Walt Hines

The Employ Florida Banner Center for Digital Media is an industry-driven, statewide resource for digital media workforce education and training. Headquartered within Seminole Community College's new Heathrow Center for Economic Development, just north of Orlando, the Digital Media Banner Center and its many partners develop, coordinate and promote a wide range of educational resources in rapid and direct response to the ever-changing needs of this critical, targeted industry.

The Mission
The Digital Media Banner Center has been created to impact Florida's economy by forging and strengthening relationships among industry, education, economic development and public workforce resources; collaboratively engaging them in a creative and innovative environment to address current and future workforce needs of the digital media industry - and helping to catalyze its competitiveness.

For more information about the Digital Media Banner Center contact Betty Maldonado, Project Manager 407.708.2681 or go to their website - www.digitalmediabannercenter.com

Digital Media Roundtable Event - Indian River State College

In November of 2008 at Indian River State College's Kight Center for Emerging Technologies the Digital Media Banner Center of Florida hosted a Roundtable Event that addressed essential components of industry's needs in employing graduates of state institutions of learning. Many issues were addressed and important considerations like "What are the industry needs in terms of skills, expectations in the workplace, knowledge of the working environment?" and "What do I need in a portfolio to show creative talents and potential?"

The panel for the event included Walter Franklin, internet marketing coordinator of Cotton & Company in Stuart, Florida, Maggy Cuesta, Dean of Visual Arts at New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL, Annette Watson of Harris Press in Jacksonville, FL and finally Marjorie Shropshire, Creative Director at DHI Visual Communication in Vero Beach, FL. Judson French, Director of the Digital Media Banner Center served as moderator of the panel and coordinated the discussions and presentations by each speaker. Jose Farinos, Dean of Advanced Technology at IRSC hosted the event, introduced the speakers and presented his perspectives on the contemporary issues facing educational institutions in today's complex market.

Each of these speakers addressed primary issues of skills, creativity, working attitude, problem-solving, design process, professional practice, instruction and working knowledge of their disciplines as it relates to comtemporary digital media. The short presentations were followed by question and answer sessions by students and professionals in attendance.

The afternoon session in the Kai Center concluded with an Industry Advisory Board Meeting from representatives of state-wide colleges and industry leaders. Judson French supervised the agenda with the Digital Media Banner Center initiatives at the center of the discussions. The Center has provided a list of jobs throughout the State of Florida indicating the location points of where the market centers for digital media within Florida. The perspectives that the Banner Center are addressing are critical to the success of a strong working force. I am very happy with the participation of my friends in this Digital Media event - it was a very successful roundtable that clarified educational needs - that digital media students need a strong portfolio to succeed - to get a job or go on to a 4-year institution and finish their studies.

Problem-solving, professionalism in the workplace, a knowledge of printing and production skills, internet marketing needs, design, typography, video and presentation skills were the focus points of this event.

Educators need to see that technology and software are not the end result of teaching - design process and experimentation lead to creativity!

A cd is available with a video recording of the entire event - call 772 462-7575.

Created on 03/07/2009 11:40 AM by walt
Updated on 06/25/2009 11:01 PM by walt