John Clegg, Chief Design Innovation Officer, Senior Principal, Page
Kelsey Arnold, Marketing Operations Director, Associate Principal, Page

Talk Description
In the dynamic landscape of multidisciplinary design, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) represent pivotal moments that can either propel firms toward unprecedented growth or pose significant challenges to their cultural and operational fabric. This talk delves into the firsthand M&A experience of an established but growing multidisciplinary design firm, focusing on the pivotal role of knowledge management in navigating the complexities of integration, culture melding, and strategic alignment.

Speaker Bios
As Page's Chief Design Innovation Officer and Sr. Principal, John Clegg’s primary aim is to empower the firm by elevating design at every level of the organization. He fosters interdisciplinary collaboration with the Research & Innovation team and the Design Exchange, a unique collective that brings together Building Sciences, Fabrication, Storytelling, Studio X, and Tech Lab. Drawing upon his extensive experience in architectural and urban design, he is able to blend his professional and academic background with a deeply ingrained commitment to community. In driving innovation throughout our firm, he ensures that design decisions positively impact our company's work by empowering and inspiring designers across the organization.

With over a decade of experience in the AEC industry, Kelsey Arnold serves as the Marketing Operations Director at Page, a leading firm with 21 offices and over 1,400 employees. In this role, Kelsey orchestrates strategic marketing initiatives to drive brand visibility, client engagement, and business growth. Kelsey's expertise lies in crafting and executing data-driven marketing strategies that align with the firm's overarching goals. From spearheading innovative campaigns to optimizing internal processes, Kelsey ensures that the marketing operations not only enhance the firm's market presence but also support its operational efficiency.

Talk Timeline

Introduction
00:49 Page: A History of Reinvention
01:21 The Need for Knowledge Management

Building an Intranet
02:26 Elements of a Knowledge Management Program
04:04 Dashboard: Internally Built Intranet
05:40 KA Connect + Synthesis 6 Implementation
06:46 Acquisition of EYP: Adjusting the Strategy
07:56 Department Skills Mapping
08:46 Central Services Marketing & Communications Structure
09:25 Core Synthesis Integration Team
09:55 Incorporating Both Cultures
10:18 Naming Competition: Louie
10:55 Intranet as Integration Tool

Leading the Integration
11:03 John’s Experience + Role as the Integration Lead
12:44 Transformational not Transactional
13:53 Perception: Big Fish Eating Little Fish
14:35 Reality: Growth to Serve Our Clients

Context
15:35 Context: Chapter 11
16:11 Previous Acquisitions
16:39 Markets
17:48 Culture
18:20 Work From Home
18:48 Leadership Retreat

Louie
20:30 Basic Synthesis Resources
21:03 Sharing the Work: Legacy Project Highlights
22:28 Internal Communications Audit
22:52 Changes to Firmwide Meetings
25:43 Communication Strategy + Louie
26:44 Posts: Don’t Worry About Your People, Just Worry About Your Leadership
27:36 Trust: Designing for Safety Post Discussion
29:46 Design Innovation
30:42 Resource Guides (Work in Progress)

Looking Ahead
31:14 Organic Growth: Davis Brody Bond
32:02 Announcement and Resources on Louie
33:03 Shared Legacies
34:15 Shared Engagement

Susan Strom of Knowledge Architecture interviews John Clegg and Kelsey Arnold of Page at KA Connect 2024.

Q+A Timeline

00:00 How do you determine which offices are emergent or established and what does that mean for resources and expectations?
02:20 How did you go about integrating the two portfolios and systems into one project directory?
05:02 How did you keep EYP from from feeling overwhelmed by all the new information?
06:43 Is there anything you embraced from EYP’s history that changed the way Page does things?
08:46 How do you keep a pulse on people’s needs?
10:12 Did you put together any policies or rules of engagement after the gun safety post?
12:43 How are you leveraging knowledge management as a change agent on the intranet?
15:18 Is writing those things down helping you clarify your thinking?
16:40 Thanks for the good ideas!
17:30 How is the KM organization at Page growing and what’s next?