DIGTECH LLC

Digital Technologies in Archaeological Consulting LLC (DIGTECH) was formed in 2013 to do one thing: create a place where efficiency, creativity, and passion can come together to make the world a better place. 

We started as an archaeology consulting firm with designs on a much bigger company and focus. It started with the Random Acts of Science Blog (RAOS).  RAOS was Chris Webster's way of discussing issues related to the field of archaeology and a way to educate about the field. Some of the posts of the RAOS blog were turned into the book, Field Archaeologist's Survival Guide: Getting a Job and Working in Cultural Resource Management (Routledge 2014). 

Shortly after starting the company Chris Webster turned his 1-year-old podcast on archaeology news into the CRM Archaeology Podcast. This is a biweekly show that explores issues related to contract and professional archaeology. It's designed to help the field and practitioners of archaeology. It's also designed to help new college graduates navigate the confusing world of contract archaeology.

In 2014 the CRM Archaeology Podcast was rolled into the newly formed Archaeology Podcast Network (APN). Founded with Tristan Boyle, the APN is an educational resource with over 100,000 month subscribers (as of January 2018). The APN has at least 18 shows, over 20 volunteer expert hosts, and an amazing back catalogue of content.

Building on the Learn - Do - Teach philosophy Chris Webster started Professional Certifications for Scientists (PCS). PCS was designed to educate archaeologists post-college in the life skills it takes to work professionally on the road and in different regions. For various reasons, PCS was dissolved in 2017 and reformed as Team Black. The Team Black concept is that of an archaeology strike team that can go anywhere, do anything, and is always prepared. Team Black is a training and certification program for archaeology and is unlike anything out there for this field.

Using his success from creating and running the Archaeology Podcast Network, Chris Webster, also graduate of the Podcast Engineering School, started Chris Webster Productions in 2018. This is also a subsidiary of DIGTECH and teaches anyone, for any subject, how to create, grow, and monetize a podcast. Podcasts can be used to create a brand, promote a brand, or educate about a topic. CWP helps people create their own podcast and gives them the tools to keep it going. They will also produce and edit your show.

Finally, DIGTECH is a maker company. Through rapid prototyping using 3D printers DIGTECH is able to create products for the field that previously were only dreamt of. We have no limits at DIGTECH - only dreams that become reality.

REASONS TO CONTACT CHRIS WEBSTER

  • Request an interview (print, TV, radio, podcast, blog)
  • Request a speaking appearance
  • Request an interview about:
    • Podcasting
    • Archaeology
    • Section 106
    • Consulting
    • Small Business

ABOUT CHRIS WEBSTER

(Long Bio - 646 words; Medium; Short)

1993

Chris Webster went straight into the U.S. Navy out of high school in 1993. He served four years in the Navy and was deployed in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S. Enterprise as an Aviation Electronics Technician. While in the Navy Chris learned a lot of leadership and efficiency that would serve him well later.

1997

In 1997 Chris enrolled in Spartan School of Aeronautics to study commercial aviation. After earning his Private Pilot Certificate and completing the training for both instrument and commercial certificates, Chris transferred to the University of North Dakota (UND).

2005

At UND Chris explored his passion for archaeology and eventually changed from a commercial aviation major to an anthropology major. He graduate from UND in 2005 with a BA in Anthropology. 

Following graduation Chris went on an expedition to the cradle of humanity - Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. While there he participated in an excavation that was looking for nearly 2 million year old fossils that predate humanity. It was a transformative experience both educationally and culturally.

2006

By 2006 Chris was a traveling field archaeologist, known in the industry as a “shovelbum”. He traveled around the country for the next four years working in 18 different states and most of the ecological regions of the country. 

2010

In 2010 Chris joined a cohort at the University of Georgia at Athens to pursue and complete a Master of Science degree in Archaeological Resource Management. It was a new, one-year program of intense study. Of the five people in his cohort Chris was one of only two that graduate in the minimum of three semesters. 

2011

In 2011 Chris started the Random Acts of Science blog. Over the next four years he produced 277 blog posts related to archaeology and education in archaeology. One of the series was so popular that a major publishing company turned it into a book, “The Field Archaeologist’s Survival Guide: Getting a Job and Working in Cultural Resource Management” (Routledge 2014). 

2012

Hungry for more ways to reach an audience that was thirsty for knowledge Chris started his first podcast. The CRM News Weekly was a weekly podcast started in 2012 and focused on news items related to contract archaeology. That show was revamped into the CRM Archaeology Podcast in 2013 and became a highly successful panel-style show that explored topics related to contract archaeology and educating recent graduates.

Just a couple months after starting the CRM News Weekly Chris formed Digital Technologies in Archaeological Consulting LLC (DIGTECH). Initially an archaeology firm specializing in efficient digital recording techniques never before seen in the region DIGTECH became the umbrella company for all of Chris Webster’s projects.

2014

By 2014 DIGTECH created the Archaeology Podcast Network with Tristan Boyle. Starting with just two podcasts Chris and Tristan developed 18 more shows over the next several years and grew the network into over 100,000 monthly subscribers by 2018. The APN strives to bring archaeology and history from the mouths of experts to the ears of the world.

2015

Building on the philosophy of learn - do - teach Chris Webster created an archaeological training and certification company in 2015. This company ended up as Team Black in 2017. After receiving major funding in 2018 Team Black will help train the next generation of archaeologists in ways never seen before by the field.

2018

Finally, using his experiences starting over 15 podcasts with people that had barely heard the word “podcast” Chris started Chris Webster Productions (CWP). CWP was formed in 2018, a few months after Chris graduate from the Podcast Engineering School as a podcast audio engineer. Now, CWP trains people to podcast and gives them the tools to succeed.

Chris is now branching out his outreach efforts with public speaking engagements and interviews. He really believes that we can all learn from the past as long as we know how to read it and what it means.

INTERVIEWER RESOURCES

  • Chris is a licensed UAS (drone) pilot and a licensed private pilot (FAA Part 61).
  • Chris is the squadron commander of the Reno Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and is responsible for 48 adult members, 36 cadets (aged 12 to 21), and two advanced search and rescue aircraft.
  • Chris lives in Reno, Nevada and has offices at the Reno Collective - a co-working space and the future of work!
  • Chris teaches classed on podcasting monthly at the Reno Collective.
  • Chris has presented twice at 1 Million Cups in Reno, Nevada and enjoys public speaking.
  • Chris Webster is a service-connected disabled U.S. Navy Veteran
  • Chris founded DIGTECH LLC in 2012.
  • Chris founded the Archaeology Podcast Network in 2014.
  • Chris founded Team Black in 2017.
  • Chris teaches people to podcast and gives them the tools to succeed and keep it going.
  • Chris has been interviewed about being an archaeologist on multiple podcasts.
  • Chris hosts and manages six podcasts on the Archaeology Podcast Network.
  • Chris has managed 30,000+ acre projects as a field archaeologist and is an expert in consultation.

SUGGESTED INTERVIEWER QUESTIONS

Podcasting

  • What is a podcast?
  • How can I start a podcast?
  • What is "pod-fading"?
  • How long should a podcast be?
  • Can I make money from my podcast?
  • What sort of gear do I need to start a podcast?
  • Do I need a website to start a podcast?

Archaeology

  • What is professional archaeology?
  • What is a shovelbum?
  • What is the Section 106 process?
  • What do I do if I find an artifact?
  • What is an archaeological site?
  • How does one become an archaeologist?
  • Where can I find out more information about being an archaeologist?
  • What do I do if I want something appraised?

INTERVIEWS

Presentation at Ignite Reno 18, Summer of 2017.

Chris is an archaeologist, author, podcaster, business owner, and archaeo-Futurist. His passion is on public education, outreach, and making commercial field archaeology more efficient - raising the quality of life for archaeological field technicians

One Million Cups is a weekly entrepreneurial program occurring in more than 70 cities across the nation, including Reno, Nevada. Each week we showcase two local startups, giving them an opportunity to practice pitching their business and receive feedback from our diverse audience of business professionals and entrepreneurs.
 
Paper given be Chris Webster at the Nevada Archaeological Association meetings in Ely, Nevada on April 22, 2016. Abstract: In 2015, DIGTECH surveyed 45,000 acres in desert and "Great Basin" like environments. We used Apple iPad Minis to record over 250 prehistoric and historic sites and over 1500 isolated finds.

Chris Webster has a BA in Anthropology and and MS in Archaeological Resource Management. He’s a Registered Professional Archaeologist and a graduate of the Podcast Engineering School. In 2012 Chris formed Digital Technologies in Archaeological Consulting LLC (DIGTECH). DIGTECH is the umbrella company for all of Chris’s projects and passions.  "We can study the past, we don't have to live in it"

One Million Cups is a weekly entrepreneurial program occurring in more than 70 cities across the nation, including Reno, Nevada. Each week we showcase two local startups, giving them an opportunity to practice pitching their business and receive feedback from our diverse audience of business professionals and entrepreneurs.
 
 
 

IMAGES AND LOGOS

ABOUT CHRIS WEBSTER

(Long; Medium - 242 words; Short)

Chris Webster has a BA in Anthropology and and MS in Archaeological Resource Management. He’s a Registered Professional Archaeologist and a graduate of the Podcast Engineering School.

In 2012 Chris formed Digital Technologies in Archaeological Consulting LLC (DIGTECH). DIGTECH is the umbrella company for all of Chris’s projects and passions. Through DIGTECH he started the Archaeology Podcast Network (APN), Team Black, and Chris Webster Productions.

The APN is a network of over 18 podcasts with 25 expert hosts and over 100,000 monthly subscribers. Managed with Tristan Boyle the APN is the only podcast network dedicated to education about archaeology. 

Team Black is a new training and certification company for archaeologists and eventually other environmental sciences. Using short videos with knowledge tests at the end and a robust framework Team Black will educate people in the field, and those that are interested, in everything from artifact identification to leadership skills. It’s unlike anything else in archaeology and will transform the industry.

Building on success and failures in podcasting Chris started Chris Webster Productions in an effort to train others to podcast successfully right out of the gate. CWP is a new company that already has local clients that just want to podcast. Chris’s training program has started a number of new shows and helped create amazing content for all to hear.

Chris is now branching out into public speaking and engaging interviews in an effort to broaden his influence in a positive way.

ABOUT CHRIS WEBSTER

(Long; Medium; Short Bio - 73 words)

Chris Webster is an archaeologist, podcaster, author, and educator. Through his company DIGTECH LLC he has formed a training company, Team Black, a podcast network, The Archaeology Podcast Network, and a podcast training company called Chris Webster Productions. 

Chris is passionate about education and outreach and feels that we can all learn to be better people, better stewards of the world, and better to each other by understanding the lessons of the past.