The idea for a digital media industry association was originally proposed by industry members of Governor Bush's Digital Television and Education Task Force in 1999, and subsequently developed and advanced by:
" specific industry recommendations endorsed by Governor Bush's IT Task Force (Information Service Technology Development Task Force, eEntertainment Subcommittee), in its final report to the Legislature, OTTED and Governor, February 2000,
" parallel recommendations of the Digital Media Education Coordination Group, mandated by Florida Senate Bill 2050 Workforce Innovation Act of 2000, (to enhance Florida's ability to meet the current and future workforce needs of the digital media industry) in its February 2001 report and plan to the Florida Senate,
" the May 2001 Action Plan for Digital Media developed by the Metro Orlando High Tech Advisory Board in response to the top 10 priorities of the Metro Orlando Technology Strategy ("ignite a Digital Media trade association for legislative initiatives" and "communicate through online events, seminars, public relations and marketing"), and
" the subsequent direction, support and guidance of the Central Florida Technology Partnership's (CFTP) senior leadership following the presentation results from a major digital media study undertaken by PriceWaterhouseCoopers: "Central Florida Digital Media Initiative - Defining the Strategic Direction." (Digital Media Advisory Board Discussion, February 11, 2002).
Formation
The CFTP Digital Media Committee requested that focused fact finding and benchmarking take place, and that specific recommendations regarding the formation of such a trade association be developed. The results and recommendations were presented to the Committee on March 22, 2002.
The Committee directed that an Organizing Committee be formed to develop a business plan and form the association. The organization, initially referred to as "Convergence Florida" in earlier documents, was renamed Digital Media Alliance Florida (DMAF) at the suggestion of Randy Berridge, President of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Most of the existing CFTP Digital Media Committee members volunteered to participate; matching funds and in-kind contributions were offered by several organizations; and the formation process began.
Early Supporters
The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission provided in-kind support throughout 2002 for committee meetings and other formation activities. The National Center for Simulation, an early alliance partner and supporter of DMAF, provided necessary seed funding for incorporation and initial organizing activities. NCS co-sponsored the first major DMAF event in May, 2002 and development of the first DMAF industry survey effort. Their continued support and partnership with DMAF have been invaluable. and they remain an Institutional Member of DMAF.
Orange County Government, and its visionary Economic Trade and Tourism Office, have supported DMAF since its inception, providing essential funding and strategic support to the organization which has allowed DMAF to grow and develop both in membership and service offerings. Their generous financial support has continued since 2003 with DMAF's inclusion in Orange County's initial Economic Stimulus package, created to speed economic recovery and growth after 9/11.
Founders
DMAF owes its sincere gratitude to its Organizing Committee and Advisory Board members, dedicated volunteers, and the many companies, professionals and organizations that joined to form and build DMAF, from the vision presented in 2002, to the reality of 11 monthly Digital Media Seminars (DiMeNars) in its first full year of operation in 2003, (DiMeNars, the educational/networking/exhibition/demonstration evening mini-conferences, have become a hallmark of the organization.)
These include the following:
Founding Members (in the order they joined):
Aisling Multimedia (Jamie Flanagan); Strategic Services Int'l Inc.(SSII) ( Jud French, Founding Board Member), MultiChannel Ventures (Michael Gerrity, Founding Board Member), Space Imaging, William Boehm (VCC), John T. Nelson (UCF), Transit Television Network (Jeff Jensen, Founding Board Member), Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) (Waymon Armstrong), Silent Planet (Cary Siegel), I.T.Products, Law Offices of Larry Haber, Brandon Haber, Kirstie Chadwick (Digital Owl), The DAVE School (Jeff Scheetz), Full Sail Real World Education (Institutional)(Linda Thornton), Adrienne Engell (UCF), Anthony Silva (VCC), Sara Segal (UCF), Greg Honick (UCF), Jason Pecararo (UCF), Leisa Rassmussen (Consultant, Devoted Volunteer), Seminole Community College (Institutional)(Benjamin Taylor) , David T. Bain (Disney i.d.e.a.s.), Design Video (Russ Norden), eMerge Media (Helen Keeling-Neal), Amy Porter (FMU), Alex J. Katsaros (UCF, Devoted Volunteer), Allied Vaughn, Metro Orlando EDC (Institutional), Spectralight Images (Steven Schain), Orlando Tech (Alan Lynch), Steven Shea (UCF), Adam ArNali (UCF), Silvia Lopez (VoTech), Leslie McDaniel (FSU), Elite Digital Video, Planet Digital (David Beatriz), Todd Beals (Consultant), UCF School of Film and Digital Media (Mike Moshell) and Omni World Productions.
Organizing Committee Members:
Ben Taylor (SCC), Bob Perry (Datawave), Bob Singerman (URS Corp), Bob Williams (DBCC), Cary Siegel (Silent Planet), Chris Murray (CME 3D), Chris Wissinger (Definition Productions), Dawn Sealy (DBCC), Edward Schons (UCF, FHTCC), Helen Keeling-Neal (eMerge Media), Jamaica Johnson (NuGroundBoss), Jeff Jensen (Transit TV), Jeffrey Scheetz (DAVE School), Jamie Flanagan (Aisling Multimedia), John Dussling (Florida Film & Tape), John Pokorny (ProductionHUB), Jud French (SSII), Kelly D. Lucas (TechBizFL), Larry Haber, Esq., Laurence Vexler (LHV Audio), Linda Thornton (Full Sail), Lori Ingle (UCF), Mary Hamill (Global News Co), Michael Gerrity (MultiChannel Ventures), Nina Yon (Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau), Phil Davis (GeoWebHouse), Ray Malatino (JHT), Richard Streeter (USF Economic Development), Russ Hauck (National Center for Simulation), Sherry Gutch (City of Orlando), Steve Teicher (UCF), Suzy Allen (Film Orlando/EDC), Waymon Armstrong (Engineering & Computer Simulations).
Advisory Board Members (2002):
Judson C. French, Jr., Strategic Services Int’l Inc.,
Jeff Jensen, Transit Television Network
Michael J. Gerrity, MultiChannel Ventures LLC
Kathy Ramsberger, Team Ramsberger
Ken Pierce, Enterprise Florida Inc.
John Fremstad, Metro Orlando EDC
Craig J. Birkmaier, Pcube Labs (Gainesville)
Curtis Sponsler, AniMill
Kirstie Chadwick, Digital Owl
Jeff Scheetz, DAVE School
Steve Teicher. UCF Digital Media Program
Charlie Sloan, Metro Orlando EDC/CFTP
Jim (Jamie) Flanagan, Valencia Community College
Thomas H. Buscaglia. Games-Florida (Miami)
Dr. Vijay Jain, University of South Florida (Tampa)
Jay Kirk, Century III Productions
Sherry Gutch, Mayor’s Office, City of Orlando
Loyd Boldman, Silent Planet
Cary Siegel, Silent Planet
Waymon Armstrong, Engineering & Computer Simulations
Steve Minning, NAVAIR Orlando
William C. Suchy, Florida Films
Randy Baker, Media Communications Association-Int'l/Orlando Advertising Federation
Michael DeMurga, Stetson University Digital Arts
Stan Johnson, The Pixel Factory
John Lynn, GeniusDV
Jack McGrath, Digitec Interactive
Rebecca Dirden Mattingly, Office of the Governor, Tallahassee
Linda Thornton, Full Sail School
Benjamin J. Taylor, Seminole Community College
Ed Schons, Florida High Tech Corridor Council
James Oliverio, University of Florida
Dr. Jan Cannon-Bowers, NAVAIR Orlando
Jeff Coleman, URS Creative Imaging (Tampa)
Bob Singerman, URS Creative Imaging (Tampa)
Kristy Murray, Joint ADL Co-Lab
Priscilla Elfrey, NASA
Russ Hauck, National Center for Simulation
Representative David J. Mealor, Florida House of Representatives
Founding Institutional Members (2003):
