Featured Guests
Nicole Rogers, Senior Principal and Director of Architecture
Graham Parker, Knowledge Manager
Webinar Summary
What changed when SMRT Architects & Engineers implemented Synthesis wasn't just the platform. It was the mindset.
After four intranet iterations spanning nearly two decades — from hand-coded HTML to ThoughtFarmer to SharePoint — SMRT, a 130-person integrated architecture and engineering firm based in Portland, Maine, made a different kind of commitment. They decided that internal work is real work, that their firm is a worthy client, and then treated their Synthesis implementation accordingly.
Nicole Rogers served not just as executive sponsor, but as principal in charge. Graham Parker, who had already proven the ROI of data-driven process improvement on the accounting side of the business, moved into a dedicated knowledge management role. A project number was created in Deltek. Hours were tracked on timesheets. The implementation got the same rigor and attention SMRT gives its external clients and the results showed.
That investment didn't end at go-live. Nicole has continued to drive adoption at the senior leadership level because SMRT understands that launching Synthesis is just the beginning, not the finish line. Meanwhile, Graham has expanded his work into AI, helping build the digital knowledge foundation that makes tools like Synthesis Knowledge Agents and AI Search valuable.
Knowledge management can't be the ninth thing on somebody's to-do list in the AI era. SMRT's story is a case study in what happens when it isn't.
In this webinar, Nicole Rogers, Senior Principal and Director of Architecture, and Graham Parker, Knowledge Manager, share their firm's story — from the organizational shifts that unlocked knowledge management to a live look at where they're headed with AI and learning management.
We explore:
How treating the Synthesis implementation like a real client project changed the outcome
The change management and internal marketing work that drove adoption before, during, and after launch
How Nicole's continued executive sponsorship keeps the platform alive and growing past go-live
How and why Graham moved from the finance team to a dedicated knowledge management role
What it takes to build the digital knowledge foundation that enables AI agents to actually deliver value
A live tour of CALVIN, SMRT's Synthesis platform, and a look at their early work with Synthesis Knowledge Agents and LMS
If your firm has struggled to give its knowledge management program real momentum, SMRT's story offers an honest, hard-won perspective on what it actually takes: the right investments in mindset, people, process, and culture — alongside the right technology.
Enjoy!
Webinar Timeline
Introduction
00:00 Welcome and Spotlight
02:29 Meet SMRT and Calvin
Launching Synthesis @ SMRT
05:13 SMRT’s 20 Year Intranet Journey
10:10 Why Synthesis Was (Finally) the Right Fit
12:12 Intranet Tour: Visual Identity and Design Strategy
16:19 Project Discipline and Design Framework
25:21 The Value of Posts
30:57 Driving Adoption Doesn't End at Go-Live
33:36 Leadership Adoption Playbook
35:57 Daily Email Promotion Strategy
37:03 Why a Dedicated Knowledge Manager Role Matters
38:50 What’s Next: Data and AI
Q+A
44:50 How did you approach governance?
46:48 Who made up the implementation team?
50:25 How is work in progress content prioritized?
51:46 Who adds tags and how much time does that take?
52:45 What are your thoughts on the LMS?
54:07 Does knowledge management create more or less work?
56:27 How do you break down silos with AI?
57:54 How are you measuring ROI on this project?
