Hello #MNMOtv followers! Today’s guest is @Vruno (Kristine Vruno Huson), and we don’t want to keep her waiting, so lets start!

Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up, go to school and what did you want to be when you grew up?

Kristine:    Grew up in S. St. Paul, (Go Packers). Wanted 2B marine biologist to dive w/great white sharks; still want to do that

So would you say you’re an adventurer, you like to face danger or that you like challenges?

Kristine:    Not an adrenaline junkie, but have done some brave things, I suppose. Being “arctic warrior” in Army in Alaska, might qualify

I suppose having some courage in my blood helps me when I meet kids who are dying of cancer & their parents

I would also say that I love challenges – hoping to help docs cure cancer, or make progress on that monster problem, is one

Lets talk about the work that you do. How did you get involved with being a fundraiser for children with cancer?

Kristine:    Childhood cancer research was my women’s fraternity’s chosen cause so I fundraised while in college at University of North Dakota

So I have always admired @childrenscancer, so pursued a position here & am very impressed by the work of this organization

Children’s Cancer Research Fund provides $millions in seed grants for innovative “proof of principal” studies

What are some of the ways that you and @childrenscancer are able to get contributions to help with valuable research.

Kristine:    This proof of principal research oft attracts other funding from NIH, NCI & other nonprofits. Our ROI is $1 we give turns into $18

Our researcher turned our $10K seed grant into $3.5M in NIH funding. Our $100K grant for brain tumor research got $3.9M That’s ROI!

Besides seed grants we fill in gaps of funding for capital expenditures, underwrite quality-of-life programs @UofMChildrens..

We fund SIX endowed chairs at U of MN – that’s the most by any philanthropic organization giving to the U! We are very vital to U.

Raising money for this is great, but it sounds like you’ve been able to interact with some who’ve been helped too right?

Kristine:    Indeed, it’s sharing stories of kids affected by our research, the young patients & their families, that is my most important role.

I sat in hospital, w/young man who battling neuroblastoma for 3rd time while he had is final, last ditch, stem cell rescue

This kid died, & can’t bring myself 2 delete emails he send 2 me along the way. His mom & I still correspond. In his memory I work!

I take it personally when we lose a child we’ve worked with. #Cancer is the devil & I’ll fight it as long as I have fight in me

Wow! You are obviously very passionate about your work! :) In addition to your work, any other passions that you have?

Kristine:    I consider myself an “art patron” & my art of choice is local, indie music. I also try to invest in visual artists too when I can

Rocking out at a gig helps me blow of steam from my sometimes emotionally taxing vocation

We have an embarrassment of riches of art in the Twin Cities, we are so lucky! Get out there & be an art patron & support the arts!

I also have a 14 yo son who keeps me on my toes.

Would you also say that you’re a fashionista as well? What kinds of things are you drawn to?

Kristine:    I would be in denial if I didn’t say that I love my vintage dresses & coats. It’s my contribution to keeping the planet greener

If you haven’t been to Lula in St. Paul & met Hayley Bush, you’re missing out. She is clothing whisperer! Beautiful vintage there!

To close, do you have any favorite eateries or shops that you like frequent locally that you care to share?

Kristine:    Love chef-driven indie restaurants serving local fare. Adore Moscow on the Hill, WA Frosts, Saffron. Lula, Blacklist 4 Vintage

I love getting lost at the Goodwill & Savers. Find lots of designer treasures there. Found a suede Celine coat for $6!

Joel Carlson:    Thank you VERY MUCH for all that you do to help people with cancer! Thanks also for being a #MNMOtv guest today. Good work! :)

Kristine:    Thank you 4 opportunity @joelecarlson & @MNMOmag! Our cause @childrenscancer always needs help. Check us out: http://ow.ly/a4V6g!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of @NicoledeB. Grab your cup o’ Joel and lets get to Tweeting!

@NicoledeB – Hi Joel, got my coffee. Thanks for having me.

Q – #1    So @NicoledeB, a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up and where did you go to school?

A: I’m from Reston, VA – went to HS there b4 going to @WilliamsCollege in #Massachusetts, majored in Anthropology

@JoelECarlson – LOL – I meant cup o’ Joe, not cup o’ Joel. :D

@NicoledeB – It’s kind of catchy, tho #cupojoel

perhaps you read Cup of Jo? great blog, but not one I’d see you poring over http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/

Q – #2    Anthropology?! Interesting. What made you choose that as a major? What was your 1st job after college?

A: anthropology studies human relationships & culture – one I got past the 101 class, I became entranced by it.

post-college, thought about law school & was paralegal but it wasn’t for me. Soon got into #marketing & public issues

Q – #3    So what led you to the kind of work that you do now? To what degree is social media used with your work?

A: technically, 1st job, paralagel, but really had 3 jobs, asst dir of nonprofit, mktg consultant & worked @ #foundation

working w/mentor Patricia Barr who was national policy advocate & philanthropist inspired me to get into social change

social media is hugely important @wk_kellogg_fdn for interacting w/people on the ground doing the work we do

I’m lucky 2 work w/great team who are social media savvy & curious & full of ideas & pushing always @wk_kellogg_fdn

Q – #4    Great! @NicoledeB, would you explain what @wk_kellogg_fdn is and what it does?

A: @wk_kellogg_fdn is a #foundation & makes grants to #nonprofits in areas of #healthykids #educatedkids #securefamilies

@wk_kellogg_fdn focuses support on improving conditions 4 vulnerable children 0-8 nationwide & in #MI #NM #MS #NOLA

@wk_kellogg_fdn has made #race a huge part of its work – meaning: healing #racism – that’s big.

here’s a great ground level view of our work @wk_kellogg_fdn http://annualreport.wkkf.org/ #jectv

Q – #5    I see. Now you have a good Social Media following in MN. How has that developed?

A: I lived in #MN until last Sept. I moved to take this job in #MI. Minnesota will always feel like home to me.

Q – #6    Cool! Now for @NicoledeB’s FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food and recent book.

A: OK, favorites… @JoelECarlson, you asked… I’m a caffeine addict, so wherever I travel I seek #coffee, particularly #intelligentsia

@bluebottlecoffee, @peacecoffee & @stumptown also get the high 5 from me in the fave #coffee dept

great online store: @ofakind – ltd editions neat stuff. Featured MN girl now in LA Clare Vivier recently (love her)

comfort food – gack, let me preface this w/I’m on day 7 of P90X & I work out like a fiend – mac&cheese w/bacon!

I’d say my fave year-round activity is travel. Hands down. New places (treasured familiar places, too), food, people!

As for recent books, too many! But I’ll rec. kid’s book on financial literacy I heard of today: http://amzn.to/hlig6C

Q – #7    @NicoledeB, what are some of cities that you’ve been to in your recent travels? Do you have any other hobbies?

A: just spent wknd in Chicago. Recently in Miami, LA, SF, NYC. Got to see Alaska 1st time this fall – awesome.

I like art – from checking out little galleries to Art Basel Miami #abmb; I geek out to anything mid-century modern

I’m an avid iPhone photog. Instagram & hipstamatic, natch. My flickr collection is out of control. Just for fun.

Q – #8    @NicoledeB Which iPhone do you have? Are you going to switch to Verizon?

A: here’s flickr stream http://bit.ly/gz8R5m if anyone’s curious. I have iPhone 4, prolly won’t switch unless to android

Q – #9    To close, what advice would you give to people interested in getting involved with the kind of work that you do?

A:    interested in #philanthropy: pick something you are willing to go deep & wide in (issue area/etc) & find HOW you fit

#nonprofits and #philanthropy always can use #financial capacity. Being able to tell great stories also important.

working on social change is hard; problems not always evident. Creative, persistent, curious people welcome!

whoops, I meant solutions to problems not always evident.

@JoelECarlson – Thanks @NicoledeB for sharing some of your life, comments and time today! :) Where does your traveling take you to next?

@NicoledeB – thank you, it was fun. Next stop is Austin for #SxSw unless I feel like a spur of the moment trip in between!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Food-Friday Twitterview of @FoodforMyFamily. Set your timers to 1hr and then serve. :)

Q – #1    So @FoodforMyFamily, lets find out a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up and go to school?

A: I grew up in the Twin Cities. St. Paul, then moved to Champlin. Graduated from high school and found myself @ UofMN

my husband and I moved back towards campus while he was in grad school, and we’ve been here ever since.

Q – #2    I see. So what did you take for coursework at the UofM, and what did you do after you finished there?

A: I studied psychology and Spanish studies at UMN, and after I worked at The Courage Center b4 leaving to work 4 myself,

Q – #3    What kind of business is is, and how did you come up with the idea?

A: I originally did accounting work and later editing, transcription and consulting for different clients.

then I transitioned that into freelance writing when I needed something more personally fulfilling.

Food, cooking & feeding others had always been important to me, and it was one of the reasons I chose psychology in school, so it…

…seemed like a natural choice to start writing about what I loved and was passionate about.

Q – #4    What is the name of your blog, and what kind of cooking do you blog about?

A: My blog is http://foodformyfamily.com/ and I blog about what we eat as a family, menu plans, involving your family in cooking…

right now I’m doing a series on picky eaters: looking at different reasons for, different types, appropriate responses

Q – #5    What has been the response to your blog and how frequently do you generally make a posting?

A: I post 3x a week on my own blog. I write FT, tho, so you can find me writing several other places throughout the week

Q – #6    Lets get to @FoodforMyFamily’s FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food and recent book.

A: Favorite MN restaurants right now: @CTKitchentable and @128cafe (of course, for being such gracious hosts) & my own dining room.

favorite winter activity: watching winter melt away into spring… We snowboard and cross-country ski, too.

Favorite comfort food: anything my grandma made for me as a child, which was mostly from her Eastern European roots.

I am currently reading @unmarketing’s book. #unbook

Q – #7    To close, you have 2 other hobbies, photography & the violin. With a family of 4, how do you make time for them?

A: unfortunately, they often get pushed aside, but because the photography is part of the job, it’s easier to justify.

& I do both in other areas: I teach violin lessons, and I also do photography for weddings, portraits, etc.

@JoelECarlson – You have a very diverse life. How fun! Thank you so much @FoodforMyFamily for your time and comments today. Have a great weekend!

@FoodforMyFamily – Thanks for having me, @JoelECarlson! Have a fantastic weekend.

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of @Kablog (Kara McGuire). She tries to make sense of dollars and cents. :)

@Kablog – Hey Joel! Happy to be here.

Q – #1    First off, where are you from and what brought you to the Twin Cities?

A: I’m from Plymouth, MI, a suburb of Detroit. Went to college at Macalester and next thing you know I’m a Minnesotan.

Q – #2    What did you major in at Macalester, and how did you get from there to the @StarTribune? What were your “steps”?

A: I was a history major @Macalester . Hired as intern @MPRnews, which turned into a producing gigs on Morning Ed & Midday

Worked on Marketplace Money w/@kairyssdal. Realized loved personal finance & started column for @Startribune @StribBiz

Q – #3    I see. So what are some of the “hot topics” that you cover in personal finance at the @StarTribune?

A: All over the map. Credit cards. Foreclosures. Retirement. Saving for college. Coupons. The dreaded “B” word (budget)

Q – #4    Regarding coupons, what’s your take on the Groupon/LivingSocial explosion that has been going on? Longevity?

A: There are so many of these deal-a-day sites now that it’s hard to keep up! They annoy me, but I keep finding deals.

I’ve learned to be v. careful about which deals I buy, ones close to home, businesses I already use & v. special treats.

Despite frugal fatigue, I think deal-a-day sites will survive if businesses keep signing up & offer decent deals

Q – #5    Good idea! Lets now go more into your role with the @StarTribune. What do your responsibilities cover?

A: I write a Sunday personal finance column, blog and Tweet about money matters. And write stories about money topics.

I’ve recently started as half-time digital producer for @StribBiz, helping reporters w/online & social media efforts.

Q – #6    Congrats! In addition to all of that, you are also a Full-Time mom. How do you manage all of that?

A: Time is like money. You have to budget it, set your priorities, and accept that you can’t do it all.

Q – #7    True! Now for your FAVORITES: restaurant, store, winter activity, comfort food and place for kids.

A: Tough questions! The Strip Club Restaurant in St. Paul. Does traveling to warmer climate count as a “winter activity?

Comfort food? OK I admit that it is a McDonald’s McDouble, no onions (it’s on $1 menu).

Love @MNChildMuseum on Fri or Sat. PM. @Salutgrand for fancy dinner w/kids. Como park. Anywhere our bikes will take us

Q – #8    Good choices! To close, what is 1 piece of advice you would like to share with people regarding personal finances?

A: Live withing your means. Period. Figure out what matters most to you and try to align those values with your finances.

Pick up that Sun. business section to read my @StarTribune column. And read my blog: http://bit.ly/fgtQH7.

@JoelECarlson – Good advice! Thank you for your time and thoughts today @Kablog (Kara). Enjoy your afternoon and stay warm!

@kablog – Thanks Joel. Fun being on the other side of the interview for a change.

@JoelECarlson – Hello, and welcome to the Twitterview @KO_Comm today. She’s a busy person, so lets get this thing started!

@KO_Comm – Nice to be here!

Q – #1    So @KO_Comm (Kris), where did you grow up? What High School did you attend and what did you do after HS?

A: Grew up in southern MN and graduated from @StOlaf (Um! Yah! Yah!) w/English major.

Got my M.A. in English from U of MI (Ann Arbor); learned about PR while researching careers using writing.

Oh and my HS was Cleveland MN — 34 in graduating class.

Q – #2    Wow, a class of 34! It must have been the same people in most of your classes K-12 I’d imagine?

A: Yeah, K-12, but they kept the young kids away from us scary teens. Basically knew those in grades above/below.

Q – #3    Interesting. Now please share some of your working career up from college until you got to @cmithun.

A: Started as intern, worked up ranks at @WSMpls (Mona Meyer McGrath & Gavin), job-shared PR dir at @MNSCU’s Metro State…

…returned to agency life part time @CL_Spong. Took time off while kids were little, freelanced and now am @cmithun

I love agencies –

Q – #4    What is your role at @cmithun, and what does entail as to your work activities?

A: I’m dir of corp comm. So I handle the PR effort /communications of the agency, to raise visibility of @cmithun.

Basically the agency is my client, so I spread the word about our work, create opp’s to showcase our braintrust …

…which involves sharing our news and pro-active things like our blog, our live-streamed digital events, etc..

Q – #5    Lets now shift to your personal life. You’ve expanded your family in a special way over the years. Please share.

A: We’ve adopted three kids from S. Korea and traveled there twice. Very awesome privilege and journey.

Q – #6    After you adopted your 1st child, is the process easier since you are in the “system” as it were already?

A: Not really, other than you know the ropes. The paperwork all expires; you still have to update the home study. ..

…but we certainly didn’t spend as much time answering the essay questions. Being able to write helps. :)

Q – #7    On your comment regarding writing, do you like writing stories, poetry and things of that nature?

A: I do. Have done some short stories, some essays and have a kids’ novel rattling around in my head…

Have taken classes @loftliterary; great place. Trying different kinds of writing makes a better writer, I think.

Q – #8    So are you aiming to or have you had anything published?

A: I have something ready to send out, but am mostly focused on cranking out @cmithun copy, which I’m totaly enjoying.

err: totally (make that 2 “l”s)

Love how our field is a combo of craft/art.

Q – #9    You’re human! :) Lets find out your FAVORITES: restaurant, store, winter activity, TC’s neighborhood & recent book.

A: I live in historic downtown @Stillwater_MN (akin to Chaska, cc: @gregswan), so love my local haunts there…

Winter activity: XC skiing for sure. Just got skate skis this year to try and keep up w/my kids. Loving all this SNOW!

Just read Stockett’s The Help. Loved it. Started Kingsolver’s Lacuna, but it isn’t as good as Poisonwood Bible.

Q – #10    Your comment about your field being a combo of craft/art. Please explain that further in some detail.

A: Sure. We need to know the PR craft for sure, but choosing/using just the right words def is part art, as well…

I love that our work/words can empower a brand’s personality, perception and marketplace performance. ..

It’s an awesome privilege/responsibility. Each communications scenario matters. And makes a difference.

Q – #11    Words can be powerful, as Tweeters well know! So to close, what thought or mantra would you like people to think about?

A: I have a fav quote: “To hold a pen is to be at war” –Voltaire. Good luck (and have fun) on the battlefield!

@JoelECarlson – Thanks @KO_Comm for your time and sharing some of your life in 140+ characters today. Have a great day Kris!

@KO_Comm – Pleasure to chat w/you. Thanks. Happy day to you as well.

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone and to @girlmeetsgeek as we conduct a Twitterview 2.0 with her today. Lets make like an 80′s hair-band and rock!

Q – #1    Lets start with you and all of your recent “pub” about your work. What’s happened with you recently in your career?

A: I revved up the 7+ year freelancing biz and landed a fantastic gig as the Dir. of Mktg and Recruiting at Brigham Group

(And, I love it.) I work with some of the most passionate and hilarious people daily. Right, @JenniferBrigham?

Q – #2    That’s just awesome! So how were the first few days for you, and what kind of responsibilities do you have now?

A: My first steps were to really figure out strategy and learn about our team. We are expanding rapidly

I focused on the preliminaries. Taking over the recruiting world is next. #Maybe :)

To make any organizational changes, you must first understand, trust and acknowledge your team. :)

Q – #3    In starting a new job, as you did, what advice would you give to people on how to mentally and emotionally prepare?

A: Lose ends need to be tied up. Treat it like a valuable relationship, don’t bring old baggage to the new job.

I remind myself my goal is to be a SME where I’m at, but each company is different. I set myself up 2 listen and learn

Q – #4    Good points! Now as a big Social Media user, how will you use it to connect people to work and businesses to people?

A: We will be unveiling a brand new website soon. Our strategies for recruiting are changing. It’s more HUMAN.

We’ll be sourcing more with SM, but also trying to be more accessible to give resources, guidance and a clear voice.

Q – #5    With all of the recent TECH advances, the HUMAN element cannot get overlooked. So how was your summer? Any travel?

A: Our summer completely flew by. Big trips included… River Falls, Winona and the North Shore. #PhotoTaking

You can check out the ridiculous amount of photos I can’t stop taking here: www.flickr.com/photos/lovelyava

Q – #6    North Shore is ALWAYS awesome! So with your new job, will you continue speaking, and where have you done so lately?

A: I’ll be speaking a few places coming up. Tomorrow is Wordcamp- (http://www.wordcampmsp.org)

Tues. is: You Can Get Hired (www.youcangethired.com) and Tues. Afternoon is http://bit.ly/smjobsearch for the MNPRSA.

Tonight: Speaking for the #NCCC on Cervical Cancer awareness at Rhea Pappas Show: http://526salon.qwestoffice.net/events.html

Q – #7    I see. RE: Blogging – Where do you get inspiration from for your posts from, and are new topics difficult for you?

A: I never blog unless I’m ‘fired up.’ This keeps me from looking back and saying, “what a waste of words.” I draw from life.

My greatest successes in blogging have come when I’ve cracked open my soul and laid it out on the keyboard. #TheBest

Q – #8    At the #MNBlogConf I heard about the #HeartGut. Good 4 you! Any “hot” job fields right now for job seekers?

A: I try to favorite great job leads and articles for searchers. (Feel free to peruse.) Make sure to check POLLEN Group on LinkedIn

Q – #9    Okay. On the personal side, and restaurants or stores that you’ve tried lately that you had a good experience at?

A: I now order everything I can from @SoapDotCom. You could say I’m obsessed. Also, everyone knows what a @LOFT fiend I am.

As far as local goes, I try to shop second-hand…except for food. A secret? I still love Perkins pancakes at 3am. #SoGood

Q – #10    So as we near the end of 2010 and start 2011 soon, what professional or personal goals have you made for yourself?

A: My huge goal is to get the book published by 2012. Most of my goals just revolve around being a good parent, and happy.

Q – #11    Book?!?! What book are you writing, and what is it about? (Sorry if I missed hearing about it.)

A: Had a publisher in college, wanted to wait. Now I think it’s ready. :) I’ll be excited to share more, soon.

@JoelECarlson – Thank you so much @girlmeetsgeek for your comments and time today. I think most will agree that you are a positive force in MN!

@GirlMeetsGeek – It was a honor to Twitterview with you twice. :) Joel, you ROCK. And, I think I speak for everyone, you’re a FORCE in the industry.

@JoelECarlson – Good morning everyone and welcome to the TwiterReview of @buttersandbeans owner Ann Evans. Lets get started!

Q – #1    To start Ann, what is @buttersandbeans?

A: butters&beans is a brand new fashion-centric organic and eco-friendly infant clothing line!

Q – #2    That’s a great idea. So what made you think of @buttersandbeans, and how can people find you and your clothing?

A: b&b started when I noticed that there were not a lot of colorful and fun organic kids clothing options on the market…

…everything seemed a little bland and boring – a lot of that “natural” color (if that’s a color), and earthy tones -

…and everything was made in plain cotton – no texture. So, b&b was born!

We are launching hopefully later this afternoon at buttersandbeans.com! #crossingmyfingers

Q – #3    So just a web-store, not a brick and mortar location? What age range or sizes of clothing will you carry?

A: Just a web-store for now…although we may be looking at a brick and mortar in the future :) #50thandFrance

We currently are only working with the wee-est of babes, up to 12 months.

I would rather concentrate on fewer sizes, and do them perfectly, than do more sizes, and maybe not so perfectly. :)

Q – #4    A good place to start! Now is it clothing only or are there toys, strollers, car seats, etc. also available?

A: We keep our concentration very focused – organic clothing only. Fashion has always been my love.

Q – #5    Fun! So regarding your clothing: Local brands? National brands? What are some of the materials used?

A: We actually design and produce all of our clothing in-house – b&b is a brand of its own, not just an online store.

Twitter problems!

Our Fall Collection features super soft velour, fleece, sherpa, woven cotton, knit cotton…lots of fun materials!

Gotta love Twitter! #overcapacity

Q – #6    So who does your designing, and where are your clothes made?

A: I do all of our designing (super fun), and all of our products are made here in the Twin Cities…

…by amazing local seamstresses (love keeping it in the Twin Cities)!

Q – #7    Local is great and good business sense! So to end today, any specials to share or goals for the Co. to share?

A: Our goals are simple – to do our small part for the planet, and to provide a new, fun and modern option for organic…

clothing (adding mama pieces soon). Make sure to follow us for specials, and thank you so much for the twitterview!

@JoelECarlson – Thanks Ann for bringing a great idea and company like @buttersandbeans to MN. Nothing but success to your and your Co.!