Journalist/Author/CEO
Award winning columnist, Mi-Ling Stone Poole wrote a syndicated lifestyles and decorating column for The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. She was also a contributing columnist for the McClatchy-Tribune news service and is the author of “Ask Mi-Ling! When You Want the Truth About Decorating.”
Stone Poole earned the reputation of being funny, entertaining and outspoken during her weekly radio segments on The Jack and Ron Morning Show on KYIS 98.9 FM and The Joey and Heather Morning Show on Wild 97.9 FM.
In December of 2008, Mi-Ling produced and hosted Mi-Ling’s Comfort Zone, (MCZ) an award winning lifestyles and decorating radio show which aired Sundays, from noon to 1 p.m. on Newsradio 1000 KTOK-AM in Oklahoma City until August of 2010.
During the first year MCZ earned a journalism award from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists for her show on the tragic death of Michael Jackson. Previous guests who have appeared on MCZ include; “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd, Paige Hemmis of Extreme Makeover’s – Home Edition, HGTV’s Michael Payne, Kim Myles, Tanyia Nayak and Summer Baltzer. Others include; famed percussionist Sheila E., and Hollywood actor Michael Beach and jazz sensation Eldredge Jackson to name a few.
Mi-Ling’s cost-saving decorating and lifestyle tips as well as her gift-giving advice earned her regular segments as a lifestyle contributor for KWTV News9 (CBS), in Oklahoma City. She has also appeared on numerous morning shows throughout the country.
Mi-Ling grew up in the Twin Cities with some of the major players in the music industry. Her friendship with “pop icon” Prince and others from the “Minneapolis Sound” inspired her to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
In 1991, she formed Exact Image Entertainment Group and focused on booking and promoting celebrity speakers and entertainers. Her first celebrity client was actor Esther Rolle, best known for her portrayal of Florida Evans on the hit television show Good Times. She also worked with members of the King family, actor Michael Beach, Puff Daddy (Diddy) on The No Way Out Tour, and numerous other speakers and celebrities.
One of the highlights of her career was working with filmmaker Kevin Willmott as associate producer on Ninth Street, an independent film featuring Martin Sheen and Isaac Hayes. The film later won an Independent Film Channel Award.
After graduating from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Mi-Ling worked as a contributing editor and advertising executive for Black Family magazine in Reston, Virgina. She also held positions as promotions director for KJLA – Music of Your Life radio station in Kansas City. In 2001 she earned her master’s degree in communications from Oklahoma City University.
A little known fact: Mi-Ling was one a pioneer of Women’s Amateur Boxing. While attending the University of Minnesota Mi-Ling and two other women traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada in November of 1979 on a mission to have Women’s Amateur Boxing recognized as a member of the AAU at the national convention. This was accomplished. The Women’s Boxing Association is the first sanctioned Women’s Amateur Boxing Association program in the United States. The group along with founder Bill Paul also organized the first International Women’s Boxing Association. In addition to that they wrote the first bylaws and rules and regulations for women’s boxing, many of which are being used today in the 2012 Olympics. Their purpose was to provide a training ground for women while preventing injury to their breasts.
Mi-Ling is back at the helm of Exact Image Entertainment Group promoting talent. Her current project includes booking and publicity for jazz sensation Eldredge Jackson, protege of the late Wayman Tisdale among others.