Thank you for participating in the 2021 Annual SIG Chairs Elections! Join me in congratulating all of the SIG Chairs reelected for the 2022 term and in welcoming three newly elected Chairs who’ll be joining this amazing group of community leaders and volunteers to co-lead the SIGs this year: Brian Hewitt, David Zlatic and Gregory Castillo. Congratulations to all!
Eric Longo, Executive Director
Data & Insights SIG
Note: Chris was the only candidate running to chair this SIG this year. If you’re interested in supporting him as co-chair in 2022, you can contact him directly so he can appoint you.
Chair: Chris Unitt, Founder, One Further (reelected)
Chris Unitt is the founder of One Further, a digital analytics and user research agency in the UK. He works with organizations that want to figure out how to gain a better understanding of their online audiences and how best to serve them. He has a particular specialism in Google Analytics (along with Google Tag Manager and Data Studio), both in terms of technical implementation and extracting insights from the data. Chris has worked with cultural organizations for over a decade, from involvement in a wide range of projects to holding board positions. In the museum sector more specifically, Chris currently works with the British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy of Arts, Tate, and Royal Museums Greenwich among others. Outside of work (bit still on a work-related theme), Chris publishes the Cultural Digital email newsletter, rounding up tech developments in the cultural sector, speaks at conferences, and occasionally blogs at chrisunitt.co.uk.
Digital Asset Management SIG
Jessica was the only candidate running to chair this SIG this year. If you’re interested in supporting her as co-chair in 2022, you can contact her directly so she can appoint you.
Chair: Jessica Herczeg-Konecny, Lead Technical Analyst, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (reelected)
Jessica Herczeg-Konecny is Lead Technical Analyst at The Metropolitan Museum of Art the Digital Asset Manager. After undergraduate work in English and American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Jessica obtained a master’s degree in Public History from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She has been working in the museum industry for over ten years in archives, collections management, rights and reproductions, and digital asset management. Jessica implemented the DIA’s first-ever Digital Asset Management System, founded and chairs the Metadata and Digital Assets Standards Committee, supervises rights management, and trains users and content creators for the DAM.
Digital Imaging SIG
Christopher was the only candidate running to chair this SIG this year. If you’re interested in supporting him as co-chair in 2022, you can contact him directly so he can appoint you.
Chair: Christopher Ciccone, Photographer & Digital Asset Manager, North Carolina Museum of Art (reelected)
I have been a Collections Photographer at the North Carolina Museum of Art since 2000, and an MCN member since 2014. My current duties also include digital asset administration and I am a member of MCN’s DAM SIG. Prior to my museum tenure I worked in a variety of commercial photographic settings. Having experienced the industry transition from film to digital has given me a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the field. Membership in the MCN Digital Imaging SIG has been extremely helpful to me in my profession and I am enthusiastic about contributing to its ongoing success. I’m particularly interested in encouraging more practical and technical imaging presentations at MCN conferences as well as facilitating ongoing engagement and collaboration between large and small institutions. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and will do my best to sustain the excellent leadership of our current Chairs.
Educational & Interpretive Media SIG
Chair: Chelsea Shannon, Manager of Interpretation, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (reelected)
Chelsea Shannon is the Manager of Interpretation at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She oversees a team that plans, produces, and evaluates the Museum’s interpretive resources including audio guides and digital interactive experiences. Chelsea is also the co-author of Photography: A 21st Century Practice, the new comprehensive introductory photography textbook from Routledge’s Focal Press.
Co-Chair: Kajva Armstrong, Associate, Site Operations, Room to Grow (reelected)
Kajva Armstrong (they/them) is the current co-chair of the Educational and Interpretive Media SIG for MCN. They are an Associate, Site Operations for Room to Grow. Previously, they were Visitor Experience Associate and Exhibit Mentor at the Boston Children’s Museum, and also served on the Museum’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. They also do freelance art installation and handling at the SOWA Artist’s Guild in South Boston, and are particularly involved in other areas of MCN. Aside from co-chairing the SIG this year, 2020 marks their 5th MCN as a conference attendee and volunteer, and their 2nd year as a conference committee member. They are excited to continue working on making the SIG better and a hub of all things #museumed as we move beyond COVID into 2022!
Human-Centered Design SIG
Note: Brian was the only candidate running to chair this SIG this year. If you’re interested in supporting him as co-chair in 2022, you can contact him directly so he can appoint you.
Chair: Brian Hewitt, UX Architect/Front-end Developer, Corning Museum of Glass (newly elected)
Brian Hewitt is a veteran UX/UI designer and developer, with more than 20 years of experience across various sectors. Past work includes leading front-end development and accessibility initiatives at e-commerce grocery retailer, Peapod; managing web and print design and production for the research and advocacy organization, Population Action International; and designing and developing educational web sites and interactive materials at NASA’s Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. In his first museum role, he currently leads user experience research/testing and interactive design at the Corning Museum of Glass. Brian has a multidisciplinary physics degree from American University in Washington, DC; studied design and fine art at the Corcoran College of Art + Design; and received a Master of Fine Art degree from Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland. Brian is an artist, runner, and board and role-playing game enthusiast. He lives with his wife and pancake-loving blind dog in Corning, New York.
Intellectual Property SIG
Note: Margaret was the only candidate running to chair this SIG this year. If you’re interested in supporting her as co-chair in 2022, you can contact her directly so she can appoint you.
Chair: Margaret McKee, Digital Asset Manager, The Menil Collection (reelected)
Margaret C. McKee is the Digital Asset Manager at the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas. Her department oversees rights and reproductions, and she co-authored the institution’s internal fair use policy. Previously, she worked in photographic and imaging services at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She holds an AA from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, a BAFA in Art History from the University of New Mexico, and an MS in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. This spring she will complete a two-year term as co-chair of the Visual Resources Association’s Intellectual Property Rights Committee.
Information Technology SIG
Chair: Janice Craddock Bowen, Information Technology Director, Amon Carter Museum (reelected)
Janice heads a department of four to provide technical support for approximately 120 staff at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. In her 35 years at the Museum, she has seen firsthand how technology has changed, evolving into an increasingly vital role supporting the institutional mission.
Co-Chair: David Zlatic, Chief Technology Officer, Cincinnati Museum Center (newly elected)
I first joined Cincinnati Museum Center as a Traveling Exhibits Technician in 2002, after I graduated from the University of Dayton. After moving on to multiple positions elsewhere in Cincinnati — I was director of business operations and technology at Xavier University for 11 years — I returned to Cincinnati Museum Center as Chief Technology Officer in June 2017.
I provide strategic direction to teams to steer them towards success. I practice the use of design thinking and human-centered design as I develop empathy for customers and team members. I believe in the power of adopting and leveraging digital assets and technology. By harnessing this fresh technology, we can improve efficiency, increase productivity and achieve our goals sooner.
I am accomplished in building new ideas from the ground up – providing the foundation for long-term growth. I unite stakeholders and prepare them for change as we reimagine and redevelop existing structures and operations. Additionally, I am an effective educator and trainer with experience in Higher Education and Corporate Training. I thrive on helping others (and myself) realize their visions and dreams!
International Image Interoperability Framework SIG
Chair: Emmanuelle Delmas-Glass, Collections Data Manager, Yale Center for British Art (reelected)
Emmanuelle is currently the Collections Data Manager at the Yale Center for British Art, where she started working in 2006 as the Collections Catalog Specialist. In her current role, she oversees the creation of and access to the museum’s collections data. She plays the lead role in ensuring its intellectual and technical integrity. She identifies and implements new data standards and technologies to disseminate to as wide an audience as possible as well as to support the scholarly mission of the Center. She is currently the Secretary for the International Image Interoperability Framework, and has been an ICOM CIDOC board member since 2013. She previously worked at the Williams College Museum of Art and the Louvre Museum. She has a Master’s of Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Co-Chair: Tristan Roddis, Director of Web Development, Cogapp (reelected)
Tristan is a web technologist with over fifteen years of experience working with museums and other cultural organizations. His is passionate about both technology and the way in which museum data can be represented and presented to users, which is why he is so interested in IIIF. He has been implementing IIIF standards for museums and archives for over five years, including large-scale implementations of three core APIs: Image, Presentation and Content Search. He has shared this knowledge via presentations and workshops at various conferences, including sessions at MCN (which he has attended six times). As co-chair he hopes to make sure that MCN members are aware of the possibilities and advantages of IIIF, as well as focusing on how members can get the help they need for implementing standards-compliant systems.
Media Production & Branding SIG
Chair: Ryan Waggoner, Creative Services Manager, Spencer Museum of Art (reelected)
Ryan Waggoner is a visual storyteller with a passion for art and museums. He is currently Creative Services Manager at the Spencer Museum of Art, leading a team of employees in video production, collection photography and graphic design. Waggoner is a graduate of the University of Kansas and the Getty Leadership Institute.
Co-Chair: Gregory Castillo, Photographer/Videographer, Perot Museum of Nature and Science (newly elected)
Gregory Castillo is the Photographer/Videographer the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Tx. In his role he creates digital content that helps the Perot Museum inspire minds through nature and science. Prior to joining the Perot Museum, he served as the Multimedia Producer at the Dallas Museum of Art from 2015-2021. From 2010-2015, Castillo worked as a photojournalist, with stints at the Dallas Morning News, Miami Herald and WLRN NPR News. A first-generation Cuban/Nicaraguan American, Gregory is a native of Miami, Fl. He lives in Garland, Texas with his wife Jessica and their two cocker-spaniels Bastion and Ella.
Social Media SIG
Chair: Jonathan Munar, Director of Digital Media and Strategy, Art21 (reelected)
Jonathan Munar is the Director of Digital at Art21, heading the organization’s digital presence across Web, social media, and related platforms. Previously, Jonathan was a member of the Website department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has served on the board of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Media & Technology Professional Network and has been a presenter, guest lecturer, contributor, and panelist for organizations such as New York University, Baruch College, Art Dealers Association of America, Museum Computer Network, Museums and the Web, the New Media Consortium (NMC) Horizon Report, and the New York City ArtsTech Meetup.
Co-Chair: Emily Haight, Social Media Manager, New-York Historical Society (reelected)
Emily Haight is currently the Social Media Manager at the New-York Historical Society. Previously, Emily managed social media, e-communications, planned advertising, and designed and coordinated graphic materials at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. She also previously managed social media at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, collaborating and planning the museum’s #5WomenArtists social media campaign. She currently serves on the board of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Media & Technology Professional Network. She values cross-institutional collaboration through social media, sparking dialogue with online audiences and diverse communities, and creative uses of tech in museum spaces.
Strategy SIG
Chair: Tricia Robson, Senior Project Manager of Digital, Education, Publications, Imaging, Libraries & Live Arts, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (reelected)
Tricia Robson is a strategist and team lead with over a decade of experience in arts nonprofits and tech, specializing in cross-departmental project management, digital strategy and production, and art history. Tricia is the current Senior Project Manager for Digital, Education, Publications, Imaging, Libraries & Live Arts (DEPILL) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she manages the implementation of key programs and initiatives, cross-departmental workflows, and strategic alignment across DEPILL groups. She previously served as Director of Digital Strategy at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), where she oversaw the strategy, content production, development, scheduling, and budgets for the museums’ chief digital channels. Prior to FAMSF, she worked at Google, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. She has her Masters in Contemporary Art History from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her Bachelors in Art History and English from the University of San Diego.
Co-Chair: Susan Wigodner, Manager of Exhibition Media, Obama Foundation (reelected)
Susan Wigodner is a strategist and project manager focused on creating digital experiences for history museums, along with sustainable internal processes. Susan joined the Obama Foundation in 2019, and currently works on planning for the future Obama Presidential Center that will be built in Chicago. Prior to her current role, Susan managed digital projects for the Field Museum — including a website redesign in conjunction with the organization’s first rebrand in 20 years and the staff input/feedback strategy to match — and coordinated the development of interactives, media installations, and an audio guide/app for the opening of the National September 11 Memorial Museum in May 2014.
Susan holds an M.A. in museum studies from George Washington University and a B.A. in history and anthropology from Lehigh University. She loves digital project management tools, finding better ways to collaborate across teams and organizations, and when kids and pets pop up on video calls.
Don’t belong to a SIG yet? Want to join one or more? All MCN members can participate in as many SIGs as they want. Sign up on the Member Portal SIG message board, and adjust your email notifications in your account settings. If you aren’t a member yet, join today!