Here's the thing about knowledge and information management in AEC firms -- it touches all departments and roles, not just IT.

That's why we have found that T-Shaped People tend to really enjoy KA Connect conferences.

So whether you are in Practice Leadership, Operations, Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, BIM/CAD Management, or of course, IT, we hope you'll join us at KA Connect 2012.

KA Connect 2012 is a two-day general session, broken up by Hangouts and breaks. We want folks to walk away from KA Connect 2012 with an intense, shared experience.

In addition, the Knowledge Architecture team puts months of effort into researching topics and collaborating with our speakers. Selfishly, we don't want to miss any of the program.

Attendees of prior conferences have asked for "conference infrastructure" to help them connect with people who want to talk about the topics that they are passionate about. A tribe within a tribe if you will.

Our response to this desire is something we are calling "Hangouts." Each table at KA Connect 2012 will have a number. During the Hangouts, we'll put suggested topics up on the main conference screen and assign those topics to table numbers. For example, Using Social Media on Projects, Do Innovation Competition Programs Work?, or Cloud Computing Challenges and Opportunities.

Here's the cool part -- conference attendees will drive the Hangout topics. Starting two weeks before the conference, and continuing through the event, we'll be monitoring the #KAConnect2012 hashtag on Twitter and the KA Connect LinkedIn Group for ideas. (Don't worry, you can also e-mail them in or tell us in person.)

The talks at the conference, the people you meet, and the events going on in the world will inform the dialog of the Hangouts. We think Hangouts will be a great complement to the more formal aspects of the program.

We'd highly suggest sticking around for the weekend. Past attendees have explored the city and the surrounding areas, including Wine Country, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Yosemite. They've also brought their friends and family along. April is a great time of year to visit.

Last year we had an active discussion about favorite things to do in San Francisco on the KA Connect LinkedIn Group. Check it out here.

E-mail us your questions at connect@knowledge-architecture.com. We'll be updating this page on a regular basis as the conference approaches.