Orchestrating Cultural Transformation through Communications and Collaboration

Karen Robichaud, Director of Creative Engagement
Payette
 

Talk Description
Since its founding in 1932, Payette has intentionally and continuously modernized its culture. Today, employees describe the culture of this 87-year-old firm as inclusive, highly collaborative, and transparent. These cultural elements work together to empower all employees to dream big and achieve personal and professional goals, regardless of tenure, status, or role. In this talk, you’ll learn how Payette’s team has orchestrated cultural transformation through knowledge management approaches such as internal and external communications, non-hierarchical knowledge exchanges, and inclusive collaboration.

Speaker Bio
Karen joined Payette in 2012 as a graphic designer and has since led several communications initiatives from the ground-up for the firm. From the outset, Karen established Payette as a leader among other architecture firms with social media strategy, leveraging many voices across the firm. As she positioned the firm in the social media sphere, Karen took on the firm’s external communications strategies and PR initiatives. Karen is a leading voice in building a culture of communication at an architecture firm and has presented her work in a number of venues; AIA SF Equity by Design Symposium, AIA National Conferences, AIA COTE Annual Summit, SMPS Boston, and the Boston Society of Architecture. Karen earned her BA in English and Theatre Arts from the University of Richmond.

Susan Strom of Knowledge Architecture interviews Karen Robichaud of Payette at KA Connect 2019.

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The Networked President: Using Social Media to Improve Recruiting and Retention

Mitch Fortner, President
KSA
 

Interview Description
In the spring of 2018, Mitch Fortner walked out of a meeting about the challenges KSA was facing recruiting and retaining staff and asked himself the following question — “What can I, as the president of the firm, personally do about this?” Mitch’s answer was to launch an internal and external social media campaign which talked openly about his personal career journey, explored the current challenges and opportunities facing KSA and the industry at large, and sparked conversation about the future of the profession. In this talk, Mitch will share why he does it, how he does it, and the impact of his efforts to date.

Speaker Bio
Mitch Fortner graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in civil engineering in 1984 and has worked for KSA for over 31 years. Three years ago he was elected president of the firm, and since that time, he has been on a journey to “build people who build the future.” He is passionate about working cooperatively with other leaders in his firm to adapt KSA to meet the challenges of today and the future, including recruiting and retaining employees in our current AE marketplace with unprecedented levels of low unemployment. Networking, employment engagement, firm culture and values, and strategic planning have been major components of that journey.

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Continuously Improving the Employee Experience

Carole Wedge, CEO
Shepley Bulfinch
 

Talk Description
Shepley Bulfinch believes an employee’s feelings about belonging or not belonging in a firm or on a team directly impacts the quality and effectiveness of their work. We have used continuous improvement to shape Shepley’s employee experience philosophy. We’ve looked at everything from our application process, interviews, and onboarding to the day-to-day work of collaborating, having “continuous conversations,” and celebrating our successes. Ongoing attention and conversations in these areas have allowed us to continually improve what it’s like to work at Shepley. In this talk, Carole will share Shepley’s employee experience philosophy, programs, and results to spark a conversation about what you can do to improve the employee experience at your firm.

Speaker Bio
Carole Wedge is the CEO of Shepley Bulfinch, where her work in both leadership and design capacities is noted for its success in achieving organizational change and strategically positioning clients for the future. Carole is recognized for moving the firm forward since 2004, opening offices in Phoenix and Houston and growing the quality and creativity of the firm’s work. Her efforts to enhance diversity in architecture, on a national level, are visible through her leadership of the Large Firm Round Table and active participation in both the AIA Women’s Leadership Summits and Equity By Design. Carole received her Bachelor of Architecture from Boston Architectural College, where she has served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 -2018. She joined Shepley Bulfinch in 1986 and was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2008.

Christopher Parsons of Knowledge Architecture interviews Carole Wedge of Shepley Bulfinch at KA Connect 2019.

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Onboarding Knowledge and Talent within DLR Group

Andy Ernsting, Senior Principal, Brand Communications Leader,
DLR Group
 

Talk Description
Through acquisition, DLR Group added 400 people in 10 offices over a 12-month period. What did we learn? The firehose approach does not work. In the end, be it 12, 80, or 200 new people joining your firm, onboarding knowledge and talent requires thoughtful planning and execution. The key is to identify, activate, and integrate critical knowledge and experts to grow your firm and its culture. (All without drowning people on both sides with a firehose.)

Speaker Bio
Andy Ernsting is a senior principal and brand communications leader of DLR Group, an integrated design firm with 29 global locations and more than 1,200 design professionals. He collaborates with senior leaders and market sector leaders to effectively communicate the benefits of each DLR Group studio to its key audiences. He is responsible for the strategic evolution of the DLR Group brand including messaging, digital strategy and presence, public relations, creative services, and internal communications.

Christopher Parsons of Knowledge Architecture interviews Andy Ernsting of DLR Group at KA Connect 2018.

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Collaborative Communications: The Key to Business and Culture Change

Luanne Greene, President
Ayers Saint Gross
 

Talk Description
Over the past 5 years, Ayers Saint Gross has crossed over a mountain range of change—including onboarding a new president and leadership team, re-organizing the practice around integrated delivery of services, and converting to a 100% ESOP ownership structure. Luanne Greene and her team facilitated these business and culture transformations by creating clear and collaborative communication channels up, down, and across the business. In this talk, Luanne will share strategies, tactics, and lessons learned from Ayers Saint Gross' business and culture change journey.

Speaker Bio
Luanne is President of Ayers Saint Gross, a 170-person multidisciplinary design firm with offices in Baltimore, Washington DC, and Phoenix. In addition to her leadership role, Luanne specializes in the planning and design of colleges, universities, and cultural institutions. With over 30 years of design and planning experience, she has been a strong advocate for innovative and sustainable planning strategies which address the needs of both the institution and local community. Luanne has worked with numerous mission-driven institutions across the nation, including: Carnegie Mellon University, Smithsonian Institution, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Susan Strom of Knowledge Architecture interviews Luanne Greene of Ayers Saint Gross at KA Connect 2018.

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#AskFinch: How Shepley Bulfinch Improved Knowledge Sharing through Measurement

Jim Martin, Chief Information Officer
Shepley Bulfinch
 

Talk Description
Jim Martin, Shepley Bulfinch’s Chief Information Officer, shared this story with us at KA Connect 2016. Inspired by Rachel Happe and The Community Roundtable’s Working Out Loud Framework, Jim walks through specific examples of how his firm has taken advantage of concepts such as Validate Out Loud, Share Out Loud, Ask & Answer Out Loud, and Explore Out Loud to improve knowledge sharing at Shepley Bulfinch.

Speaker Bio
Jim Martin is Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm known for design excellence in healthcare, education and urban development. Drawing on over 20 years of Information Technology experience, Jim leads the development of strategies for technology tools that support and advance design, delivery, and collaboration. He has been particularly successful at creating an innovation center inside of Shepley Bulfinch’s IT department, focusing on new technologies and how they affect the design process. Jim is a Six Sigma Green Belt and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Roger Williams University.

Christopher Parsons of Knowledge Architecture interviews Jim Martin of Shepley Bulfinch at KA Connect 2016.

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