We Are The Canoe Group.
The Canoe Group provides clients with service, perspective and experience that help them capitalize on these rapidly changing times.
We launched our shared practice because we found we have common opinions: about how the world works best, how people learn, how we want to treat one another. And we blend a balance of overlapping yet diverse skills and expertise.
The Canoe Group practices what we preach. Collaboration is greater than the sum of our parts.
Our Mission
Accelerate the growth and success of ideas, people and organizations, integrating head and heart.
What We Share In Common
- We like canoes.
- We thrive with just-in-time learning: continuously integrating new information and new concepts.
- We are curious people, we love good questions, and have a thirst for “what’s real and true.”
- We value innovation and enjoy the messiness that is part of the creative process.
- We know the role structure plays in getting things done.
- We believe that aligning allies through well-planned communications strategy is the only way real change has any chance to succeed.
- We’ve grown successful by pursuing non-traditional career paths.
- We share a broad, generalists’ view of the way the business and non-profit worlds work.
- The unknown is exciting to us.
How We Are Different
Michael’s wise. We get to watch him listen and ponder. Then he synthesizes, crystallizes and calmly tells us, and our clients, what requires attention. The youngest of The Canoe Group (and surely the least chatty), Michael researched, designed, facilitated the partnerships and launched the Oregon Symphony’s innovative rural community music program, serving as a statewide and national model for community engagement in the arts. The rest of us are still trying to catch up. Learn more about Michael Kosmala »
Marta’s 35-year career looks like what Thoreau described as “following a different drummer.” Since the early 80s, she’s wanted to know everything about how change happens and what stimulates creativity. She was the one in high school and college that always got in trouble for saying uncomfortable things out loud, but was elected Girls State Governor for exactly the same reason. She draws charts and mindmaps on the fly, works the flip chart barefoot, and has a national clientele. Learn more about Marta Mellinger »
David’s often described as our über-geek. He sometimes makes us crazy because his thinking and ideas come as if from another planet. He’s really good with the complex and conceptual. His East Coast style is tempered by his heartfelt commitment to being a good person. Most clients love him. After graduating from Yale, Dave started a company at 20 and grew it to 14 employees and a dog. He keeps telling us the dog is negotiable. He’s a tenor and can identify any classical piece from the first three bars. Learn more about David Frackelton »
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