About Digital Watershed:

What is Digital Watershed?

Digital Watershed is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization educating the community on wireless collaborative e-learning opportunities. Our mission is to build strong communities through leveraging new wireless technologies.

Digital Watershed's Programs

Our organization has a dual program focus. Our first focus is centered upon designing, developing and providing Content Templates that will help redefine and evolve educational and learning opportunities. In today’s Digital World access to technology is not the complete solution. Assisting people and helping them to explore and engage in wirelessly connected communities is pivotal to improving social interaction and promoting essential knowledge and life skills. The development of content templates will provide groups and organizations with collaborative artistic, community and educational learning tools that engage people, ideas and knowledge.

Digital Watershed is currently pursuing grant applications to fund the development of these templates under our World Class Initiative grant proposal. Our development partners have decades of experience in learning software and video and have garnered dozens of national and international awards. See the link to the left for more information.

Our second focus is to provide a forum for educating communities about the beneficial opportunities of wireless technology. We have engaged the community in dialogues on the use of wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi. In 2005 we worked with the Metropolitan Design Center (MDC) to develop the program for first “Wireless Cities ... Community Context” conference with the University of Minnesota’s Digital Technology Center. In 2007 we collaborated with the University's Digital Media Center and Institute for New Media Studies to offer the "Wireless Cities ... Communities of Interests" conference. Links to these conferences are on the left of this page.

• September 2003 - The founding members of what was to become Digital Watershed began meeting with arts, educational and community organizations in Minneapolis to discuss a digital venue for interactive arts and community projects.

• January 2004 - Digital Watershed incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the state of Minnesota.

• August 2004 - Digital Watershed received its non-profit 501(c)(3) status from the IRS and filed as a charitable organization with the Attorney General's office in September.

• October 2005 - "Wireless Cities ... Community Context" conference.
• April 2007 - "Wireless Cities ... Communities of Interests" conference.

Staff

Digital Watershed currently has no paid staff. The Executive Director of our non-profit is Gregory Daigle. Mr. Daigle also holds the board position of Board Treasurer.

Mr. Daigle is a digital media consultant with eighteen years experience as a manager for the software and product industries.  In 1990 he co-founded interactive media firm ICONOS inc.  ICONOS was considered a pioneer in "edutainment software" and garnered dozens of national and international awards from the education, video, film, and software industries.  In 1998 ICONOS was sold to the Interpublic Group.

Since then Mr. Daigle has been a creative manager and Director of Production at the interactive division of Bozell Kamstra (an Ad Age and Adweek Top 100 Interactive Agency) and an Interactive Technologist for experiential communications firm Jack Morton Worldwide.  Currently owner of e-learning consultancy Jet Flyer LLC, his volunteer work includes years on the Steering Committee of the Minnesota Electronic Theater.  He has been an Associate Professor of Design, Assistant Dean and teaches Interface Design at the University of Minnesota.  A Minnesota resident for 25 years, he holds four degrees including an MFA in Fine Arts (U of Illinois) and MS from the Paul Merage School of Business (UC Irvine). Homepage: http://homepage.mac.com/gregdaigle

Board Members and their affiliations

In addition to the Executive Director, the board is composed of the following members:

Timothy Desley, Board Chair
Tim is currently Creative Director for new media firm KDG InterActive. He has been producing new media since 1980 and has co-developed creative educational curricula for the University of Minnesota, National Education Center’s computer arts degree and Minneapolis College Art and Design’s MFA in Visualization. He has held a variety of Creative/Art Director positions including; Cray Research, Inc., MoreCom, Inc. / WebTV, NYC, Kelly Music and Entertainment Corp., NYC, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health and Morgan William Advertising. Tim has a BS from Western Michigan University's College of Fine Arts.

Ruth Voights, Board Secretary
Ruth is currently an Associate Professor for the Liberal Arts/Liberal Studies and Humanities for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She is an Advisory Council member for Ancestral Trails: a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing knowledge and understanding about the First Peoples of Minnesota to the present people of Minnesota. Organizational activities include The Public Art Making Workshops for youth encourage using what is learned about the history, culture and contributions of Minnesota’s First People and developing their own public art.

Supporting Organizations

Digital Watershed has received the support of non-profits and corporate entities in the Twin Cities area. These include:

Institute for New Media Studies (INMS) - The Institute is part of the University of Minnesota's Digital Initiative and is located in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The Institute discovers how the evolving media environment -- new delivery appliances, new customer expectations, new competitors to traditional media -- are affecting the form, function, and use of media messages and content. Recent programs include 3D game mods and video blogging. http://www.inms.umn.edu/

Time and Interactivity Program - This program is part of the University of Minnesota's Department of Art in the College of Liberal Arts. This program builds upon cross-disciplinary models and reflects a philosophy of study that involves existing and emerging media with conceptual practices in the world of contemporary art. Current art practice include web design, sound art, digital cinema, 3D animation, immersive interactive installation, conceptual art, electronic music, and performance art. http://artdept.umn.edu/areas/timeInt.php

Intermedia Arts - Intermedia Arts is a gathering place where the arts engage community members to build connections locally and globally. This non-profit is a center for community artists, community arts programs and youth education programs and services. Recent programs include MOSAIC, a community celebration of arts and culture, the Political Theater Festival!, and films and speakers on the evolution of Hip-Hop. http://www.intermediaarts.org/

Allen Interactions, Inc. - One of the premiere e-learning firms in the Mid-West, Allen Interactions was founded by Dr. Michael Allen. Dr. Allen also co-founded Macromedia (creators of Flash, DreamWeaver, etc.) when his e-learning authoring firm Authorware joined forces with ParaComp and MacroMind in the early 1990s. http://www.alleninteractions.com/