Chris Shirer is the president and chief executive of Madison & Fifth, (formerly imedia, inc), a premiere interactive marketing agency providing clear strategy and gorgeous web design for small to medium-sized businesses including local legends like the Cameron Mitchell suite of restaurants and Short North’s new addition DeepWood. Chris has a passion for supporting local businesses, which is what led her to serve on the board of the Short North Business Association. Naturally when it came to crafting a fabulous web site for HighBall, Chris and her crew came through!

What’s your favorite kind of Halloween candy?

I am an unabashed fan of candy corn but only if eaten properly, one color layer at a time. Yellow-orange-white only, please. I am a purist.

Least favorite Halloween candy?

Gum of any kind.

What was your best ever Halloween costume?

The made-from-scratch fabric pumpkin costume my mother made for me when I was somewhere around 5 – 7 years old.

Which celebrity costume do you hope you DON’T see this year?

Sarah Palin. No one can outdo Tina Fey. This ‘costume’ is hers.

What part of the HighBall are you most excited about and why?

The contests – from general costume competitions to the Fashion Couture event. It’s a chance for the creatives in Columbus to really shine and I don’t think we’ll be disappointed.

If you have a pet, do you dress it up for Halloween?

I have two dogs and they have informed me that if I ever place anything on them other than a collar, they will run away to the circus. So, the answer is no costumes for The Rocket or Boomer.