Blake Wigdahl Email & Phone Number

Salt Lake City, UT, US

Greater Salt Lake City Area

Independent Consultant focusing on turning ideas into results. Core areas of expertise include: Strategic planning; Master planning; Interactive exhibit and thematic design; Prototyping and testing; Project Management; Owner's Representation.

San Jose, CA

Part-time member of leadership team focused on supporting scaling expansion efforts at the Tech Interactive locally and globally.

North America

Independent consultant helping support MuseumsPartner's efforts as a leading provider of international traveling exhibitions.

Salt Lake City, UT

• Oversaw all aspects of design and interactive exhibition group from art direction and prototyping through fabrication of world-class interactive experiences and thematic features. Western Architectural was a.
• Managed design department, and help set strategic business development goals;
• Strategic and Master Planning consulting;
• Experience with scenic design/fabrication in fiberglass (FRP), glass reinforces concrete (GFRC), glass reinforced gypsum (GRG), and carved-in-place architectural casting and theming;
• Led concept development; exhibit and graphic design; interactive engineering and prototyping; and immersive thematic design;
• Brought in $3 million in new business in first year;

Lehi, Utah

• Served in a Senior Management position responsible for the experience, design and programming for a multi-museum and garden complex dedicated to interactive learning for families. Thanksgiving Point, annual operating.
• Managed departmental budgets and staff, and set strategy for Institute’s programmatic goals; Departments include: Art Direction, Exhibition Development, Education, Content Specialists, and Volunteers;
• Led the design and development of the new award winning Museum of Natural Curiosity. It is an indoor/outdoor children’s science museum with 45,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibitions and 5 acres of outdoor exhibitions- a $30.
• Led design of newest capital $24 million project, Butterfly Biosphere.
• Liaison for educational partnership with Utah State University Extension;
• Created a 8-year partnership with the Exploratorium and 12 other science institutions to share ideas, exhibits and professional development;

Greater Salt Lake City Area

• CentralPoint Systems offers Web-based software to businesses and non-profit organizations. The CentralPoint software includes tools to build and maintain Web pages and utilize the Web more effectively for marketing.
• Business development assistance for understanding the non-profit market;
• Evaluation and redesign of CentralPoint Systems’ online training program;
• Strategic planning, primarily in the museum vertical market;
• Development of current and future products;
• Lead generation.

• Hired as an expert consultant to organize and manage the museum’s first blockbuster exhibition, Monet to Picasso from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The exhibition exceeded attendance goals by over 50% and surpassed.
• Managed project budget equal in size to the overall annual budget of the Museum over $3 million;
• Designed exhibition plan layout that included art exhibitions areas, temporary store, redesign of permanent exhibition galleries, museum admissions, waiting lines, security and education facilities;
• Served as primary contact with the Cleveland Museum of Art;
• Planned and implemented infrastructure changes to the Museum operations to accommodate increased visitation;
• Ensured all short-term processes and changes for the exhibition were also positive investments to the Museum beyond the run of the exhibition.

San Francisco Bay Area

• A management team position responsible for communication and financial management. The Teacher Institute provides on-going professional development for math and science teachers around the globe. It offers a rich mix.
• Managed a $2.1 million department budget containing federal government grants, foundation grants, restricted and unrestricted funds in coordination with the Program Manager and Program Director;
• Developed a financial tracking database to enable real-time tracking of revenue and expenses;
• Configured and maintained a custom Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system;
• Assisted in planning, coordinating, and organizing all professional development workshops;
• Served as the designated contact person for Teacher Institute and first response to teacher needs;

• One of two Educators solely responsible for all museum education programs for audiences including: adults, teachers, and children.
• Created, organized, and implemented all educational programs for adults, teachers, and children;
• Selected as educational liaison to senior management for exhibit development and planning;
• Coordinated events and projects with volunteer docent board;
• Chosen to work with museum board of trustees for long-term strategic planning;
• Developed the museum’s web site;

Bozeman, Montana

• The Orientation Program for Montana State University prepares all incoming freshmen students for their first year at Montana State. The primary goal is to register students for their first semester of classes and.
• Principle Instructor for Student Orientation Leader training program;
• Planned, organized and implemented New Student Orientation conferences;
• University recruiter for prospective students.

Bozeman, Montana

• Field Manager responsible for all camp and visitor operations. The Choteau site is an adult field school providing a one-of-a-kind visitor experience to live in tipis and participate in actual on-going paleontologic.
• Managed daily activities of camp that included leading a daily public tours of camp and paleontology excavation sites and organizing nightly events for staff and visitors;
• Organized the set up and closing of summer program, including the logistics of utilizing both temporary and permanent facilities for living and program activities;
• Maintained facilities on-site, ensuring visitor needs were met including safety and lodging in Blackfoot Indian tipis.

Masters, Business Administration (Mba)

Bachelor Of Science, Anthropology

Activities and Societies: Pi Kappa Alpha, Orientation Leader, IFC Council

Education record