About Us

“The best communications strategies will encompass not only authorities in new and traditional media but also those voices in the “Magic Middle” of the attention curve, because they help carry information and discussions among your customers directly, in a true peer-to-peer approach. The Magic Middle is defined as the bloggers who have from 20-1,000 other people linking to them. It is this group that enables PR people to reach The Long Tail, and its effects on the bottom line are measurable.”—Brian Solis

In a span of a few short years, blogging has changed. A lot. Blogs has become a powerful media tool that it is now used as another platform for brands to communicate and build communities.  Bloggers who run blogs as businesses has tapped on brands for products and revenue making partnerships, and brands at this time and age just simply could not ignore the mass of following their partnering blogs can bring to their brand.  MJ Tam the creator of Midwest Moms Media – Brands & Bloggers Summit has been a long time blogger whose known to connect and form successful relationships with marketers. Her network of bloggers are extensive and she recognize the need for this summit: To help build and bridge successful alliances between bloggers and brands.

This event is run and operated by: City Connect Media, Inc. / Chicagonista

Contact: MJ Tam – mjtam(at)chicagonista.com – Twitter: @mjtam

Organizing Team:

MJ Tam – Creator

Editor of Chicagonista and the Creator of City Connect Media, Inc. that owns and operates Chicagonista.com, NYMetropolista.com and hoping to launch more city sites on her list: San Franista, SoCalista, and Miaminista. MJ also expanded Chicagonista by making room for the successful-minded 20 something NextGen Chicagonista and partnered with Nancy Loo and created Young Chicagonista that is giving voice to young girls from 11-17 years old. MJ also created Chicagonista LIVE!, an online talk show on Chicago-centric issues and she is also co-hosting the show with Nancy Loo, Duong Sheahan, and Beth Rosen. She is also the head blogger for TheChicagoMoms.com a collaborative blog with Chicago’s Top Mom Bloggers and MJ authors DigiFams – for the plugged-in Digital Families, a ChicagoNOW blog run by the Chicago Tribune Media Group.

MJ is one of the panelists at Google – Moms Know Tech in 2007, and since then has spoken in many other blogging conferences. She is also listed in “75 Top Twitter Tips from Today’s Small Business Moms” found in American Express OPEN / Small Business website. Just recently, MJ instructed “Hands on Small Business” – Social Media class series with Microsoft Office Live and Kirtsy. You can even find her in the CRAVE Chicago Book – The Urban Girl’s Manifesto that listed 125 women you need to know. You can follow MJ on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mjtam

Dwana DeLa Cerna – Assistant Planner

Dwana DeLaCerna authors “Healthier, Happier, You!” as Houseonahill.org. What began as a journal in 2007 is now a review site and opinionated forum that discusses just about any subject headlining in Social Media-land. An avid Twitterer Dwana also writes posts for Chicagonista.com and TheChicagoMoms.com.

Dwana holds a Masters in Law Enforcement Administration coupled with 23 years as a veteran criminal justice/law enforcement agent. She is mom to a teen and his dog and resides in Chicago, Illinois.

As a Brand Ambassador for General Motors, Dwana has hosted several “Tweetup” social networking events at The Wildfire Restaurant Chicago/Schaumburg and has an ongoing relationship promoting Chevy Missions and all GM product.

Dwana has worked with Sprint Cell Phone Division via Blogher, Mrs.Prindables via MOMImpact, Madly In Love with Me campaign for Christine Arylo via MomRenewal, ABC-Daytime General Hospital for Twittermoms, Revamp Project via Chicagonista.com

You can find Dwana on Twitter @Houseonahillorg, www.Houseonahill.org, Chicagonista.com, TheChicagoMoms.com and Facebook

Lori Holton-Nash – Sponsorship Coordinator

Miss Lori has been a National family treasure ever since she burst on the entertainment scene hosting the PBS Kids Preschool Block from 2006-2009. But even before her work with PBS Miss Lori was a family favorite because of the programs and media she offers with her company Miss Lori’s CAMPUS, such as her 2008 iParenting Greatest Products Media Award CD “Music n’ Movement TOGETHER!”, her fan favorite DVD “Activate & Be Great!”, her original mixed media theatrical production “GROWING!” and her self produced health interstitials currently airing on WTTW PBS Kids Chicago.

Summer 2010 Miss Lori is the Ambassador of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program, sharing her personal journey to better health with her tribe and the World. You can find Miss Lori at MissLori.TV, www.MissLorisCAMPUS.com, ChicagoMomsBlog.com, TheChicagoMoms.com, WeAreTheRealDeal.com, YoungChicagonista.com, on Twitter @MissLori and on Facebook.

Miss Lori is the mother of three school age children and draws deeply from her experiences as a mom for everything that she does. As Miss Lori always says “Let Your SMILE Shine On!”TM

Amy Mueller has been blogging for just under a decade and is a brand advocate for small businesses and musicians.  She is the mother of two young children and author of ParentSphere.net, her parenting lifestyle and product review blog.  Amy is passionate about developing relationships between brands and bloggers and actively uses several forms of social media to support and promote brands and marketers.

In 2007, Amy was a blogger panelist for Google’s “Mom’s Know Tech” event at their Chicago location, where an audience of marketers gathered to discuss the new, online blogger and brands trends.  Shortly after the Google event, Amy appeared in an article in suburban Chicago publication, The Daily Herald, about the relationship between mom bloggers and brands.  She also appeared on a segment for NBC’s Today Show that focused on deals and holiday shopping.  Most recently, she was a blogger panelist for Child’s Play Communications, “Holiday Bloggers Brunch” during the 2010 Chicago Toy and Game Fair.

Amy is a contributing editor at The Chicago Moms, a Chicagonista.com blogging community, and is an active member of the Yahoo! Mother Board.  Amy is the co-author of “kindie” music blog, KindieCast, along with grammy-nominated producer, Tor Hyams.  She also acts as Hyam’s social media liaison for Kidzapalooza, the family stage and festivities at the annual Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

Amy lets loose on Twitter under the code names @amysphere and @parentsphere