Our Story

"Our work is always challenging, continually
changing, and we have so much more to do."

In the early 1980s, corporate consultant Karen Stinson became increasingly aware of changes happening in her clients' offices, factories, sales floors, and patient wards. More people of color. More women. A greater age range. More immigrants. People with disabilities. Different lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Karen was curious, so she asked the employees in these client organizations:

•	Do you feel accepted?

•	Are you using your talents?

•	Are your contributions acknowledged?

•	Do you feel part of the team?

Unfortunately, many felt misunderstood, unaccepted, and alienated.

These informal dialogues fueled a commitment in Karen to help clients build cultures where differences are understood, diversity is appreciated, and all employees are treated with dignity and respect. She knew that in cultures like that, employees would perform to their full potential and the organization would be unstoppable.

In 1986 ProGroup was formed, and since then our team has worked to achieve that vision. At first, people asked us:

•	Diversity? What's that?

•	Why value diversity?

•	Isn't diversity a passing fad?

Times have changed. Diversity is now recognized as a critical factor for success in any business. Organizations acknowledge that their people, who are increasingly diverse, are their most important asset - an asset they can't afford to lose.

The marketplace has changed as well. Organizations see many opportunities to meet the product and service needs of diverse populations. All they have to do is listen, understand, and deliver what customers want.

Since 1986 Karen, along with her business partner, Myrna Marofsky, and their diverse team of over 70 talented and dynamic individuals, has guided hundreds of organizations to create stronger, more successful cultures. The kinds of cultures where we would want our children, friends, and relatives to work.

Our work is always challenging, continually changing, and we have so much more to do. Since September 11, 2001, when the terrorist attacks on the United States occurred, our world changed. Now more than ever, we are committed to our vision.

The losses and repercussions from the September 11 events were horrendous. Since then, however, we've witnessed incredible unity throughout the United States and the world. We've seen and heard about thousands of people from diverse backgrounds coming together to work side by side for the common good. That's our vision at work. That's leveraging the power of difference.

There's other work to do. Some people reacted to the events of September 11 by judging others based on their background, look, name, religion, or skin color. That indicates to us that we must work even harder to help clients and communities across the globe create connections across differences.

At ProGroup, we're committed to making this world better for everyone.

Novations

ProGroup opened a new chapter in our story when we were acquired by Novations Group, Inc. in June, 2007. Many of ProGroup's employees have remained during the transition to the Novations family, and we are very excited to continue to bring the highest levels of service to our clients. Furthermore, we have a whole new toolbox of capabilities to offer as we join the ProGroup heritage of powerful training and resources to the Novations family of amazing service offerings.

Please follow us to Novations to find out how to take the next exciting steps with us!