Jeff Bowen
Jeff was an honors biochemistry major at the University of Illinois, and since 1985 has pioneered the concepts of time-code synchronized audio and video for sound recording, digital video, sports, planetarium, museum, and educational applications. Jeff and his staff have recently designed, installed, and operate a 400 seat event Pavilion, 100 seat team meeting room, and A/V systems for a fitness/training center for the Indianapolis Colts. Jeff has served as gameday producer for the 57,000 seat RCA Dome while producing radio and TV campaigns for other pro sports franchises. He speaks often to student groups, and conducts sound design workshops at numerous planetarium, video production, and museum conferences. August 1994 marked the release of Jeff's 400 page CD-ROM interactive book “Becoming a Computer Musician”. This book is published by Macmillan Computer Publishing in English and Spanish. Jeff also was 1994-95 President of the International Television Association, Indianapolis Chapter.

Jeff served as producer of the first three panoramic video multimedia shows to be designed for the new Spitz Electric Sky Immersive Visualization Theatre at the new Northern Lights Centre at Watson Lake in the Canadian Yukon.

Bowen Technovation awards include:

1999 Emmy Award

1998 Fellow, International Planetarium Society

1997 National 1st Place Vision Production Award

1996 Fellow, Great Lakes Planetarium Association

1994 Silver Screen (International Video and Film Festival)

1993 CINDY Gold Award

1992 CINE Golden Eagle

1991 New York Film Festival Bronze Apple

Multiple Addys

ITVA Meritorious Service Award

As a composer-producer Jeff Bowen combines years of studio and stage experience to provide a fresh resource for creative music scores and educational programs. Jeff sees his specialty as producing science education programs for young persons and is currently syndicating his “AstroNotes” astronomy series throughout school and science center planetariums. You probably are familiar with his work as he has produced or composed soundtracks for over 300 planetarium, film and video productions, including many nationally and internationally acclaimed works. Jeff is a BSS Soundweb Designer/Programmer and has programmed many Soundweb surround-sound systems.

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Diana Bowen

In 2001, Diana Bowen completed a successful 23 year career as a Vice President and Division Manager with a large banking corporation, and now manages the daily and strategic finances and contract designs of our company.  She is well-known by our vendors and clients as she handled duties for us on a part-time basis since 1985 and has attended various conferences and trade shows with Jeff.  The 1978 graduate of the School of Business and Finance at Anderson University also studied at American University in Washington, DC and worked as a researcher in the Congressional Budget Office.

Passionate about the living conditions of animals and the environment, she typically is accompanied to work by one of the Bowen family pooches.

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Mark Trotter
Mark has an extensive background in museum and planetarium work that spans twenty-five years. At Louisiana Tech University in Ruston Louisiana he was a Mechanical Engineering major and began his planetarium career as a student worker and later as director of the university's planetarium. From there he returned to his hometown of Shreveport, LA to direct the city's planetarium for ten years. As the planetarium curator for the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center in New Orleans he was responsible for the programming and financial success of the planetarium as well as maintaining exhibits throughout the center. He also has worked as Operations Director for a major audio visual company where he was directly responsible for the daily operation and supervision of all technical staff, hotel audio/visual managers and scheduling for road shows. In addition to his planetarium career he has also worked on design and fabrication in the archery business including writing software for calculating energy storage efficiencies of various bow designs. Mark is also a certified Barco CRT Technician and is Certified for AMX Control System Design and Installation.

Mark's years of planetarium, museum and audio visual experience is complementary to Bowen Technovation commitment to quality equipment, design and service.

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Daniel Ritchie

An Iowa native, Dan joined the staff in 2000. He attended Waldorf College while working towards a degree in general engineering, but developed a keen interest in video production and technical theater. He transferred to Middle Tennessee State University to earn a BS in Sound Engineering.

Also an avid photographer with a high level of experience in Photoshop, he has a keen interest in, and skill set for, creation and troubleshooting of electronics software and hardware. Dan worked extensively with development of our new incandescent and LED lighting systems, and commonly is an on-site project manager and trainer for corporate, exhibit, museum, and planetarium clients. Dan is also a cerfified AMX programmer, a BSS Soundweb Designer/Programmer, and a certified Barco CRT Technician.

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Brian joins our staff after working for 15 years at a local rental and staging company. He has an extensive background in custom case design, inventory / warehouse management, rack design, purchasing, and event logistics. Brian was also a frequent participant of many tradeshows including the National Association of Broadcasters ( NAB ), InfoComm ( ICIA ), and Lighting Dimensions International ( LDI ). During these tradeshows he attended many industry specific training classes, as well as met one on one with manufactures to evaluate the technologies that would be used in events nationwide.

Brian attended IUPUI in Indianapolis with an emphasis in History and Music. While at IUPUI he played trombone in the basketball pep band, symphonic band, as well as the University of Indianapolis Studio Jazz Lab Band.

Since 1990, Brian has been involved with the world's largest creative problem solving organization – Destination Imagination ( DI ). During this time he served as a team member for 6 years, including a 2 nd place finish in the 1994 World Finals competition with Purdue University of West Lafayette, Indiana. Since retiring from competition, Brian has volunteered his time as an official and serves on the Indiana Creative Problem Solving Board of Directors.

Brian enjoys all things sports, listening to Jazz, and most of all, spending as much time with his young son.

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Brien Barr
Brien very well may be the person who has configured and tested your new Bowen FXCreator audio/video editing system. His solid education in audio and video production began with chasing and receiving a BA in Telecommunications/Minor Studies in Film at Ball State University. He is also a holder of multiple Advanced Master Class Certifications from the well-known Recording Workshop (Chillicothe, OH) including Recording Engineering & Music Production Program, Studio Maintenance & Troubleshooting Program, and Advanced Recording Engineering & Music Production Program.

His knowledge of digital production software is extensive and includes the Adobe Digital Video Suite Pro (Photoshop, Premier, Audition), Illustrator, Media 100, Vegas, ProTools, Avid, 3D Max, Digital Performer, Peak, and Spark. Brien is also a certified Barco Technician, a Soundweb Designer, and Xantech Design certified.

Brien also is experienced in wiring, installation, and programming of our most advanced surround audio systems.

Jason Umbreit
Jason Umbreit joined us after a stint with a well-known, Indianapolis-based company that focuses on lighting, audio, and video for scholastic and theater applications.

He earned a BS in Communications with emphasis on Electronic Media from the University of Indianapolis and has experience installing and maintaining dimming racks, consoles, and stations, installing audio, video, and television editing equipment, installing, servicing, and setting up computer networks. He served as a factory representative for Leviton Lighting Corporation on final installation of lighting systems.

Jason worked with an Indianapolis radio station, maintained the station's audio chain, surveyed sites for remote broadcast, engineered remote broadcasts, and maintained production and on-air studios.

Jason has also completed the Leviton Service Sominar for certification to work on Leviton products and installations, and completed Cisco Networking Academy II (semesters I and II).

Mike Grznar

Mike fits right in at BT as he is an accomplished keyboard artist with degrees in Astronomy and Physics from Ohio Wesleyan University. He came to us after a great stint at Center of Science and Industry in Columbus (COSI), Ohio where he kept busy with public speaking and performance, Spitz and Digistar planetarium/theater operation, SPICE automation programming, Digistar programming, script composition and production, electronic repair and large telescope operation.

At BT he is one of our certified Barco CRT specialists, programs show control systems for clients, and provides a high level of technical and creative support for show production and systems. Mike holds certifications with Barco, Medialon, Dataton, and AMX. 

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David Binnewies

David is well known as a former staff engineer/technician at Taylor Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT. He lately served Taylor as Planetarium Manager, Show programmer and Presenter.

As the Planetarium Technical Coordinator, he maintained, troubleshot, and repaired planetarium equipment, which includes Digistar astronomy projection systems,
planetarium automation, sound, and laser systems and designed modified, and installed special effect, electronic, mechanical, and optical equipment. He also provided audiovisual, electronic, and IT technical support and advice for other Museum departments.

David was enlisted for four years active duty in the USMC and trained in electronics and teletype
repair. He served one year over seas in Okinawa and Korea and also served six months active
reserves, in the Marine 4th Recon Battalion, Billings, MT where he was promoted to rank of Corporal.

He holds a BS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Montana State University and is assistant Scout Master, Troop 649, Belgrade MT, is VP of Southwest Montana Astronomical Society, and has been a Digistar Users Group member since 1994.

He is married with two children.

At Bowen Technovation, David works with exhibit and planetarium control system design and programming as well as with design of new BT electronic hardware packages and assisting with customer support.

The above principle staff members are assisted by additional full-time, part-time, and contract programming and installation associates.