News & updates

May, 2009

The Canoe Group Communications Strategies Sell-Out the Oregon Arts Summit 2009

With planning work beginning in January 2009, The Canoe Group guided collaborative design and event development for the 2009 Oregon Arts Summit. Rebranding the Summit, The Canoe Group’s work with Oregon Arts Commission staff and Commissioner Bart Eberwein resulted in a standing room only Oregon Arts Summit, to be convened at the Tiger Woods Center in Beaverton, Oregon on May 13.

Learn about how we supported the growth and success of the Oregon Arts Summit 2009»

April, 2009

The Canoe Group+ Team Accelerates the Success and Growth of Sandcastles

The Canoe Group will participate in the June 13, 2009 Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest with an eight-person team of diggers, builders, designers, shapers and support crew. Design charettes began in April, honing the team vision, values and mission. The team’s name has not yet been determined, and the sand sculpture theme and design are top secret. Read more»

State of Oregon Office of Administrative Hearings Retains The Canoe Group to lead Strategic Planning

The Canoe Group has been selected by the state of Oregon’s Office of Administrative Hearings to navigate strategic planning for the $21M, 130+ employee organization.

The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) delivers judicial services and provides fair and impartial hearings on issues between citizens and a broad range of state agencies. Over 70 administrative law judges, managers and staff conduct OAH hearings across the state. Read more»

The Canoe Group Facilitates Business Planning For New Caldera Initiative

Extending The Canoe Group’s year-long planning and facilitation relationship with Caldera, The Canoe Group has been retained to facilitate business planning with the Caldera Board, and to provide planning consultation to Executive Director Tricia Snell.

Caldera’s strategic plan, accomplished with Canoe Group facilitation in early 2008, was influential in the nonprofit gaining a $50,000 planning grant from Oregon Community Foundation. Learn more about how this business planning project»

March, 2009

Oregon Arts Commission Hires The Canoe Group For Arts Learning Initiative

The Oregon Arts Commission has hired The Canoe Group to guide the initiative development of a statewide arts education learning network. This includes:

Developing a grassroots adoption process for an Oregon Declaration of Creative Rights;
Identifying and developing a strategic leadership group and committee structure;
Creating baseline strategies to connect statewide stakeholders in an arts education network; and
Designing the 2nd Annual Oregon Arts Education Congress.

Continue reading about the consulting services provided through this initiative development process»

January, 2009

Willamette Valley Development Officers Hires The Canoe Group To Guide Strategic Planning

The Willamette Valley Development Officers (WVDO) has hired The Canoe Group to guide the organization through the development of a new strategic plan.

As a non-profit organization that provides support for development professionals through networking events and education opportunities, WVDO has enjoyed much growth over the past five years including the recent hire of its first, full-time executive director in 2008.

This leadership change, in conjunction with a desire to deepen its service to its stakeholders, led them to initiate strategic planning, designed and facilitated by The Canoe Group.

Continue reading about the consulting services provided through this strategic planning process»

December, 2008

Oregon Arts Commission Hires The Canoe Group For The Oregon Arts Summit 2009

The Oregon Arts Commission has hired The Canoe Group to design and manage The Oregon Arts Summit 2009 to be held on Wednesday, May 13, at the Tiger Woods Center in Beaverton, Oregon.

The Summit will be a cross-sector event focusing on collaboration and innovation involving 300 key leaders from the arts, culture, education and business communities. The Canoe Group will oversee event planning, branding, communications and management. It will also integrate the use of online surveying and e-marketing strategies to inform event design and participant experience.

Continue reading about the Oregon Arts Summit 2009»

September, 2008

Oregon Arts Commission Hires The Canoe Group For 1st Annual Oregon Arts Education Congress

The Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) has hired The Canoe Group to design and manage the 1st Annual Arts Education Congress to be held on Monday, November 17, at The Kennedy School in Portland.

The Congress will gather 100 representative leaders – teachers and administrators, artists, arts education providers, government and political leaders, leaders from higher education, business leaders, parent advocates, arts advocates, creative industries spokespeople, elected officials, and liaisons from key statewide associations – for the one day meeting.

Continue reading about the 1st Annual Oregon Arts Education Congress»

August, 2008

The Canoe Group Offers Unique, Collaborative Services to Pacific Northwest Businesses

Albert Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.” That insight lies at the heart of the services offered by The Canoe Group, Inc., a shared practice of integrated and collaborative services based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in the summer of 2008 by Marta Mellinger, David Frackelton, Michael Kosmala and Deborah Elliott, the company partners with its clients to explore and develop new ways of doing business in a rapidly changing world.

Continue reading about The Canoe Group’s non-profit consulting»