A Chalkboarder Fighting Project

We’ve got an exciting new “barter client” to announce this month…

Alive Mixed Martial Arts PDX & Jana Simms Alive Boxing

Chalkboarder’s CEO Jeffrey J Kingman will be chronicling his journey into boxing and mixed martial arts at this gym, one of the top MMA gyms in North America. His personal journey will be shared on his latest blog, Two Guys and a Fight, and distributed via social media networks.

In addition, Chalkboarder will be providing continual social media consulting to Alive MMA’s management and members.

Two Guys & A Fight – Phase 1 to Strength Hike 2014

Personal Post from Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO of Chalkboarder

I’ve had a dream for a couple years now. This dream goes to my core – it gives to the community. It’s complex and yet simple at the same time. I’d like to lay out the vision here for you.

Imagine a society where no child goes hungry.

I’ve subscribed to this vision since 1994, when I first participated with Share Our Strength. Share Our Strength is a U.S. nonprofit, dedicated to eradicating childhood hunger in the States. As a chef, I participated in numerous fund-raising events and instigated the launch of the Maine Chapter. I was fortunate to travel with Food Network Chefs and Share Our Strength to New Orleans just after Katrina. I have long been passionate about this organization and believe that this society can eradicate childhood hunger.

Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. — Muhammed Ali

That’s the background for this post.

I have a vision to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (2650 miles) as a progressive fund-raiser for Share Our Strength. I’ve set my start date for March 15th, 2014, to finish by August 15th and to travel North-to-South, from Canada to Mexico.

Most PCT thru-hikers travel South to North, avoiding the remnants of winter on the northern half. My first pledger, Eric Stromquist of Oregon Culinary Institute, challenged me to travel South in exchange for being the first pledge. [thanks, Eric]

This is no easy venture. Snow in Washington/Oregon in March and April can be over six foot deep.

Here’s how the progressive fundraiser works. Every 300 miles, your pledge doubles. If you pledge one cent per mile to start, and I complete all 2650 miles, your pledge becomes $1405. I intend to sign up one-hundred pledging units before starting – which would make (if each started pledging at one-cent per mile) a total funds raise of $140,500.

At mile 2300, with one hundred pledgers (who started with me at one-cent per mile), the total pledge doubles – from $70,000 to $140,000 – with 350 miles left to complete. That’s motivating to finish!

You’re probably going “ok – but what does that have to do with boxing and fighting?” I’ll get to that in a moment…

In 1998, with my then girl-friend (now former wife), I hiked 1700 miles on the Appalachian Trail in five months. I have a good idea of the challenges I’m undertaking in this venture.

In 1998, I was 34. I’d been on my feet 14 hours a day as a chef and soldier for fifteen years. In 2014, I’ll be turning 50. Things are different now. Back then, I didn’t train for a long-distance hike. After a month, we were banging out 20+ mile days in succession. I cannot approach the PCT without training.

Phase One Training – Conditioning

Get in shape. Quit smoking. Increase endurance at high energy expenditures. Develop the body’s ability to avoid injury naturally and without thinking. Develop a high level of physical awareness.

I’ve partnered up with Coach Jana Simms of Jana Simms Boxing – part of one of the top Mixed Martial Arts gyms in the USA, Alive MMA. Jana has heard my vision and I am placing my trust in her to springboard me toward the Trail. In return, I’ll be launching two blogs that detail the training and the thru-hike. The first blog, called Two Guys & A Fight, will journalize my experience learning boxing, muay thai, gi jiu-jitsu and other forms of mixed martial arts.

Someone asked if I was going to fight. Yes, I will – when that time comes.

Phase Two Training – Skills

Long-distance endurance. Situational awareness. Back-country survival. Minimalist expeditions. Biathlon and expedition skiing. Marathons and parkour.

The Pacific Crest Trail is tough. It’s more remote than the Appalachian Trail and higher in elevation.

Medical care is harder to get too. Wild animals are more prevalent.

In 1998, I sought out B&Bs along the way. I traveled with a lot of gear. Gear and comfort slow you down. I’ve set a time limit of 5 months for this venture and will plan this trip as minimally as possible. Gear will be as light and minimal as possible in order to cover as much distance each day that I can.

Phase two focuses on distance endurance, survival skills, injury prevention and winter travel. It also focuses on being easily able to deal with danger – that’s where the sport of parkour comes in.

Phase Three Training – Logistics

Hiking plan, logistics, resupply points, gear. Continued training in MMA, extreme survival and long-distance endurance.

The final phase deals with planning and logistics. In this phase I’ll plan and purchase equipment, rest and resupply stops and conduct quick recon trips to short-hike key sections of the PCT.

By this phase, I’ll be able to hike a week of 20+ mile days with 50+ pounds on back.

Village and Vision

For pledgers, besides the satisfaction of knowing they are helping to eradicate childhood hunger, they will live vicariously through the hike.

I’ll be tweeting, blogging and sharing the entire venture, from phase one training to the actual five months of hiking from Canada to Mexico. Technology by 2014 will allow me to do a weekly “thru hike webinar check in”, post numerous videos from the trail, tweet images and thoughts – you name it. I’ve already launched a second blog, called Strength Hike 2014, where I journal this entire venture.

My intent is to 1) generate a sizeable contribution in the fight against childhood hunger and 2) build a tight-knit community of visionaries through the experience.

What I Ask For

I seek your encouragement.

I won’t be able to make this happen alone.

Please contact me at jkingman (at) chalkboarder.com anytime.

Strength Hike 2014 is 35 months away.

 

Oregon’s Best Chefs Dominate James Beard NW Nominations

The sassy and irreverent Portland-Man-About-Town Byron Beck nailed it Monday in his blogpost “Chefs Night Out: Beard Celebration & Ace After Party“, when he described Sunday’s James Beard in Oregon Dinner at the Multnomah Athletic Club as being “the food equivalent of the Battle of the Network Stars.”

As beautiful Jennifer Heigl of Daily Blender eloquently stated in her article “Portland Hosts James Beard Awards Pre-Announcement Soiree“, it was the “must-attend spring event in Stumptown”, bringing together in community our best culinarians, foodies and food media, hipster elite and high society (the Schnitzer’s bought the first VIP table).

MAC Executive Chef Philippe Boulot was in fine form, even with arm in sling from a reputed vehicle accident, hobknobbing with every VIP guest and almost everyone else. As host, the MAC’s food station was glamorous, befitting the societal stature the club enjoys here in Portland.

Oregon’s “Culinary Old Guard”, including Philippe, Vitaly Paley, Greg Higgins, Cory Schreiber, Cathy Whims and the culinary team of Caprial & John Pence pressed flesh and passed foods, receiving foodie-love like Eric Clapton or Paul Simon at an Earth Day concert. What a pleasure – for me – having been away from Oregon from 1995-2009, to bear witness to these fine chefs thriving so well. We’re so fortunate in Oregon to live in the food-Eden of North America, leading the US in local chef/local farmer philosophy for thirty years.

The other chefs being honored – Daniel Mondok, Matthew Lighter, Charlene Rollins, Scott Dolich, Stephanie Pearl Kimmel, Andy Ricker, Christopher Israel, Oswaldo Bibiano, Jenn Louis, John Gorham, Gabriel Rucker, Jack Czarnecki and Naomi Pomeroy – I have only just begun to get to know over the last two years. It is a distinct pleasure to begin knowing you all.

Nicky USA, perhaps the best meat purveyor in North America, led by the venerable and determined Geoff and Melody Latham, rolled up in style to both the MAC and the Clyde Commons after-party in a stretch white Expedition (yes, I did get to sneak in for a sip of whiskey).

In beverages, while local coffee was not represented, Widmer Bros, Willamette Valley Vineyards, House Spirits, Sokol Blosser, Hawks View Cellars and Anne Amie Vineyards provided delicious sips for a crowd estimated at 650 or so.

Social Media Coverage

Active social media coverage began months ago with a team led by Oregon Culinary Institute and Chalkboarder. Numerous video interviews were produced by Kevin Richards of OCI and distributed on the James Beard in Oregon Facebook Fanpage. The Twitter account @beardinoregon spear-headed the Twitter hashtag #jbfa into Portland’s trending Twitter topic all evening, by tweeting the night’s program in the hours leading up to the dinner.

James Beard Foundation 2011 Nomination Announcement Lunch

For a great description of the media-only lunch at Oregon Culinary Institute on Monday, where James Beard Foundation read-out the final nomination announcements, please visit Daily Blender’s blogpost “Oregon Culinary Welcomes the 2011 James Beard Award Finalist Announcements“. Nice write up over there.

Congratulations are in order to Gabriel Rucker for being one of five Rising Star Chef of the Year nominees. A pleasure to know you, Chef.

Oregon led the category Best Chef Northwest, with nominations going to Christopher Israel, Cathy Whims and Andy Ricker.

Finally, appreciation is due to the students of Oregon Culinary Institute – you represented yourselves with professional distinction in assisting the Chefs, MAC Club, Lane PR and James Beard Foundation in executing this high-profile event.

Northwest Center for Photography – new client

We’re very excited this afternoon to announce a new relationship with Northwest Center for Photography and iWitness Gallery, in Portland Oregon. The Northwest Center for Photography offers classes and workshops for both professional, avocational and beginner photographers. Instructors include the former White House (USA) Chief Photo Editor and Sunset Magazine Director of Photography. The iWitness Gallery offers rotating exhibits from some of the world’s finest photographers.

“We’re extremely excited to consult Northwest Center for Photography and iWitness Gallery on their social web optimization. Compelling imagery is incredibly valuable in a digital world; photography schools, like NCP, that take advantage of the connectivity and community building available through the social web are able to not only achieve full enrollments, but also expand reputations. Photographers able to maximize their presence online can see their art increase in valuation and reputation” says Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO of Chalkboarder.

Chalkboarder is providing Northwest Center for Photography and iWitness Gallery with social media consulting and seminars on social media for professional and avocational photographers.

Brazilian Coffee Exporter NUCOFFEE and PDX-based Pail Design – new client

We’re very excited this morning to announce our newest international client, NUCOFFEE, based in Brazil. NUCOFFEE focuses on providing the best green coffee beans from Brazil to roasters around the world.

Chalkboarder was retained by Pail Design (Portland, OR), marketing representative of NUCOFFEE, to provide complete Social Media Optimization of NUCOFFEE to North America. The mission of this SMO Plan is to connect North American coffee roasters and consumers with Brazilian coffee producers/farmers.

“The beverage industry just became a natural fit for us after working with many beverage clients over the last ten years. We take pride in helping our international clients such as NUCOFFEE (based in Sao Paulo, Brazil) grow and gain awareness through all kinds of mediums while staying on top of the technological wave” said Jessica Bernert, owner of Pail Design.

“Connecting consumers, roasters and coffee shops with top Brazilian coffee farmers and producers is a natural extension of Chalkboarder’s social media competencies. We’ve been in the specialty coffee and tea industry for two years, building relationships internationally for other clients, such as Coffee Fest Tradeshows. Social media optimization provides NUCOFFEE and Pail Design the ability to create a lasting village” says Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO of Chalkboarder. “We’re very excited to work with NUCOFFEE and Pail Design, creating a global community.”

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey J Kingman : (503) 481-2479 : jkingman@chalkboarder.com

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Pail Design

Pail Design, is a ten year old, Portland, Ore. Based creative agency which specializes in the food and beverage industry. Made-up of Art Director and owner, Jessica Bernert who has worked continually with Barista Magazine, and clients such as: Aviation Gin, Portland Roasting Coffee, Domain De Canton, with business partner and web director Gregory Spies.

Pail does two things very well: Make things look better for happy clients, and loving what they do, passionately.

NUCOFFEE

NUCOFFEE. You may be trying to imagine the meaning of this unusual name.

NU is a modern abbreviation for new. NUCOFFEE is a new way of thinking the coffee chain. Simple, more humane and transparent.

NUCOFFEE connects growers, cooperatives and roasters in a transparent business partnership. We offer support and integration through commercialization of quality coffee, helping to create a closer relationship between demand and origin.

Our commitment is to value the origin and recognize the producer, promoting quality excellence, adding real value and creating effective evolution throughout the coffee chain.

NUCOFFEE is an initiative of Syngenta, leading company in agribusiness that reinforces our commitment with a sustainable agriculture.

Chalkboarder

Chalkboarder creates interlocked and interdependent villages for brands, organizations and consumers internationally. We offer strategic brand and concept development, relationship engineering and social web optimization. Discover more of our core competencies here.

Social Media Panel at Foodportunity Serves Up Mike Thelin, Nick Zukin, Gregory Denton & Carrie Welch

SOCIAL MEDIA PANEL @ FOODPORTUNITY SERVES UP MIKE THELIN, NICK ZUKIN, GREGORY DENTON & CARRIE WELCH

BUY TICKETS NOW FOR MARCH 7TH EVENT

Portland’s food community gathers to talk food with tastes from some of the new kids in town — St.Jack and Aviary, as well as Beaker & Flask, KOi Fusion, Lincoln, Accanto, Genoa and Serratto.

PORTLAND, Oregon (February 15, 2011) – Think of the food blogger you follow daily, but have never met. Or your favorite butcher, artisan chocolate maker or cheese guru. Portland will once again host Foodportunity, an opportunity for people from all different food and beverage careers to mix, mingle and talk about food. Meet local chefs, food writers, photographers, publicists, artisan producers and farmers who have all contributed to Portland’s thriving independent food scene. A regular event in Portland, Foodportunity will be held on Monday, March 7, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at the Heathman Restaurant and Bar. Tickets are $20 in advance, $26 at a later date (w/ all handling fees) and include bites from a collection of Portland restaurants such as Accanto and Genoa, Aviary, Beaker & Flask, KOi Fusion, Lincoln PDX(Culinary Artistry and Sunshine Tavern opening

Spring 2011)St. Jack, Serratto and The Heathman Restaurant and Bar. Tickets are available now through Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/154180.

“Our last Portland event was a hit and food professionals love the chance to catch up with colleagues or meet someone new in the food community,” said Keren Brown, Foodportunity founder. Foodportunity is one of the few events of its kind that brings Portland’s food community together in one location on one night – a true meeting of the minds and tastebuds!

Grazing is Encouraged…

Portland restaurants will serve up some tasty bites included in the admission. Beer and wine will be available from a cash bar, and a wide range of food products from local companies will be available to sample. Companies interested in showcasing their product may contact Keren Brown, Kerenlovestocook@gmail.com.

Down & Dirty with Social Media

New to the Portland event will be a social media panel made up of some of our favorite Portland social media stars including Mike Thelin, a local food writer, Cooking Channel contributor, and food event maven. Joining Mike on the panel will be Carrie Welch, formerly the Vice President of PR for the Food Network, Nick Zukin, food writer and host of www.portlandfood.org and executive chef Gregory Denton of Metrovino. Learn a few insider tips to starting a social media campaign in your restaurant or food business and share your personal experiences on Facebook and Twitter.

Speed Networking – for Foodies

The first 30 Foodportunity ticket-holders to send an email to infopdx@foodportunity.com will get a seat at the “speed networking” session, hosted by Byron Beck, a freelancer for national and Oregon-based publications, who also appears on television and radio, has his own blog at byronbeck.com and contributes to pdx.eater.com. What better way to meet so many foodies at one time (for 1 minute each) and hand out business cards in this intimate and fast-paced setting.

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About The Heathman Restaurant and Bar

The Heathman Restaurant exemplifies the best of the Pacific Northwest using seasonal ingredients inspired by the flavors and cuisine of France. Recipient of the James Beard Best Chef: Pacific NW award in 2001, Philippe Boulot partners with the region’s select growers, producers and vintners to find the highest quality ingredients. Boulot was honored by the Academie Culinaire de France as the Academie’s Chef of the Year. The Heathman Restaurant and Bar was chosen as one of the “Best Bars” by Portland Monthly. For more information, please call 503-790-7752 or visit www.heathmanrestaurantandbar.com. The Heathman Restaurant is located in the historic

Heathman Hotel at 1001 SW Broadway in downtown Portland’s cultural district.

About Foodportunity

Keren Brown, aka Frantic Foodie, conceived of the food networking idea known as Foodportunity and has held more than a dozen food-related events last year in both Seattle and Portland. Recently recognized by MarthaStewart.com as “Doer of the Week”, Keren also organizes monthly events for Seattle food bloggers where she holds Q&A sessions with famous authors, tours of food companies and other events to help bloggers interact. Keren’s food events information can be found at Frantic Foodie in the Seattle PI, www.FranticFoodie.com and on the events page of MyNorthwest.com. For more information, visit www.foodportunity.com/portland and follow us @foodportunityOR and #Foodprtpdx and #Foodprt.

BF&T Beard House Dinner Update (Social Media)

Just a quick update looking at metrics from a two week Facebook Fanpage campaign for Berkshire Farm & Table’s push into social media over the last month.

The Facebook Fanpage for Berkshire Farm & Table was launched on January 23rd, 2011. As of this afternoon, this fanpage has had over 25,340 post views in under two weeks. Nice job on social media optimization, BF&T!

1st Time: Social Media from James Beard House Kitchen

Last night, six chefs from the Berkshire Farm & Table collective prepared and served a multi-course dinner at the James Beard House in NYC. A significant social media production, front-line managed by Angela Cardinali, created and distributed hundreds of pictures and video content from the kitchen during the dinner.

James Beard photo by Ken Steinhoff

Angela shared with Chalkboarder this morning that during the dinner, a James Beard Foundation representative told the assembled diners that it was the first time a formal social media campaign had been produced from an event at the Beard House.

Chalkboarder is humbled that we were able to play a small part in assisting the Berkshire Farm & Table group in spreading word, not only about the event, but also about their passion with local chef/local farmer relations. Way to go, BF&T!! You have pioneered a new realm in culinary social media!

Plan B: Live Social Media from the James Beard House

Due to unforeseen accounts receivable circumstances, I was unable to fly to New York City to facilitate “live” social media optimization of the Berkshire Farm & Table’s Whole Hog Dinner at the James Beard House today.

Social Media Relay Tower

While I’m personally quite bummed.. to not hang with six awesome Chefs in the James Beard House kitchen (and the bourbon after), I’ve managed to create a Plan B that positions Chalkboarder as a Social Media Communications Relay Tower.

Angela Cardinali, PR for Mezze Restaurants and the Chefs, delivered on-site generated content to the Berkshire Farm & Table Facebook fanpage and also to Chalkboarder via email and social web. Chalkboarder was to act as a remote transmitter, updating near-live-time the Berkshire Farm & Table social networks.

Here’s tonight’s Menu..

Hors d’Oeuvre

French-Style Bratwurst Corn Dogs with Ioka Valley Farm Maple Mustard

Smoked Tomato and Bacon Bloody Marys

Grilled Chorizo on Overmeade Farm Potato Gallettes

Pork Rinds with Beer Powder

Pig Tail Torchon with Sauce Gribiche

Marques de Gelida Brut Exclusive Reserva Cava NV

Dinner

Porchetta di Testa with Pickled Vegetables, Pepperoncini, and Micro-Arugula
Bodegas Muga Rosado 2009

Smoked Taft Farms Sweet Corn Bisque with Barrington Ale–Braised Pork Shoulder, Fried Buttermilk Onions, and Cilantro Oil
Torres Viña Esmeralda 2009

48-Hour Sous Vide Carolina Barbecue–Style Spareribs with Housemade Mustard Kimchi
Las Rocas Vinas Viejas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2007

Grilled Maple-Cured Pork Loin with Bayley Hazen Blue–Buttered Hominy and Balsamic-Braised Kale
Conde de Valdemar Gran Reserva 1998

Slow-Roasted Pork Belly with Poached Farm Egg, Dressed Winter Arugula, and Cheddar Toast
Llopart Leopardi Rosé Brut Reserva NV

Mayan Chocolate Cake with Coffee Ice Cream and Candied Bacon Caramel
Bodegas Toro Albala Pedro Ximénez Gran Reserva 2003

For complete coverage of the event, we invite you to check out Berkshire Farm & Table’s social media sites:

Facebook Fanpage

Twitter @BerksFarmTable

Blog Berkshire Farm & Table

Twitter hashtag

Carolina Shot Ribs

 

Lurkers in Social Media

Paul Paz (WaitersWorld) and Chalkboarder are co-managing a Social Media Optimization (SMO) for the Northwest Foodservice Show (April 3-4, 2011 in Portland OR).

The first week of 2011, Paul and I launched a SMO strategy for the Northwest Foodservice Show. The leading foodservice tradeshow for the Pacific Northwest, put on by the Washington Restaurant Association and the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Show did not have any social media presence.

We are very pleased with initial results, especially in Facebook. Yesterday we noticed that in a mere four weeks, with just over 100 people “liking” the fanpage, we’ve breached over 20,000 impressions.

An observation – there are a lot of “lurkers” on the social web – people or brands that do not “like” a fanpage, but still visit and pay attention.

I’ve been very impressed with Paul Paz’s work on the Show’s fanpage (we divied up: he handles the fanpage and I handle the Twitter/Youtube/Blog). He’s consistent, compelling and prolific in both messaging and being in conversations. To Paul – you rock, brother!

Jeffrey J Kingman