Indeed, looking at the tweet, it seems that the senior tech director wanted go have hand-on information about how things are going, not marketing speech from someone at the top.

I've had to do the same with suppliers and software vendors. A quick one-on-one with the "tech person" has often been far more informative & accurate than anything I've heard from the execs or senior managers.

I think you all have overlooked that Kuhn used to be the Executive Director of the Conservancy, with experience in advocacy and public speaking.

As such, why should anyone believe he is a "tech person" who is not also able to give a marketing speech?