We are (KM) expertise, education and awareness.

We are bringing knowledge management (KM) expertise, education and awareness.

2023 Midwest KM Symposium

Friday, June 16,  Kent State University

Pre-Conference Dinner on Thursday, June 15 across from the hotel.

 

Go to the Website for all the details

Every day, we are confronted with more and more knowledge-based difficulties. Pioneer Knowledge Services' goal is to create cultures that support information development, knowledge transfer, knowledge handling, and, eventually, rapid access to knowledge to facilitate decision making. Individuals and non-profits alike benefit from our efforts to foster knowledge cultures.

According to the 2015 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report, a survey of nonprofits across the U.S.,  the biggest challenges for nonprofit communicators was the lack of time to produce quality content. Other top knowledge-related challenges were:

  • Inability to measure effectiveness
  • Producing engaging content
  • Producing enough content
  • Difficulty integrating communications channels

Evidence of the increasing importance of knowledge management can be found on the pages of most business and trade magazines. Trust that enables sharing is highlighted in HR Magazine’s by Pamela Babcock (2004),  “Trust and a willingness to share information—not control it—are…key attributes than can lead to successful knowledge management programs.”  Babcock further advocates “baking knowledge into” key job workflows as well as building knowledge sharing into performance appraisal and incentive programs. 

Ready to engage your future?

Our People

Edwin K. Morris, a grey-haired man with grey beard and mustache, wears a white shirt and headphones
President and Founder

Edwin K. Morris is the president and founder of Pioneer Knowledge Services (PKS), a non-profit organization with a charitable purpose.  PKS involves clients customizing knowledge solutions and training to cultivate an organizational disposition and culture that values knowledge as a sustainable asset.  He has served as an adjunct instructor for Kent State University’s School of Digital Sciences and the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management graduate program. He earned his M.S. in 2012.  He made the Thomas J. Froehlich Award from Kent State in 2013, recognizing academic excellence and promise for leadership in information architecture and knowledge management. In 2016 Morris was selected by Kent State University’s School of Library and information Sciences peers and faculty as the 2016 Alumnus of the year. This honor recognized Morris for his significant contribution to the knowledge management profession. A disabled veteran, Morris started his service in 1981; and was deployed to Iraq twice — as a sergeant in 2004 and then as a second lieutenant in 2005.  In the years thereafter, he served as a contracted trainer, doctrine writer, lessons learned knowledge leader, and knowledge management leads for various government contractors serving Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ.

Edwin K. Morris, a grey-haired man with grey beard and mustache, wears a white shirt and headphones
Susan Montgomery Vice President

Susan E. Montgomery is a Professor and Research/Instruction Librarian at the Olin Library at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.  She received her MLIS from Florida State University, holds an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico and a BA in History & Spanish from Knox College, Galesburg, IL.  She is the editor of the book Assessing Library Space for Learning published by Rowman & Littlefield and has published articles in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Colleges & Undergraduate Libraries, Public Services Quarterly, and Library and Information Research. Her responsibilities including facilitating trainings on knowledge seeking strategies and collaborating with colleagues to improve workflows and resolving knowledge inquiries at her organization. In her current role, she actively engages with eight different departments to promote knowledge management practices.

Sarah Hampton, a lady with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a black shirt and green sweater, with a gold necklace

Sarah Hampton is a Learning and Knowledge Management Program Manager. She works to apply attributes of Information and Data Governance and Management, Library Science, and Knowledge Management to Learning & Development.  This fusion has resulted in an expanded scope of effectiveness for which she is grateful to have the opportunity to develop.  Sarah collaborates and co-creates with global colleagues. Sarah designs, develops, and implements solution sets that meet and exceed business needs with a continuous improvement methodology that optimizes human resources and technology.

Sarah Hampton, a lady with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a black shirt and green sweater, with a gold necklace
Richard Parlato, a man with grey hair and a grey mustache

Richard Parlato has started and served organizations in the profit and not-for-profit sector over the past 40 years. He refers to himself as a Serial Entrepreneur.

For-profit businesses:

  • Resources Inc, Marketing and Public Relations company Founder
  • Network Services, New England Telephone sales agent Founder
  • Parlato Productions LLC, Media event production company Founder
  • Proximity, Videoconferencing service company Founder Horn, Web Conferencing company EVP

Not for Profit:

  • CCTV, Center for Media & Democracy, Founding member and board chair
  • Vermont Mozart Festival, Classical music series board member and chair
  • Chautauqua Property Owners Association, Board member
  • Chautauqua Dance Circle, Board member
Richard Parlato, a man with grey hair and a grey mustache
Evan Shenkman, a dark-haired man, with a light-colored shirt and dark suit jacket

Evan Shenkman is the Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Fisher Phillips, an AMLAW 200 labor and employment law firm with 36 offices across the United States. He leads the firm’s Knowledge Management, Innovation, and Library functions. Constantly at the forefront of change in the legal profession, Evan was named to the 2021 Fastcase 50 List, recognizing “50 of the smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the law,” and he .” He received the 2020 Legal Innovator of the Year Award, recognizing his team’s numerous innovations during the coronavirus pandemic. At Fisher Phillips, Evan’s responsibilities include harnessing the power of knowledge, A.I., and data analytics to the benefit of firm attorneys and clients; creating processes, practices, and software to allow firm attorneys to work smarter, faster, and more in sync; creating internal and client-facing collaborative tools; and introducing innovative technologies and approaches to help firm attorneys and clients thrive in the modern workplace. A frequent author, presenter, and podcast guest in the KM and Innovation space, Evan has been featured in The American Lawyer, the ABA Journal, Law.com, the AALL Spectrum, The Modern Lawyer Podcast, Litera TV, and the Reinventing Professionals podcast, among others. Before entering the KM field in 2011, Evan was an AV-rated employment litigator for a decade.

Evan Shenkman, a dark-haired man, with a light-colored shirt and dark suit jacket
Ginetta Gueli, a lady with long dark hair, wears a maroon shirt and glasses

Ginetta Gueli is a highly versatile knowledge management professional with more than 15 years of expertise in creating and driving holistic strategies to ensure organizational knowledge is gained, shared and learned from effectively. She thrives in complexity and in visualizing solutions with a pragmatic approach that cuts through the clutter. She is able to quickly builds trust with diverse stakeholders to understand issues and shines a light on the journey forward.

Passionate about the topic, she is committed to support the growth of KM communities through a variety of online initiatives to debate, engage and grow knowledge management.

Ginetta Gueli, a lady with long dark hair, wears a maroon shirt and glasses
Monica Danese-Perrin, a lady with long dark hair, wears a white t-shirt and a denim shirt

Monica Danese-Perrin is based in London and is a visible promoter and champion of Knowledge Management.

Monica has worked in KM for over 20 years in multiple sectors such as Banking, Accountancy and Global Consultancy and has experienced KM evolve and change from a traditional, tightly structured role to a flexible, transformative, and collaborative practice. She is passionate about creating smart Knowledge Enabled organizations, using techniques such as Communities of Practice to connect people, and put collaboration at the heart of knowledge capture, creation and sharing. Previous roles have allowed Monica to have a front row seat and support colleagues firsthand with models, processes, and frameworks to help deliver these changes and build capability.

Monica was super excited to join the Pioneer Knowledge Services team serving as co-host of the KM Lobby Podcast with Edwin K. Morris and Ginetta Gueli. Monica said, “this Podcast gives me and the wider the KM family a voice, a chance to learn, share and gain insight from our peers around the world and I thrilled to continue the journey with you all!” 

Monica Danese-Perrin, a lady with long dark hair, wears a white t-shirt and a denim shirt
Mark

Mark Strausbaugh - Treasurer

Mark Strausbaugh is a licensed CPA with over 40 years of public accounting experience, currently semi-retired and a part time tax manager with Baker Tilly, an international top 10 advisory and tax firm.

Mark spent most of his career as a partner in the Pennsylvania/West Virginia CPA firm of Arnett Carbis Toothman LLP (formerly Carbis Walker LLP).  Mark represented a variety of small and medium size businesses, both for profit and not for profit, focusing on tax compliance issues and profit enhancement and internal control matters.

In his spare time Mark has assisted many not-for-profit organizations with financial matters, most notably serving as past board Treasurer of the Meadville Medical Center Health System, and past board President of the Outer Banks SPCA, Inc.

Mark