About the Digital Signage Experts Group

One of the primary barriers to entry we face within this market, are that digital signage appears quite simple on the surface, but become a tangled web of interconnected and complex technologies and content creation that all act together in unison to produce the images and messages we see on screen. The challenge this poses to the designers, installers, content creators and service providers wanting to enter into this space, is one of immersion and full understanding of how each part affects and contributes to the whole. Ignoring the importance of any one of the critical aspects that make up a digital signage network is risking failure at some level.

Many companies have elements of the digital signage "picture" that they understand, be it displays, networking, software, system integration or content creation… but few understand the entirety of what digital signage encompasses and requires. To truly succeed in this space, a company must understand all of the disparate parts that make up the art, craft, and technologies that comprise a digital signage network, and in the end understand how to properly convey the "true value" inherent in those networks to their clients.

One of the primary requirements of any complex and rapidly expanding market that is to understand the fundamentals but just as importantly is to do so in an impartial and agnostic manner. Only in this way can we critically view digital signage applications from the simple to the complex in the full light of what they can be without limiting ourselves to a single paradigm from any direction. Whether it is display technologies, integration infrastructure, software, or content creation, there are common rules and elements that must be understood and embraced. Only in this manner can we properly comprehend the benefits of one product or one solution over the alternatives. In the end it is the appropriateness of the solution to the need that matters

It is certainly true that an educated consumer is in the best interest of a manufacturer, and it is equally true that an educated cross section of individuals designing and integrating digital signage projects is in the best interest of the entire industry. To this end, the Digital Signage Experts Group working within the commercial AV/ IT industries as well as the creative community, in cooperation with manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, designers, and integrators has established an industry wide organization dedicated to providing impartial and agnostic education and certification standards programs for the complex digital signage industry, and the technologies driving it.

The "heart" of the organization is a one day digital signage certification entitled the Digital Signage Certified Expert (DSCE) Program. The Digital Signage Experts Group works in concert with an advisory board of recognized digital signage industry experts to advance the level of professionalism within the community.

Board of Directors

	Alan C. Brawn; CTS, ISF, ISF-C, DSCE; is a principal of Brawn Consulting LLC an audio visual consulting, educational development, and market intelligence firm with national exposure to major manufacturers, distributors, and integrators in the industry. He was formerly President of Telanetix and previously National Business Development and Product Marketing Manager, Pro AV Group, Samsung Electronics. Brawn is an AV industry veteran with experience spanning over 2 decades including years managing a commercial AV systems integration company after which he was one of the founding members of Hughes-JVC. He is a recognized author for leading AV industry magazines and newsletters such as Systems Contractor News, Digital Signage Magazine, Rental & Staging, Display Daily, and Electrograph’s Emerge. Brawn is a member of the Imaging Science Foundation and Managing Director of ISF Commercial. Alan is CTS certified and an adjunct faculty member of InfoComm sitting on their PETC council and chairing the ISO/ANSI video performance task group. He is a member of the International Commission on Display Metrology for SID and a Learning Unit provider for NSCA. Most recently he became a director of the Digital Signage Experts Group certifying professionals in the digital signage industry. He was the recipient of the Pro AV Hall of Fame recognition from rAVe in 2004.
	Jonathan Brawn; CTS, ISF, ISF-C; is a principal of Brawn Consulting, an audiovisual consulting, educational development, and marketing firm, based in Vista, California. Brawn Consulting has a national footprint with connection to the major manufacturers and integrators in the commercial audiovisual industry. Prior to this, Jonathan was Director of Technical Services for Visual Appliances, an Aliso Viejo CA based firm that manufactures ZeroBurn plasma display technology, and successfully ran his own integration group, Brawn & Associates, serving the residential and commercial audiovisual markets. Jonathan literally grew up in the AV industry, with over 15 years of experience in technology, design, and educational development. Starting with Hughes JVC in the early 90’s, Jonathan worked alongside his father Alan in creating and building training programs for technical, sales, and marketing development. Jonathan has extensive experience in AV systems design and integration, as well as expertise in the development of educational development programs. Jonathan holds CTS certification and teaches courses at InfoComm. He is a founding director of ISF Commercial, a display calibration and certification standards body, and a founding member of The Digital Signage Experts Group. He provides articles for industry publications including Systems Contractor News and The Digital Signage Magazine.
	Laura Davis Taylor the Founder & Principal of Retail Media Consulting, a specialty firm focused on helping brands strategize, activate, measure and evolve digital media strategies within the retail store. Early in her career, Laura recognized the importance of understanding all channels of consumer communications to successfully lead her client accounts. She intentionally served in brand planning, account service and creative functions and eventually founded the first Interactive division of a national ad agency. After mastering Interactive, she realized that one more opportunity existed to become a truly cross-channel marketer—the retail store. She joined Miller Zell as a Vice President and helped lead accounts such as Circuit City, Wal-Mart and H&R Block, working intimately with her clients to help them build strategies around all points of customer experience and communications. A passionate advocate of Digital Signage since 1999, Laura then immersed herself with multiple industry constituents to understand the potential of in-store digital signage networks for U.S. retailers. It is the culmination of these varied experiences that led to the creation of RMC, and Laura has since devoted herself tirelessly to supporting the in-store digital industry. Laura is the yearly co-chair of largest in-store media conference in North America (http://www.digitalsignagexpo.net), the Chair of the POPAI Digital Signage Advocacy Committee and an “expert resource” lecturer and workshop teacher. In 2007, she co-authored the first industry field book, "Lighting up the Aisle: Principles and Practices for In-store Digital Media” (http://www.lightinguptheaisle.com).
	David Keene, Executive Editor of Digital Signage Magazine, has been active in the industry for more than 25 years. Prior to joining NewBay in 1996, Keene handled public relations for a variety of industry players; including Bauer Audio Visual in Dallas; Caribiner Interational, New York; and High End Systems in Austin. In 1980, Keene developed the first industry-wide projection alignment standard for the Association of Multi-Image while working with AMI President John Stokes. He subsequently worked as a multi-image producer and special effects supervisor for Stokes Imaging Services in Austin, and PTV Associates in Mexico City, Mexico. After serving as Editor of the Systems Group at NewBay from 1996 to 2000, Keene was appointed Executive Editor in January of 2001. Keene is currently the Awards Chairman of the DIGI Awards (Digital Signage Innovator Awards) administered by NewBay Media's Digital Signage magazine; he is also a judge of the APEX Awards–the digital signage award program administered by the Digital Signage Expo. Keene is also the Director of the "Tech Track" series of panels and seminars at the Digital Signage Expo. David can be reached via email at: scneditor@aol.com; or via phone: 512-480-9473.