It’s been a while since our last update but that’s only because we’ve been busy bringing together this year’s Digital Kids’ program.  We now have 46 confirmed speakers from a variety of backgrounds and industries. From sports, games and toys to music, publishing and software – this year’s Digital Kids conference program promises to provide a comprehensive understanding of digital kids and how to build services, products and interactive content to the ever increasing demand.

Recent speaker adds include:

Ryan Bettencourt – President, Zui.com
Beth Blecherman – Founder/Editor, Chief Technology Mom (CTM), TechMamas.com
Jess Brallier – SVP and Publisher, Poptropica and Funbrain, Pearson
Linda “Brasse” Carlson – Director, Global Community Relations, Sony Online Entertainment
Anne Collier – Executive Director, Net Family News
Anastasia Goodstein – Director of Digital Programs, Reachout.com
Travis LeBlanc – Special Assistant Attorney General for Technology, State of California
Larry Magid – CBS News Technology Analyst and Co-Director, ConnectSafely.org
Marian Merritt – Norton Internet Safety Advocate, Symantec
Nic Mitham – Founder and CEO, KZero Ltd.
Matt Palmer – Chief Strategy Officer, Sweety High
Amy Pritchard – CEO, Metaverse Mod Squad
Asra Rasheed – CEO, RRKidz
Tiffany Richison – Premium Account Manager/Moderation Manager, Gazillion Entertainment
Richard Rowan – Executive Producer, The Amazing Society
Craig Sims – VP Global Licensing, Spin Master Ltd
Toper Taylor – Chief Operating Officer and President, Cookie Jar Entertainment
Dan Wilmer – SVP of Digital Media, KIDZBOP

Our our lowest possible registration rate for the Digital Kids Conference ends tomorrow, January 31st. The prices are more than 60% off the onsite, so you will definitely want to register now to take advantage of the savings. The low rate is in part to celebrate our name change from Engage! to Digital Kids Conference (details here).

Digital Kids takes place April 25-26, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA. The show promises to deliver a robust experience to participants and conference goers alike, as growth in the digital youth market continues to skyrocket. It is already shaping up as our best event ever, with 5 full conference tracks, including: Operations, Safety, Content, Business and Market research.  Coverage will include social games, mobile and tablet apps, virtual worlds, social media and marketing and more.

Our first 25 speakers have been announced.  They include executives from National Football League (NFL), Mind Candy (Moshi Monsters) KingsIsle Entertainment (Wizard101), venture capital firm Mayfield Fund, The Marketing Store, magazine publisher Highlights for Children, game publisher Ubisoft, Tiny Speck, American Express, The Amazing Society and more. Each brings an expert voice to the conversation taking place in LA in April.

We are pleased to announce our first 25 speakers for the Digital Kids Conference (formerly Engage). As you can see from the list below they hail from both the near and far corners of the media, entertainment and technology world. Each brings an expert voice to the conversation taking place in LA in April.  Click a speaker to learn more about them and what session they are speaking on. We are 90 days out and things are taking shape fast now.  The sparks and multicolored cloud you see pouring from the roof of the Digital Kids Conference factory is a byproduct of the friction created as we continue rubbing our brains together to bring you our best show yet.

Stephanie Azzarone – President, Child’s Play Communications
Eric Brassard – Chief Executive Officer, Woozworld
Jon Paul Buchmeyer – VP, Digital Engagement, Metaverse Mod Squad
Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai – VP of Research, Games and Technology, Interpret LLC
Tim Chang – Managing Director, Mayfield Fund
Jorian (Jori) Clarke – CEO, Circle 1 Network
Matt Cullen – Marketing Manager, National Football League
Noemie Dupuy – Partner / VP Business Development & Marketing, Budge Studios
Dan Ferguson – VP of Creative Services/Co-Founder, Blockdot
Darran Garnham – Chief Business Development Officer and Chief Licensing Officer, Mind Candy
Mike Goslin – GM Rebel Entertainment Company, Rebel Entertainment, an IAC Company
Stephane Jankowski – Producer, Ubisoft
Ed Lewis – Founder and CEO, Media Chaparone
Stacey Matthias – Founder, Insight Research Group and Insight Kids , Insight Research Group
Wanda Meloni – Founder/Senior Analyst, M2 Research
Izzy Neis – Vice President of User Engagement, Everloop
Chris Rettstatt – Director, Digital Content, Highlights for Children
Kiersten Samwell – Community Relations & Social Media Manager, KingsIsle Entertainment (Wizard101)
Nathan Sawatzky – Director, Player Support, Tiny Speck, Inc.
Ian Swanson – Vice President Serve Enterprises, American Express
Matthew Warenford – Chief-Technical-Officer, Dubit
Jo Webber – CEO, Virtual Piggy
Renee Weber – VP, Consumer Strategy and Research, The Marketing Store
Jake Witherell – Chief Operating Officer, Schell Games

As a celebration of 2012 and our name change from Engage! to Digital Kids (see previous post), we are pleased to extend our end-of-the-year registration price discount into January.  This pricing, our lowest possible rate, will continue to be available until January 31st.  These prices are more than 60% off the onsite, cover rates, so you will definitely want to register now to take advantage of the savings. The sale ends Jan. 31st.

Happy New Year!  In 2012 the Engage! Expo brand becomes Digital Kids Conference with a new home at http://DigitalKidsCon.com

Slated for April, 25-26, 2012 in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Convention Center, DigitalKids promises to deliver a much more robust experience to participants and conference goers alike, as growth in the digital youth market continues to skyrocket. Our goal is to continue bringing to light the best practices in digital product development, marketing and business strategies to reach and engage kids and youth.

An authoritative rebrand, Digital Kids evokes a much more relevant and compelling alignment with leading producers of kid-related digital content, services and software. With the participation from industry leaders worldwide, this year’s conference includes dedicated tracks on operations, safety, business, production and market research.  We are confident the subject matter will be among our most focused, and the conference, one of our best ever. We look forward to working with you to make the most of the opportunity to highlight individuals and companies with keen ingenuity and leadership in the digital kids market space.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we may be of any assistance to you leading up to the conference. Thank you for an outstanding 2011. We wish you and yours a very prosperous year ahead.

Chris, Tonda, Tim and the Digital Kids Team

We have opened registration for Digital Kids/Engage! 2012. There is no event that provides you better insight into the best practices required to connect with digital kids and youth. We are providing both a 1 day pass (good for either day you choose) and a 2 Day, All Access, registration option. The earlier you register, the more you save.  To celebrate the close of 2011 and the approach of 2012 we are offering our lowest rate available: $445 for an all access pass and $295 for a 1 day pass.  These prices are more than 60% off the onsite, cover rates, so do take advantage of the savings. The end of the year special is good through December 31, 2011.  We look forward to you joining us April 25-26, 2012 in Los Angeles.

The preliminary Digital Kids / Engage! 2012 schedule is now online.  Conference tracks include Operations, Business, Content and Safety.  In the new year we will begin to announce our speakers and discuss the program in detail but we wanted to give you an early snapshot prior to the end of 2011.  Of course, we welcome active speaker suggestions and additional input on the program. We look forward to having you join us April 25-26, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.

Registration for Digital Kids / Engage! will open very shortly but in the mean time we would like to provide you a current prospective on digital kids and the apps marketplace from several key players.  The videos, after the jump below, are from our Oct. 2011 App Conference and include insight from Donna Friedman Meir, Chief Innovation Officer at Insight Research Group; Jennifer Wells – Senior Manager, Game and App Publishing, PBS; App Developers Conference, David Gill – VP, Mobile Media and Marketing , The Nielsen Company and Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai – VP, Games and Technology, Interpret LLC.

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The Digital Kids / Engage!2012 call for speakers is now open.  Engage! takes place April 25-26 in Los Angeles. Speaker proposals are accepted on rolling basis but most of the conference programming and speaker selection will be made by October.  For your best chances, get your proposal in soon. Also, the suggestion box is open.  Recommend a speaker or suggestion there. Updated 9-26-2011 with some of the suggested panels below.

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After months of pre-planning we are pleased to announce that Digital Kids / Engage! is moving from New York to Los Angeles in 2012.  Yes, that is correct, we’re leaving behind the cold, dreary winter of New York City for the spring in Los Angeles. Please mark your calendars for April 25-26, 2012.

Digital Kids / Engage! will take place at the Pasadena Convention Center, in their newly built ballroom facilities, just up the road from interactive divisions of major movie studios and inland from video game powerhouses and toy companies.  Engage! will tap into everything Hollywood, LA and the region has to offer within the relative peacefulness and beauty of Pasadena.