A reply to John Schneider

Dear John,

I read your blog post, and I have more than a few things to say about your review of Ignite Lansing.

I am one of the core volunteers for this Ignite and the two prior events.  I am wide open to feedback, and would welcome it in a constructive manner.  But you are doing a disservice to your employer, our community and to the individuals that are trying to keep Lansing competitive on a global scale.  Someone in your position, supposedly posting a review has a professional duty to do their due diligence.  I guess I just don’t understand why you used your position of influence to post this.  Please explain.

As a PR professional, I would have enjoyed the opportunity to work with you on your review of Ignite.  I personally gave Lansing City Pulse writer, Gretchen Cochran a site preview Thursday afternoon and granted early entry to Life in Lansing reporters Anne and Mark.  I have given countless interviews to others that were interested in hearing from us.  I have worked with journalists for many years at both the local level and at some of the most prestigious nationwide publications around the world.  What I know how to do, is tell you the what and why of an event.  Especially one like Ignite Lansing.

Ignite Lansing is not just an event that Lansing wants (proof: we’ve more than doubled our attendance in less than a year); but an event the world is supporting.  Ignite was started by O’Rielly Media, a global publisher and event producer.  Ignite Lansing was just one of more than 65 Ignites happening all over the globe last week.   An event that cost nearly $20,000 to produce solely through the support of local businesses and organizations who see the value.  One sponsor, Capital Macintosh told me he’d support Ignite every time, in a conversation where I was soliciting feedback from him.

Am I personally, offended?  Absolutely.  I have dedicated much of my personal time to trying to improve the Lansing State Journal.  I have had several meetings and conversations with former LSJ reporter Robyn Miner-Schwartz, Elaine Kulhanek and was invited to speak to your editorial board about this “hip-looking young folks holding bottles of beer” in December.   A meeting that I was not only happy to do, but one that I did not blog about publicly.

About the presentations.  I find it highly offensive that you call a presenter who is clearly not a native speaker unintelligible.  I realize the stereotypical mid-westerner doesn’t typically hear from folks from different parts of the world, but that is bigotry.   There will be some presentations that were better than others, which is why we enable the public to pick the presentations they will hear, but also to vote for a winner.

Not only have you inspired nearly 600 proud Lansing advocates against you, I imagine you will be hearing from the Kiwanis club as well.   I saw several Rotary Club members, and leaders at the event who not only enjoyed themselves, but had the decency to stay awhile.

If you would like to meet or talk publicly about your misunderstanding about the changes happening in this community, I’d be happy to. There is a new direction, a new focus and if you’re not on board, get out of the way so we can get something done.   I have seen many of your colleagues, competitors and co-workers present at these events.  But never you.  So, I guess I’m not surprised that you don’t get it.

Kind regards,

Jennifer Middlin

jmiddlin@gmail.com

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