obviō
(present infinitive obviare, perfect active obviavi, supine obviatum)
(Classical Latin) I resist, withstand.
(post-Classical Latin) I meet.
(Spanish) Obvious.
The latin root of the word “obvious” draws from via, meaning “path or way.” We’re here to meet our clients and help them find their way while resisting the lazy thinking of the status-quo and withstanding whatever challenges may come. The quality of the work is obvious…and the name is also a reminder to not take ourselves too seriously.
The Obvio Group’s mission is to provide high-quality guidance and resources to individuals, small businesses, and the nonprofit sector. We offer a variety of consulting, communications, and research services, with particular expertise in community-based design, sustainable design, integrated assessment and evaluation, creative equity building, creative community development, program design, and project management.
We build fun, creative, and mutually-beneficial relationships with our clients and collaborators. Let’s make something cool happen together.
Our Teameam
Kate Mohn
Kate Mohn brings over a decade of experience in program development, digital communications, creative community engagement, and nonprofit administration to her role as founder and principal of the Obvio Group. She has extensive experience in digital and web communications, academic and technical writing, programmatic budget development and oversight, and creative equity building.
In addition to her client-based work with Obvio Group, Kate has worked previously in a variety of nonprofit roles, most recently as the Director of Foundation Relations and Strategic Communications for PFund Foundation. She is also member of the faculty at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, where she teaches grant writing in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Kate holds an M.A. in sustainable design from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and undergraduate degrees in English and environmental studies from Hamline University.
Eleanor Fuchs
With an extensive career in evaluation and compliance, Eleanor's work focuses on conveying internal contexts to external entities in ways that honor the nuances and spirit inherent to every organization. Her approach is one of capacity-building and working with those keen on navigating difficult—and often exclusionary—compliance ecosystems. An expert in culturally-responsive evaluation and qualitative methods, she focuses on co-creation of evaluation tools that work for both the client and their target audience. To boot, she is equally comfortable with developing and analyzing surveys, interview protocols, and running focus groups.
Eleanor currently serves as a Research Associate with the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota. Her projects range from small-scale evaluation designs for local nonprofits to multi-year evaluations for state and federal grants. Previously, Eleanor served as Assistant Provost at the College for Creative Studies; Associate Provost at the Columbus College of Art and Design; and Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She has consulted with several colleges and nonprofits in their accreditation, assessment, and evaluation efforts, and serves as a member of the Research Steering Committee for PFund Foundation.
Eleanor's research examines the ways in which evaluation processes and compliance standards functionally exclude forms of knowledge that fall outside of normalized Eurocentric paradigms. She holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota, a M.A. from the University of Toronto, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota.
Let’s make something cool happen together.
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