Are you ever curious about the real lives of politicians, celebrities, local newsmakers and athletes? Who are their mentors and who would they really like to meet?
Each Tuesday, ABC Action News asks 10 questions of a Bay area leader or celebrity. They're fun questions that let you get to know the person.
This week we hear from someone you see every week on ABC Action News This Morning, Alexis Muellner, Editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal. He brings our viewers the scoop on what's happening in bay area businesses.
Alexis was named Editor back in 2004. Originally from Boston, he came to the Bay Area after working in Miami as the Managing Editor of the South Florida Business Journal.
He earned a Masters Degree in print journalism from the University of Miami, and a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College.
And while print is a passion, his journalism credits include the Miami Herald, Florida Trend, the New York Times, the Miami Daily Business Review, Quill and Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal.
Muellner says his roots are in public radio where his credits include National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," "Weekend Edition," "Crossroads" and "Living on Earth."
He's been busy in his career. Muellner was also an adjunct professor at Florida International University in Miami, where he taught the business and ethics of journalism, and broadcast writing and reporting.
He has won numerous awards including the prestigious Livingston Award for Young Journalists for his public radio series on the role of radio heard within Vietnam during the war.
Muellner also placed first in the Green Eyeshade Awards, an 11-state journalism competition of the Society of Professional Journalists.
But in his off time, he loves photography, filmmaking and has a huge interest as a sound artist.
Here are 10 questions:
1. What is your all time favorite movie or song?
I'm a big fan of Coen Brothers movies, so "The Big Lebowski," is right up there among several others ("Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Burn After Reading"). In general, I love smart comedy, satire and parody, from the Marx Brothers to Will Ferrell to Flight of the Conchords.
2. Do you have a Smartphone? If so, what's your favorite app?
Yes, an iPhone. There are two apps I especially love. Because I have been photographing since I was 7, I love Instagram and the opportunities it provides to have pure creative moments every day (follow me at @alexismuellner). I also love Djay, an sound app that simulates two turntables and allows the user to put together sound mixes in real time from the collection of music on your iphone.
3. Who do you count as your mentor(s)?
Professionally, American City Business Journal's Manager of Editorial Operations Beth Hunt has been a guiding light. Family-wise, my mom had me when she was 18 and the closeness in age has made mentoring a big part of our relationship. It's also because she's the mentoring type, and I am so lucky for that. Also, my wife Joni for her love and support, general wisdom and clear and direct communication style.
4. What was your very first job?
Scooping big blobs of herbed cream cheese into small containers at a snooty gourmet deli near Boston called "Nibbles."
5. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
My weakness for noodles...you name it, from spaghetti to pad thai to lo mein - they are hard for me to resist. Diet realities mean I must, at least the majority of the time, say no to the noodle!
6. What do you consider your greatest success?
Current: My eight years so far as editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, given the annual award-winning work we do as a team. The brand/audience and energy we have built and the relationships we've fostered help us provide commanding highly local business-to-business news coverage daily - and keeps our audience growing. Along with our amazing Publisher Bridgette Mill, I get the chance to build on our great success and teamwork every day.
Previous: Took a mysterious recording of a pirate radio show heard in Vietnam and parlayed into a multi-year national radio journalism project and eventually an internationally-aired NPR radio series that won a bunch of prestigious national awards.
7. Tell us something about you most people don't know?
I've had very close encounters with a black bear (snout in my ear while sleeping), a Florida alligator (puncture wound to my foot) and a 12-foot Burmese python (found it wrapped around the front tire of my car).
8. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?
I could choose any number of icons in the business world from Steve Jobs to Bill Gates to Warren Buffett. But since it's dinner, and it's meant to be a diversion....
Satchel Paige, one of the greatest and at the same time least recognized baseball players of all time.
Rock impresario Bill Graham
Civil War photographer Matthew Brady
9. What is in your fridge right now?
We need to go shopping,
PRINT
