Announcement from the PRO Central Virginia Board of Directors

We are writing to inform you of an important decision made by the PRO Central VA Board of Directors. After careful consideration, the Board has voted to disaffiliate from PRO Inc., the national organization with which we have been associated since 2022.

Virtual Town Hall Meetings

To ensure full transparency and provide an opportunity for open dialogue, we hosted two virtual Town Hall meetings. These sessions allowed members to hear directly from the Board, ask questions, and share feedback regarding this decision. The session on December 30 was recorded and can be found on the PRO Central VA YouTube channel. We will also share the recordings in our upcoming newsletters and email blasts to ensure all members can access the information.

Key Factors in the Decision

Changes to PRO Inc.'s Structure

PRO Inc. originally operated under a model with volunteer leadership at the national level, which granted local affiliates greater autonomy and control. This allowed affiliates to focus on the specific needs of their local markets and maximize local funding for local initiatives. However, under new leadership, PRO Inc. plans to alter this model in the coming years by hiring national staff and implementing a national dues increase, which will diminish the local autonomy, funding, and authority that we have valued.

Why We Aligned with PRO Inc. Initially

When PRO Central VA first chose to affiliate with PRO Inc. over the Home Builders Association of Richmond, we were drawn to several key benefits:

• Equal representation on the national board
• Lower dues
• Greater autonomy to focus on the remodeling industry, as an offshoot of the original NARI Chapter
• Promises of new initiatives, including a certification program, apprenticeship opportunities, and the PRO Learning Center - an online training platform for members
• Collaboration with other affiliates

Unfortunately, most of these initiatives have not materialized, and there are no concrete plans for them in the immediate future.

Local Focus and Growth

Over the past two years, PRO Central VA has experienced tremendous growth, driven by our focus on meeting the specific needs of our local members and market. With a 66% growth rate and a 96% retention rate, we strongly believe that maintaining a local focus and keeping decision-making in the hands of our local leadership will allow us to better support the mission of our organization and continue serving our members effectively. Disaffiliating from PRO Inc. will not change our ability to collaborate with other PRO affiliates, as we will still maintain strong relationships with other NARI chapters across the country.

Branding and Rebranding

While disassociating from PRO Inc. will require us to rebrand, we will continue to operate under the same name—PRO: Professional Remodeling Organization of Central Virginia—to maintain continuity with the broader industry and leverage the strong local brand recognition we’ve built. 

Members of a Task Group, comprised of local members, will provide input and feedback to our brand developer, Carlene Jackson, as we navigate the rebranding process. 

We are committed to keeping you fully informed throughout this transition and ensuring that all members have an opportunity to engage with us.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We are excited for what comes next for PRO Central Virginia, and look forward to continuing to strengthen our community and serve the remodeling industry in Central Virginia.

Best regards,

Scott Wagner

President, PRO Central VA