“Cows aren’t so sacred to me anymore.” Darren Rizza at KA Connect 2010

                                                                                           “20 x 20” © Darren Rizza

Darren Rizza has a new job in a new country. He’s moved to India to become the CEO of Satellier, a leading provider of CAD and BIM production services to AECO firms.

Darren’s time in India has taught him something new about sacred cows:

“Cows aren’t so sacred to me anymore. You can go up, whack it on the head, and get it to do something else.”

Watch “Knowledge, Knowledge Everywhere…” to learn how changing technology and the global economy have exposed other (metaphorical) cows to be less sacred than we once thought.

You’ll also see Darren’s innovative response to the constraints of the Pecha Kucha presentation format, a crowd-pleaser at KA Connect 2010.

“There are 4 P’s in Practice.” Bob Batcheler at KA Connect 2010

                                                                 Bob Batcheler, Co-Founder, Newforma

According to Bob Batcheler of Newforma there are 4 P’s in Practice – People, Process, Projects, and pTechnology.

(He explains in his talk that engineers can’t spell.)

Batch’s 18-minute KA Connect 2010 talk is full of case studies, observations, and wisdom gleaned over a career of helping AEC firms leverage technology to work more efficiently.

Watch “There are 4 P’s in Practice” to walk away with proven strategies for turning information into knowledge. You’ll also get some excellent book recommendations along the way.

“Knowing how to tell stories is where it’s at.” Anne Scarlett at KA Connect 2010

                                                 Anne Scarlett, President of Scarlett Consulting

Anne Scarlett believes that stories are powerful tools for marketing your firms’ knowledge because stories sell and they teach.

“Stories sell externally because they keep you top of mind with your clients and prospects. But stories can also sell internally, because they can sell company policies or a new direction you are taking your firm. Knowing how to tell stories is where it’s at.”

Watch or download “Storytelling: The Key to Marketing Knowledge” to learn a four-step process your firm can apply to develop more effective stories.

“In augmented reality, the architect becomes a true media architect.” Lira Luis at KA Connect 2010

                                                               “The Unifying Force,” © Lira Luis 2010

What would Frank Lloyd Wright say about the way we collaborate today? Would he use Skype? GoToMeeting? BIM?

Could he have imagined a future where his clients would interact with buildings through Twitter and iPads?

Lira Luis thinks that we are on the cusp of the next wave of disruptive collaboration technology. She thinks augmented reality is about to hit us in a big way.

Watch Lira’s seven-minute KA Connect 2010 talk for a brisk journey through the last century of evolving collaboration models.

“We’re spending so much time becoming architects that we don’t spend enough time remaining them.” Randy Deutsch at KA Connect 2010

                                                                    30 Fillings, 2010 © Randy Deutsch

Randy Deutsch is many things — An architect. An author. A frequent contributor on the industry’s leading social networks. A blogger. (With three blogs.)

Randy is also a midcareer professional. He believes we disproportionately focus on the beginning and the end of our careers and overlook the middle.

Watch “The Reemerging Midcareer Professional’s Companion” for Randy’s take on what it means to be a midcareerist and his strategies for reengaging the profession in a time of technological and economic upheaval. You’ll also learn what an overstuffed Oreo and your career have in common.

We’re bringing the tribe back together

KA Connect 2011 will take place beside the San Francisco Bay at the Fort Mason Center.

April 27th and 28th.

We just thought you’d like to know.

“You should really think about how you talk about what you do.” Josh Lobel at KA Connect 2010

                                                                    Josh Lobel, The Josh Lobel Initiative

Josh Lobel thinks that we have fallen into an infinite recursive loop — we are seduced by well-worn promises of technology, for example, “let designers get back to designing,” and then we leap to new tools while failing to capture the benefit from the latest round of tools we invested in.

“The use of the tools has gotten well ahead of our ability to conceptualize and talk about them and we need to catch up.”

In “CAD Metaphors,” Josh sprints through half a century of the most influential writing about technology and the process of making.

Watch Josh Lobel’s KA Connect 2010 talk for his passionate critique of “how we talk about what we do.”

“All organizations are learning organizations, but not all learning is good learning.” John Soter at KA Connect 2010

                                                                         John Soter, Principal, ZweigWhite

John Soter believes that creating a culture of learning is the most important role of the leader. Absent the active engagement of the leadership, investments in knowledge and learning programs, systems, and tools are doomed to fail.

“In demonstrating commitment with a strong personal endorsement, leaders of organizations signal the importance and shape of the new environment…Once “the why” is established, and not before, the tools, systems, structures and other “how” elements can follow. “ (9:44)

John’s measured, and serious talk at KA Connect 2010 hit on a critical issue without pulling any punches.

Watch “A 12-Step Program for a Learning Organization” to see how John entertained conference attendees by reading from the “Holy Book of Knowledge Management and Learning,” sharing a parable about apes, and suggesting a 12-step recovery program for leaders of learning organizations.

“5 years ago in the UK, all architects were peasants.” Pete Walsham at KA Connect 2010

                                                                 Pete Walsham, Co-Founder of Axomic 

Pete Walsham of Axomic has seen tyranny firsthand.

The tyranny of file-based image management.

In “The Three Ages of DAM,” Pete shares his experiences helping architects escape from “file-system feudalism” and embrace the liberties of web-based image management.

Watch Pete’s 7-minute KA Connect 2010 talk for a fast-paced history of image management in architecture, an assessment of today’s best practices, and a glimpse into the future of image management.

Leveraging Learning: Pam Britton at KA Connect 2010

                                                       Pam Britton, The Knowledge Environment

Pam Britton thinks that it is wonderful that most firms invest in training and development programs for their teams.

But are they getting their money’s worth?

In “Leveraging Learning” Pam Britton, Principal of The Knowledge Environment, shares her 5-step strategy for getting the most out of your organizational learning programs.

Our favorite is Step 1 – “Do less and do it better.”

Watch Pam’s KA Connect 2010 talk for the rest of the story.