourists do.

Q – #2    Wow!! 22?? When did you first come to Mpls? Where did you attend college and what did you major in?

Brooke:    I moved to St. Paul in the fall of 1989 to attend Hamline University, the oldest university in Minnesota. Founded 1853

I got a double major in English and political science. I have a liberal arts degree.

I moved to Uptown after I graduated. Lived there for three years and then moved back to St. Paul.

Q – #3    Did you intern anywhere while you were in college? What was your 1st job out of college?

Brooke:    I did! I am a huge fan of internships. I was an intern on John Grunseth’s gubernatorial campaign. Fun times.

I also interned at the MN Chiropractic Association around the time Hillary Clinton was doing healthcare reform.

We did a letter writing campaign to Hillary Clinton trying to get chiropractic care included in health benefits.

also did an internship at the firm I work for now. Back then, it was called Mona, Meyer, McGrath & Gavin.

My first real job out of college was at Accenture in management consulting. It was so awesome to land at a global firm!

Q – #4    So what is your role at @WSmpls, and has the economy affected how you do your job?

Brooke:     I am a VP in the financial services practice @WSmpls. I work on on FS and government clients.

The economy has made everyone laser-focused on results and value, on doing more with less.

The economy has had an enormous effect on the issues I work on for my clients. My specialty is retirement.

Since the crisis hit in 2008, the retirement security issue has really come into focus.

The economy made the 2010 Census a much more difficult campaign as well because of home foreclosures.

Q – #5    What else makes the Census a tough project to tackle? Do people get confused with the forms?

Brooke:    The census was tough because distrust of the federal government was at its highest level in 50 years when we did it.

The census form itself was very simple in 2010. It was only 10 questions and took about 10 minutes to complete.

Research shows that survey participation in general is down. You have to really work hard to show the benefits.

Some people didn’t trust that the census was confidential. We counted everyone, regardless of citizenship status.

People feared their answers would be shared with law enforcement or ICE, but by law, all census data is confidential.

Q – #6    Lets shift gears. Some of your FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, non-MN city, recent book or movie, hobby.

Brooke:    Well, I love core power yoga. That has been my obsession for the past month or so.

I really love the store Brooks Brothers. People don’t always think of it for women, but it is my favorite.

OK and for comfort food, you must try Hill Country Chicken in NYC. The most amazing fried chicken ever!

Hill Country Chicken is at 1123 Broadway in NYC. http://www.hillcountrychicken.com You can play with a Lite Brite!

You can get these little baby pies–apple cheddar, whiskey buttermilk, bourbon pecan, texas billionaire!

You go down in the basement and they have all these awesome board games from the 1980s! I was there Tuesday night.

I also really love the key lime pie at Kincaid’s in Bloomington near @WSmpls. Am I going on too much about food?

Q – #7    I don’t think ANYBODY can Tweet too much about food! :) If you could have lunch w/any person (dead/alive), who & why?

Brooke:    OK, alive would be my mentor John Deveney from New Orleans. He’s actually here in Orlando right now!

John’s firm did all of this amazing work around Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. His work matters.

This one is a little more unrealistic, but I would love to have lunch with Diana Ross. I really dig her music.

would love to have lunch with JFK, RFK, Abraham Lincoln, Jackie Kennedy, JFK JR, Princess Diana.

@JoelECarlson:    Wow! Impressive work by John. Well we have to close, but thank you for your time and comments today. Say hi to Mickey!

Brooked:    I will say hi to Mickey. I can see him out my window by the pool. Fun chatting with you Joel.

Hello everybody! Hopefully you had a good weekend.  Lets begin with a Twitterview with @SaraRGlassman to start it off right. :)

Sara:    Thanks, Joel! An honor.

Q – #1    So @SaraRGlassman, lets learn a little bit about  your background. Where did your grow up, attend High School?

Sara:    I grew up in St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, went to @hopkins270 for high school. Suburban girl, for sure.

Q – #2    When you were growing up, what did you want to be as an adult? After HS, what did you go on to do?

Sara:    Almost always wanted to be a writer/journalist, co-editor of the Royal Page (HS newspaper). Also loved math and sci.

After @hopkins270, I went to @yale and graduated with a BA in History of Art. I adored writing about art/visuals.

Q – #3    After you attended at @yale, how did you decide to come back to the Midwest? What kind of work did you start doing?

Sara:    I didn’t for a while! Moved to NYC to work at magazines and follow Mini-apple dreams in the big apple.

Worked mostly at teen magazines, starting with @seventeenmag. It was pretty much a perfect job for a 23-year-old.

Worked my way up at mostly teen magazines, including YM and CosmoGirl. Stayed in NYC 8 years.

Post 9/11, NYC wasn’t quite as fun, so I decided to return to MN and was hired as fashion reporter @startribune.

Also, background was mostly in general features (news, decor, health) + “real girl” style, as we called it back then.

Q – #4     Lots of experience! How did @SavvyMN and PopFizzDaily.com come to be?

Sara:    @savvyMN is awesome! Started as a website and now a monthly mag by SW newspapers. We cover shopping, fun, health…

www.popfizzdaily.com is my own project, designed to curate content for local early adapters, in-the-know women.

PopFizzDaily.com is what’s bubbling up! We’ve gone weekly, but we’d love a new partner who really gets the concept.

Q – #5     So what kinds of things do you read, see and do to stay current and connected with your readers minds?

Sara:    Good question! For fashion: @cutblog, @wwd. For sanity and fun: @fuggirls, @tomandlorenzo

I’ve been loving the new @newsweek lately! Most ideas are from personal observations and @twitter, of course.

Q – #6     Lets now find out some of your FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, neighborhood, place to relax and color.

Sara:    FUN! Restaurants: @punchpizza, @labellevie_mn lounge, @rosamexicano, @masa_restaurant, @Masu_NE. Lucia’s is my kitchen

Store: Houndstooth in Chan. Recent buys: @MattBernson boots, red @jbrandjeans. Online: @shopbop, @giltgroupe, @ZARA_US.

Comfort food: Off-menu whole wheat tostada at @goodearthMN and patti cake from Yum! Color: RED!

Neighborhood: Loring Park in MN; West Village in NYC (can’t help myself!).

Places to relax: I’m a big walker! Love night walks at the Stone Arch and day walks (safety first!) around Isles.

Q – #7    When it comes to trends, style and being forward thinking, how would you rate the Twin Cities?

Sara:    I think about this all of the time! We’re ahead with some trends, slow with others and we also skip a bunch of them.

In the Twin Cities, we definitely have our own look and don’t want to be dictated by the coasts to change our ways.

WITH @targetstyle here, Twin Citians have quite a bit of influence on how America dresses.

Q – #8    How much would you say the weather here effects what trends/styles are accepted and which ones are pitched?

Sara:    Weather is EVERYTHING! Minnesotans don’t invest in summer clothes. We’re all about boots, jeans, coats and sweaters.

We are so practical that we can fight it. We are indebted to Mary Tyler Moore and her tam for our style sensibilities

Q – #9     To close, what goal do you hope to achieve for yourself in the next year or so?

Sara:    I have some fresh ideas that need media partners to launch and I need time to work on…

Work on that book all writers have to write…AND, take a trip abroad… I promise to return.

@JoelECarlson:    Thank you very much for your time and sharing some of your life today on #jectv! Have a great week Sara! :)

Sara:    Thank YOU! Always surreal to answer questions, rather than ask them!

Hello everybody! Lets start this Twitterview with @vsawkar of @kstp and get to know more about her!

Q – #1    @Vsawkar, for those that didn’t see your video – http://www.vimeo.com/29913465 where did you grow up, and what interests did you have?

Vineeta:    Hi @JoelECarlson! I grew up in Overland Park, KS. I loved theater, drill team, school newspaper and speech tourneys.

Q – #2    So from childhood you’ve always had an interest in the news? Where did you attend college, and what was your major?

Vineeta:    I have always loved news. I like to be the first to tell people something

I went to Boston University and majored in political science and broadcast journalism.

If tv news didn’t work out, I would have entered the political world. I am a political junkie. Election night is my favorite.

Q – #3    I see. How was the adjustment from Overland Park KS to Boston MA for you? Were there any professors that mentored you?

Vineeta:    I was excited to get out of the midwest and experience life in Boston. I loved it.

My friend at @BU did make fun of my KC roots and call me Dorothy as in Wizard of Oz. #jectv #allingoodfun

I enjoyed Boston but was excited to get back to the midwest.First job was at @KXJBTV in Fargo. I was a weather person.

Q – #4    Had you studied meteorology before going to @KXJBTV? How long were you there, and how did you eventually end up at @kstp?

Vineeta:    I never studied meteorology but at that time they needed a weekend person and didn’t require it.

I worked in Fargo for 2 years and then went to Omaha at #WOWT to be a reporter.

I spent the last year in Omaha driving up to Minneapolis and begging news directors to hire me

My boyfriend/now-husband was in Fargo at the time and we both wanted to move to Minneapolis.

The news director at @kstp finally relented and said quit bugging me, I will hire you.

16 years later, here I am at @kstp and enjoying a wonderful life in #StPaul. I feel pretty lucky.

Q – #5    Persistence pays off! :) What roles have you had with @kstp? Have any favorite stories?

Vineeta:    Persistence is key. I started as a weekend reporter at @kstp and moved to weekend anchor when @AngelaDavisWCCO left.

I was @kstp weekend anchor for 8 years and then @AngelaDavisWCCO left again and they gave me her morning gig.

I always joke that the only way I get a promotion is when @AngelaDavisWCCO leaves a job!

I have done thousands of stories but I have always loved education reporting and covering politics.

My most memorable series of stories was covering the Grand Forks floods in 1997 for a week.

Q – #6     A “Big Story” for sure. Do you miss not reporting sometimes? Is it difficult not to get emotionally involved in stories?

Vineeta:    I miss reporting every now and then but I still get to do a little and we do have live interviews in the AM.

I have an 11-yr old boy and 8-yr old girl so I like leaving at noon every day to be there for them.

Reporting schedules are a little more unpredictable.

I remember being a reporter and my husband I were to have a party but I was reporting live in St. Cloud

Luckily, my husband was a tv reporter so he understood and welcomed our guests until I got back from my liveshot.

It is difficult not to get emotionally-involved in stories but you try your best. Tragic kid stories are the hardest.

Q – #7    More about YOU now. :) FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book or movie and TC’s neighborhood.

Vineeta:    Love this! Favorite restaurant: Sakura, downtown St. Paul for sushi. Fav store: Any cute shop on Grand Ave.

Fav comfort food: pasta or a good tater tot hotdish. fav recent book: #HotSweatyMamas (about running, local author)

Fav movie: The Way We Were, The Graduate or any Woody Allen. Fav Twin Cities “hood: Summit Hill/Crocus Hill

Q – #8    You have become a runner recently. How/why did you start doing that and how did you do on Sunday for the #TC10?

Vineeta:    I started running a year ago. It was a great way to steal some “me” time and release stress.

My goal for #TC10mile was 2 hrs or 2:15 and I made it in 1:58. Slow and steady and finish with a smile.

Q – #9    Good for you! :) Any marathons that we should expect to see you entering? To close, any other goals you’re targeting?

Vineeta:    Next goal: Half marathon. Maybe #Grandmasmarathon in Duluth next summer. One step at a time.

This Twitterview was so much fun. Thanks! I have to prepare for the @kstp midday show now. Thanks!

@JoelECarlson:    Super! Well thank you so much for your time today and sharing some of your life on #jectv. See you tomorrow AM on @kstp TV. :)

Vineeta:    Thanks again! It was a lot of fun! I hope your followers will take a second to follow me. Thanks!

The WNBA Minnesota Lynx are in the 2011 Finals. They have had a great season with their No.1 picks in the draft really shinning and showing their value on the court. What do we know about them? Who helps them to look and sound good off and on the court? Here is a list of Twitterview that I’ve been fortunate enough to conducted with some of them. Learn about what makes this team “tick”.

July 7, 2011 – Twitterview with Rebekkah Brunson – CLICK HERE

April 12,2011 – Twitterview with Candice Wiggins – CLICK HERE

Sept 19, 2011 – Twitterview with Alan Horton (Radio voice of the Lynx) – CLICK HERE

July 28,2010 – Twitterview with David Sherman (Lynx Photographer) – CLICK HERE

Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s Twitterview of @LuluGrimm (Lisa Grimm) of the @MallOfAmerica. Lets get things started!

Lisa:    Happy to be doing a Twitterview, @JoelECarlson

Q – #1    To start of @LuluGrimm, tell us a little bit about your early years. Where did you grow up and go to High School?

Lisa:    I grew up in South Minneapolis and attended Cretin-Derham Hall (@CD_H)

Q – #2    What kinds of classes do you enjoy and do well at when you attended @CD_H?

Lisa:    I LOVE the social sciences. I took psych @ch_h. Also loved biology and senior seminar – and women’s spirituality

in college (went to @MetroStateU) I feel in love with comm, but took a lot of anthropology and sociology courses. People and what

and what motivates us is what I love more than anything

Q – #3    Was social media being used/taught in the classrooms at all then? Where did you intern when you were in college?

Lisa:    Not at all. Social for business was new… My capstone in college examined “How social networks are effecting the PR discipline.”

I interned at an integrated, with focus on public affairs, agency called ASI Communications. I was a writing and research intern, but

focused a lot on social for a carbon credit company – building relationships with key stakeholders. We used MySpace and Facebook

Q – #4    “Old School” MySpace huh? :)  So how did you end up at the @MallofAmerica? What were your first assigned duties?

Lisa:    A little old school, yes:-) From my internship, I moved to @RMPR and was exposed to many B2B and B2C clients, doing a lot of writing

and working with @cydneyw and @kareemy in online marketing. I LOVED working on truly integrated campaigns and with other disciplines

From there, I went to a sales training company called @ActionSelling as a Marketing Manager, which was amazing experience and taught

me a lot about sales and business channels beyond comms. VERY beneficial for so many reasons. I also spent a lot of time doing social

When the social media specialist position came up @MallofAmerica, I hopped on it and was fortunate to land in the role. First duties

included developing formalized social media strategy, finalizing social media policy, community management and digital strategy

Q – #5    Was developing and coming up with strategies a bit challenging at first for a mall, with SM being relatively new?

Lisa:    Not really. There was a nice foundation laid. @MallofAmerica had 75k Facebook fans and about 4k followers on Twitter, so it was

relatively easy to visualize and set the plan in motion that included goals, objectives, tactics and measurement

Q – #6    How about setting up @Foursquare or @Gowalla for the @MallOfAmerica? Each store or just the mall itself?

Lisa:    Very easy actually. The thing people don’t really think about with @MallofAmerica is that we are just the house to 520+ tenants

It is each tenants responsibility to claim their venues, etc., but we do provide a lot of marketing communications support to them

Q – #7    I see what you’re saying. More about YOU! FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book or blog. Hobby.

Lisa:    Wow. Hard questions! Fave Restaurant is tough for me. I am obsessed with good food. I LOVE Bar La Grassa, Masu Sushi and Robata

Turtle Bread Company, Victory 44 and Whole Foods Pizza (sausage and onion). As for books – The Help was fantastic and right now I’m

reading “The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Can Teach Us About Being Human.” It’s really good.

I read a lot of blogs and don’t have a favorite. I do love Tech Crunch, even though it’s mainstream. They do good work.

And finally… hobbies – I LOVE my American Bulldog (Hank), hanging with my dude family and friends, yoga and good conversations:-)

Q – #8    What’s on your docket of events that you will attend and may or may not speak at the next few months?

Lisa:    I’m speaking, along with @bmjewell at #MIMASummit workshops next Tuesday. We’re presenting on developing a social business strategy

In addition, I’m speaking at @SMBMSP end of Oct. I may attend #Blogworld #bwela in November to watch @bmjewell chat digital crisis

Q – #9    Lastly, what advice would you share with HS or college students interested in getting into your field or work?

Lisa:    Advice for HS/College students: SEEK YOUR TRUTH AND WHAT YOU LOVE, THEN TAKE ACTION. Be CURIOUS and LOVE MANY THINGS:-)

and… work your      off and hang out with people who have what you want (a.k.a. mentors). Everything else falls into place.

@JoelECarlson:    Thanks for your time and participating in today’s Twitterview with me. Have a great week Lisa! :)

Lisa:    Thank you @JoelECarlson! It was my pleasure. Thanks for facilitating this and your many other Twitterviews