Mike Rynchek is an entrepreneur and the company that he started, Spyder Trap, has continued to grow year after year. Mike is the President and CEO of his company that offers online marketing to a growing number of companies. Though his company had primarily focused on the the healthcare industry in the beginning, it has since expanded into other fields. Get to know what makes Mike tick and what he hopes to do, along with his company, in the near future. In Part 1 of Mike interview, he shares why he decided to create Spyder Trap and what it’s niche is. He talks about how Social Media has changed things for Spyder Trap and his strong interest in Foursquare.  (Come back to see Part 2 on WED and Part 3 on THU.)

In Part 2 of Mike Rynchek’s interview, he talks about his vision for the future of his company, Spyder Trap. Mike shares his view of the marketing industry in Minnesota and answers some questions from Twitter and Facebook. He ends with talking about what he does in his spare time and his view of how rural areas are using technology.

In Part 3 of Mike’s interview. Get a guided tour of the expanded Spyder Trap headquarters, located in Minneapolis.

Hello everybody and welcome to the Twitterview of @AaronWeiche on this #wetANDwild Monday in the Twin Cities. Lets get started!

Aaron:    Thanks Joel for having me.

Q – #1    So to start @AaronWeiche, where did you grow up, go to school and what was your first job as an adult?

Aaron:    I grew up mostly in Buffalo MN, attended Southwest St for communications & first job was Fingerhut (forever ago!)

Q – #2    How have you been able to grow professionally over the years to get to where you’re at today?

Aaron:    I’ve always tried to create my opportunities, not wait for them. After that, a focus on quality & results in all work

Quality lasts forever. So whether its’ a web design, a SEO or social campaign, do it right & take it 1 step further.

Q – #3    How much would you say that your growth and learning came from working with the right people or businesses?

Aaron:    Some, but mostly self driven. Take any opportunity & make the most of it. “Be remarkable or be replaceable.”

It’s passion that makes you read 100 blog posts in a day, research, create, network, etc. Get’s back to the hustle.

Q – #4    Lets chat about your new location, @Spyder_Trap. How’d that connection happen, and what’s your role there?

Aaron:    Thanks to Twitter, @mikerynchek & I became friends 3 years ago, partnered our companies on a few projects ….

@mikerynchek kept after me on helping take ST to the next level. To start 2011, it became clear is was the right move.

I currently fill a VP role here & have mostly helped with production, quality, adding devs, creative staff & others.

I’m getting back into some biz dev now that we’ve grown more, added more great people.

Q – #5    I saw on FB that you’re looking for 3 more people, that’s AWESOME! Any speaking or training events coming up?

Aaron:    Yes, looking for another developer & 2 other positions: spydertrap.com/talent . Nearing 20 people on staff!

On August 10th I’m keynoting the SCORE MN Social Media seminar: conta.cc/njRyIu , should be a great event.

I also get to speak nationally on SEO and Local Search as part of the Local University tour: getlisted.org/university/

Q – #6    More about you: FAVORITE(s) – Restaurant(s), store(s), comfort food, sport and recent Twitter connection.

Aaron:    I’m a steak guy, so Manny’s is fav restaurant, Nike outlet store (sneaker junkie), love College Football & NE #Huskers

Twitter connection is tough, so many awesome people here, but most recent would be @aschottmuller (great content)

Q – #7    As a local sports fan, how have you felt lately about the level of play from the local teams?

Aaron:    Twins are my team, tough to watch them be so mediocre and injury bugged. M & M boys can’t get on the field together.

I’m a UM football tix holder & I’m hopeful Kill is the coach to work us back to a competitive program.

Q – #8    I hear you! As a family man and being in the creative-job-world, how is it juggling work and family life for you?

Aaron:    With 3 young daughters it is tough. 1. My wife is incredible, supportive & makes things work for me & us.

2. Since I’m a workaholic & passionate about online, I count blogs, analytics, creative, biz & stuff as a hobby!

3. I know my most important job is a Dad. I have to make time to impact and share their lives, work can wait.

@JoelECarlson    Sorry to @AaronWeiche and everyone following on #jectv. My electrical power was out for a time. :( Thanks for being on #jectv today! :)

Aaron:    Thanks @joelecarlson for the TWITTERVIEW! Sounds like your power & internet went out with the storm. Great questions!

Hello, and welcome to today’s Twitterview with my guest @rohnjaymiller. He’s a Minnesota smarty, so we can’t keep him waiting. :)

Q – #1    To start with @rohnjaymiller, where did you grow up, go to school and where have you lived?

Rohn:    I’m from MSP, have a J degree from U of M, earned MFA in film directing at USC in LA + lived mostly in SFO. Back to MSP in 2003.

started an interactive agency in SF in 1993 called Ikonic. We sold to USWeb and I worked at Knight Ridder newspapers as SVP Tech+Product

Q – #2    What’s your #UofM degree in, and what got you interested in film directing?

Rohn:    My degree is in Journalism, and I just had a dream about working in film. USC was a fantastic experience. Lots of friends there

I graduated from film school on a Friday, following Monday started 8 week CD-ROM project and I’ve been in itneractive ever since

Q – #3    After working at Knight Ridder, where did you work next? How did you end up eventually back in Minnesota?

Rohn:    KnightRidder was downsizing and execs were offered great packages. I wanted to start a biz and my wife got a great job at Target

My wife is a fashionista, so we’ve always been in different businesses. But her job allowed me to be more entreprenural.

She’s at Gander Mountain now and I’m sitting in a campsite at the new CoCo in Mpls, building an office here.

Now we have two smart, confident daughters who are growing up in one of the greatest places to be a kid on planet Earth–MSP

Q – #3    Nice situation! Now that you’re with Native Instinct, based in SFO, what kind of projects do you work on? What’s the Flip Cam story?

Rohn:    My partners met the Flip camera people when they were still in the garage start-up. Worked with them for 4 years. Build e-commerce

Native Instinct works with a kind of agile marketing philosophy, which I’m a huge advocate of. Build, meansure, evolve. Don’t assume

I’m currently working with Dell, Wells Fargo and a stealth start-up in Las Vegas. Just wish I had clients in the TC. Great community

My practice is content and social strategy. It’s what Native Instinct didn’t have. Now I spend a lot of time writing and wrangling

Social strategy projects tend to be small, consultative. You’re really there to help the client own social media

Q – #4    Do you feel that your line of work is in a transition period, growth or how would you describe it?

Rohn:    Our biz generally is in steady growth mode, but you have to be changing personally. Social, mobile, fast tech dev are huge changes

And you have to have a POV. Clients won’t hire just expertize. We’re very big on Lean Strategy with agile philosophy

Lean planning will become much better known in the next few years. Don’t spend millions on media with one big campaign. It’s insane

Q – #5    More bang with less bucks? :) @rohnjaymiller Who are some New Media Smarties that you’ve been able to benefit from connecting with?

Rohn:    @farrahbostic @madebymany @neilperkin @paulisakson @adrianho @danielincandela @kipbot All brilliant, decent people who give much

There are many more I could name. I do think the UK agency @madebymany is very, very much worth looking at. Make a note of them

Q – #6    To build ideas and stimulate creativity, blog and book reading is helpful. What have you read lately that you enjoyed?

Rohn:    I vowed to read a book a week this year. So far fairly good. Right now “Making Things Happen” by Scott Belsky.

“Elements of Content Strategy” by @kissane is the Strunk and Whites of content strategy

Also mention Neil Perkins blog “Only Dead Fish” a great weekly compendium of stuff he finds and his posts: http://bit.ly/BfMB3

@Rick_Now and @arainert @leeodden @halvorson all bring a lot to their blogs and posts

And @JoelECarlson :)

Q – #7    More about you: Favorite(s) – Restaurant, store, comfort food, non-tech activity, MSP neighborhood.

Rohn:    I do all the cooking at home! Restaurant Alma run by Alex Roberts is brilliant. Comfort food: I make risotto once a wk. Grilling

Food Network is my daughter’s favorite station. We’re over the moon about “Next Network Food Star!”

Non-tech: I’m nuts about X-country skiing in the deep woods. Great for body and soul, and makes you love the winter.

We live near Kenwood Park, where I go roller skiing in summer. I do fine, but I nearly kill a pedestrian every time I go out!

Q – #8    Warning, @rohnjaymiller crossing signs needed. :) If you could share a meal with any 1 person (dead/alive) who would you pick?

Rohn:    One dinner: Well Jesus would have to top list, Christian or not, just to see what’s true. My hero is Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-NY

Daniel Moynihan was a giant of domestic and foreign policy + many, many “deals” in the US Senate. We miss him now, esp.

Q – #9    Final question, what would you recommend for college students looking to get into your field to learn?

Rohn:    My 15 year old daughter is starting a blog on food in the TC this Fall. I couldn’t be prouder :)

Advice: start blogging now, preferably as part of existing blog. Learn tech and copy editing, but really dive into design strategy

Don’t be afraid of “business strategy” from MBAs. the best business minds go into business and build that brain muscle themselves

Thanks for the interview, @JoelECarlson It’s an honor to be part of a great series.

@JoelECarlson:    No thank YOU! You were LONG overdue as a guest on #jectv! Have your daughter follow the #MNFoodBloggers group too.

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s Twitterview of @collodora. Lets get started.

Q – #1    So @collodora, tell everybody where you grew up and where you went to school.

Toby: Thanks, Joel. Spent my elementary years in Iowa and graduated from Wayzata High School

Proud U of M grad — go @gopherathletics!

Q – #2    Okay. So what did you study at the #UofMN and what made you go in that direction?

Toby: studied broadcast journalism. Knew since I was a little kid writing up my own newspaper that I wanted to be in news

Q – #3    I see. So before you were at @wcco, where did you work? Second, what’s involved with your current job as a web editor?

Toby: I’ve only worked in news at @WCCO — started on the assignment desk in college and moved to the Web after I graduated

Current: Lots of writing and producing for @wcco ‘s digital products, planning projects and training too

And … describing my job in less than 140 characters was harder than it sounds :)

Q – #4    How is Social Media having an effect on how news stories are made and broadcast to the public?

Toby: Social media is so fast! Because of Twitter, especially, we find out about breaking news and other stories much faster

I think social media makes it easier for everyone to interact and have input on stories throughout the day, too

Q – #5    Crowdsourcing  is no doubt helpful for the news. When it comes to the web, what kinds of stories do well?

Toby: The great thing about the web is that there’s something for everyone.

Of course that being said, who doesn’t enjoy an odd crime story or a good puppy video now and again, too?

Q – #6    Now more about YOU. :)  FAVORITE(s) – Restaurant, store, comfort food, hobby, Twin Cities neighborhood and genre of music.

Toby: Ah the fun stuff! Restaurant: Annie’s Parlour near the #UofM Comfort food: Warm chocolate chip cookies with ice cream

Hobby: Reading (I read a lot of popular fiction, magazines and blogs) and exercise (to counterbalance the cookies)

I like pop music when I’m working out and when driving — keeps me motivated and awake!

Q – #7    Yes it does! :)  To end, what personal or professional goal are you currently working on to achieve?

Toby: Professional (ongoing): To keep learning and to keep up with all the new technology as much as possible

Personal: @WarriorDash at Afton Alps in July!

@JoelECarlson: Thank you @collodora for your time and sharing some of your thoughts and life today on #jectv. Have a great week! :)

Toby: Thank you, Joel! Very fun

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone! Welcome to the my Twitterivew with Chicagoan @barrymoltz. Lets get things started!

Q – #1    To start off @barrymoltz, where did you grow up, where did you attend school and what was your 1st job as an adult?

Barry: grew up in CT- attended Brandeis and worked at IBM

Q – #2    Where do you work now, and what kinds of companies has your entrepreneurial spirit helped you with?

Barry: I have my own company now helping small business owners get unstuck

I started three companies, all in the tech area

Q – #3    So what is it that you’re helping Small Businesses get unstuck from?

Barry: The biggest problem facing most small business owners is their ability to do their work and market on an ongoing basis

It’s a systematic way to always creating relationships with prospects, influencers and connectors

Q – #4    I see. You’re also an author. What have you written, and what went into you writing?

Barry: I have written 3 books for the small biz owners- starting, bouncing back and customer service

Q – #5    Did you do the writing and publishing yourself? What has been the response to your books?

Barry: yes, wrote all the books with the help of a editor – tough to get the message across in a vacuum

books are a great platform- kind of like a giant business card!

Q – #6    Very cool! So what projects/plans are you working on for the near future?

Barry: always helping small biz owners get unstuck- now with webinars and in person events!

Q – #7    Fun! Now more about you. FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent biz book or blog.

Barry: Favorite comfort food- Grill Cheese, Tomato Soup and French Fries

Recent Business Book I just read: Today We Are Rich by @sanderssays – must read #TWAR

Q – #8    To close, what’s 1 Tweet of advice you’d give to new small business owners to help them start off right?

Barry: I have a sign always hanging in my office “It’s Cash Flow, Stupid”

Always solve a pain and find people that can pay to solve the pain and you will always have a business

@JoelECarlson: Thanks @barrymoltz for your time and comments today on #jectv. All the best to you with your work and efforts!

@JoelECarlson: Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of @sjanicki (Stacy Fields Janicki) of @ColleMcVoy. Lets get started!

Stacy: Ready to roll!

Q – #1    So @sjanicki, to start off with, where did you grow up, go to school and what was your 1st job as an adult?

Stacy: I grew up in Shoreview, MN. Go Moundsview Mustangs! And went to college at Notre Dame.

First job as an adult? Intern at Campbell Mithun on Healthy Choice.

Q – #2    Okay. What was your major at Notre Dame, and did you always know that’s what you wanted to study?

Stacy: I majored in Film and TV. I wanted to be a sports broadcaster. I interned at the local NBC affiliate in South Bend.

Loved the sports aspect, but not the job. Then worked on a masters in Counseling Psychology. Stumbled into advertising

Figured advertising was a good mix of both pyschology and communications.

Q – #3    Impressive! So after interning at Campbell Mithun, how did you progress to what you do now at @ColleMcVoy?

Stacy: In addition to Campbell Mithun, I spent time at Martin Williams working my way up the ranks.

I rounded out my experience by working on a variety of stuff (Microsoft, MPR, Anheiser Bush, Medica, General Mills).

Along the way, was lucky enough to have great mentors that inspired me to shoot for a leadership role in the industry.

Q – #4    Explain if you will you’re current role, and what kind of projects that you work on.

Stacy: I lead the Account Management team at C+M and also play an Account Director role on Caribou Coffee and Take Me Fishing.

Fave recent assignments: re-branding Caribou Coffee, creating a new brand guidelines for Old Navy…

and launching a new mobile version of TakeMeFishing.com. Working on a big Caribou summer promo now (and holiday 2011!)

Q – #5    Must be doing something right, being named by @mspbjnews as a “Woman To Watch”. Congrats! How do you feel about that?

Stacy: It was great to be in such amazing company. It’s like sports awards though…

none of your achievements could be possible without being part of amazing teams. My peeps @collemcvoy are fantastic.

Q – #6    Good analogy! More about YOU now. FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, sport, recent book/movie.

Stacy: restaurant: Bar La Grasa, Store: Good Things downtown White Bear Lake Comfort Food: Homemade Mac ‘n Cheese

Sport: B-ball (have NBA pass, coach my kids teams, and went to Indy last month to see my irish in the women’s Final 4)

Movie: Bridesmaids (hilarious) and In Pieces (Joan Rivers documentary-fascinating). Book: A Visit from the Good Squad

oops Book is actually A Visit from the Goon Squad

Q – #7    What is a personal or professional goal that you’ve set for yourself for the next year or two?

Stacy: In 140 characters or less:)? Run the NYC marathon. Help land a game-changing new piece of biz. Get more sleep.

Q – #8    Who is someone in your field that you admire/respect and would love to be able to have coffee with some day?

Stacy: She’s not technically in advertising, but I’d love to have coffee (or tequila shots) with Tina Fey.

I’d love to hear where her creative inspiration comes from. And while she’s known as a funny lady…

she’s also has proven to be pretty successful as a business woman competing in a man’s industry.

Q – #9    Tina Fey has quite the mind doesn’t she! To close, where do you see Social Media in the next year or two in your industry?

Stacy: I read an article by Steve Rubel that put it best. We’re moving from the Democritization era in social media to…

the Validation Era. the avg. adult doesn’t KNOW 20% of their “friends” on FB? We’re grappling with overload.

@JoelECarlson: Lots of “noise” for sure! Thank you Stacy for your time and your comments. Nice work at #jmu612 in March too. Take care!

Stacy: Thanks Joel!

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s Twitterview of @KateJWarren. The NEW Director of Strategy at GdB. Lets begin.

Q – #1    Congrats on the NEW job first! So please share a little about yourself. Where did you grow up and attend school?

Katie: Thanks Joel! I’m a Minnesota girl. I grew up in a small town called West Concord

I went to High School there then went on to St. Olaf College in Northfield

Q – #2    I see. So what was you major, and then what was your 1st job after your college coursework was done?

Katie: I was an English major and my first job was at a small direct marketing and advertising agency called Measured Marketing.

Q – #3    What was your role with Measured Marketing, and what other work led you to your new job with GdB?

Katie: An account person. I went on to other agencies including Campbell-Mithun where I did a lot of brand strategy work.

For four years I worked for a subsidiary of CM called Br&nd Innovators doing brand and new development consulting.

Most recently I was at Supervalu. Starting in marketing planning and eventually was promoted to VP of Brand Marketing

Q – #4    Impressive experience! So why go to GdB? What’s your role going to be with them? What are you responsible for doing?

Katie: I love agency culture and instantly clicked with the people at GdB. My role is to lead strategy.

My responsibilities will include strategic insights and planning, business analysis and account management.

What I think is so great about GdB is that they believe in the power of great ideas & that they can come from anywhere

Q – #5    What are you looking forward to the MOST with your new role with GdB?

Katie: I’m really looking forward to having the variety of businesses and brands to work on.

Also love coming up with creative solutions and strategies that help businesses grow!

Q – #6    Super! Lets now focus more on YOU! Favorite(s): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book or movie, app.

Katie: Love Cafe Maude (especially the Natasha), DSW (shoes and more shoes), I make a mean Mac & Cheese.

Pride & Prejudice, love the book and move and my favorite app has to be Scrabble.

Q – #7    Nice choices! When it comes to personal or professional growth, what’s 1 goal that your hoping to accomplish soon?

Katie: Wow, great question. My goal is to do work I’m proud of and to do it while being a great mom and wife.

Q – #8    Nice! :) To close, who is 1 person (dead/alive) that you’d like to meet and why?

Katie: I would love to meet Eleanor Roosevelt. She did incredible things way ahead of her time.

@JoelECarlson: Thank you for your time and sharing some of your life on #jectv today @KateJWarren! Have a great day on your new job!

Katie: Thanks Joel. This was really fun