National Association of Professional Women

The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) was a U.S. for-profit professional association and networking platform founded in 2007 by Matthew Proman. It marketed membership, networking, professional-development opportunities, recognition programs, events, and access to a community of women in business and the professions. The organization positioned itself as a broad national network rather than as a conventional trade association limited to one occupation or industry. NAPW expanded its public profile through annual networking conferences in New York City, prominent speakers, local chapters, scholarships, and philanthropic activities. The conferences, held from 2011 through 2014, featured business leaders, media personalities, entrepreneurs, executives, public officials, and other speakers. Star Jones became one of the most visible public representatives of the organization, serving as its national spokesperson and chief development officer. NAPW also promoted the Rising Stars Education Scholarship Program for daughters of members and students attending accredited colleges, universities, or trade schools. In 2014, NAPW merged with Professional Diversity Network, Inc. The transaction was completed on September 24, 2014, and brought NAPW into a publicly traded corporate structure. Following the merger, Matthew Proman became a director and chief operating officer of Professional Diversity Network, while Star Jones joined the board and became president of the parent company. Randi Zuckerberg and Donna Brazile also joined the board. The acquisition initially presented NAPW as an important growth platform for Professional Diversity Network, but the business later experienced declining revenue, shrinking operations, executive turnover, and workforce reductions. The brand also faced substantial consumer criticism. Complaints reported to the Better Business Bureau focused on alleged discrepancies between advertising that described membership as free and sales calls that presented paid membership packages, with some consumers reporting annual fees of up to approximately $1,000. Other complaints alleged high-pressure telephone sales practices, difficulty obtaining written membership information, problems cancelling memberships, and difficulties securing refunds. These allegations damaged the brand's reputation and were accompanied by poor consumer-review ratings. Professional Diversity Network introduced the International Association of Women (IAW) in 2017 and 2018. Company communications described IAW as an international opportunity that would operate alongside or in connection with NAPW, while other company-related material described the change as a rebranding of NAPW. NAPW's social-media properties were reportedly closed or redirected to IAW channels. The present official website associated with the successor brand is iawomen.com. Accordingly, NAPW is best understood as a discontinued brand whose membership and networking proposition was carried forward under the International Association of Women name.

The National Association of Professional Women was established in 2007 by Matthew Proman as a commercially operated professional network for women. Rather than serving a single regulated profession, NAPW sought to gather women from multiple business and professional fields through paid membership, networking, recognition, events, and local chapters. Its model combined the language of professional association with a sales-driven membership platform. The organization developed visibility through large-scale events and promotional partnerships. Its annual National Networking Conferences were held in New York City from 2011 to 2014. These events presented speakers from business, media, entrepreneurship, politics, retail, finance, and entertainment. The 2012 conference, titled “Transitions: Take Control of Your Future,” was hosted by Star Jones. The 2013 conference, “Spark. Ignite Your Network,” reportedly drew more than 1,200 members and included Martha Stewart and Arianna Huffington among its keynote speakers. These conferences were central to NAPW's effort to associate the brand with high-profile leadership and career advancement. NAPW also operated local chapters and developed social-impact programs. In 2014, Proman and Jones created the NAPW Foundation as a philanthropic initiative focused on women and child-wellness issues. Listed partners and beneficiaries included the American Heart Association, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Dress for Success, and Girls Inc., alongside other charitable activities. NAPW separately operated the Rising Stars Education Scholarship Program, which supported selected daughters of members and other eligible students pursuing post-secondary or trade education. The scholarship program was active through 2014 according to the available reference material. A major corporate turning point occurred in 2014, when Professional Diversity Network, Inc. announced and completed a merger with NAPW. The transaction closed on September 24. Proman became a director and chief operating officer of the parent company, while Jones became president and joined the board. Randi Zuckerberg and Donna Brazile also joined the board. Professional Diversity Network promoted NAPW as an important operating business and reported substantial revenue and positive cash flow at the time of the transaction. The post-merger period was marked by deterioration in the NAPW operation. Reference material describes the closure of two of the three NAPW offices that had existed before the merger, a continuing decline in revenue, a reduction in operating scale, and declining cash resources. Proman left his executive and board roles during 2016. In 2017, NAPW's chief executive departed, followed by a significant reduction in force. The parent company also underwent changes in ownership and control during a period when it was attempting to avoid severe financial distress. Because the available material is largely based on secondary reporting and company filings summarized elsewhere, the precise causes and allocation of the decline should be treated cautiously. Consumer complaints became a defining issue for the late NAPW brand. Better Business Bureau material described an F rating and complaints involving alleged differences between “free” membership advertising and paid packages presented by telephone. Consumers also reported high-pressure sales calls, limited written information about membership terms, cancellation difficulties, refund problems, and difficulty reaching representatives. Similar negative themes appeared in consumer and employee reviews. These reports do not by themselves establish that every allegation was proven, but they document serious reputational and customer-service problems associated with the brand. Professional Diversity Network began promoting the International Association of Women in late 2017 and early 2018. Public communications varied in how they described the relationship: one version presented IAW as an international initiative operating in connection with NAPW, while another described NAPW as having been rebranded as IAW. NAPW social accounts and other online properties were reportedly redirected or discontinued. The successor site, iawomen.com, therefore represents the continuing online presence of the business, while NAPW itself is generally treated as a discontinued name.

• 2018

  NAPW is rebranded as the International Association of Women

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Company-related communications and online-property changes indicate that NAPW's operations and membership proposition were moved under the IAW name.

• 2017

  IAW introduction is announced

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Professional Diversity Network announces the International Association of Women as a new international professional-networking initiative.

• 2016

  Founder leaves parent-company leadership

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Matthew Proman resigns as Professional Diversity Network's chief operating officer, director, and board member.

• 2014

  Merger with Professional Diversity Network closes

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  NAPW becomes part of Professional Diversity Network in a transaction completed on September 24.

• 2014

  NAPW Foundation is created

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Matthew Proman and Star Jones establish a philanthropic foundation connected with NAPW's women- and child-focused charitable initiatives.

• 2013

  NAPW.com receives Forbes recognition

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  NAPW.com is included in Forbes' Best 100 Websites for Women.

• 2011

  First documented annual national networking conference

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  NAPW begins the series of annual National Networking Conferences held in New York City.

• 2007

  NAPW is founded

  [1]National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Matthew Proman establishes the National Association of Professional Women as a professional networking and membership organization.

A broad, commercially operated professional network offering women business visibility, networking, recognition, and development opportunities. Its marketing combined membership services with conferences, local chapters, scholarships, and women-focused philanthropy.

• Professional membership · 2007

  NAPW Membership

  NAPW sold membership packages intended to provide access to a professional women's network, networking opportunities, recognition, and related benefits. The membership model was central to the organization but later became the subject of consumer complaints concerning pricing disclosures, telephone sales practices, cancellation, and refunds.

• Professional events · 2011

  National Networking Conferences

  Annual New York City conferences brought together NAPW members and high-profile speakers from business, media, government, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. The events emphasized career development, leadership, personal branding, and relationship building, and were held from 2011 through 2014.

• Scholarship program

  Rising Stars Education Scholarship Program

  A scholarship initiative for selected graduating high-school seniors and undergraduate students attending accredited colleges, universities, or certified trade schools in the United States. The program was also described as supporting daughters of NAPW members and was active through 2014.

• Philanthropic initiative · 2014

  NAPW Foundation

  The NAPW Foundation was created as the organization's nonprofit philanthropic endeavor, supporting causes related to women's health, economic opportunity, and child wellness. Its named partners included the American Heart Association, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Dress for Success, and Girls Inc.

• 2018

  Better Business Bureau complaints over membership sales

  The Better Business Bureau reported an F rating and numerous complaints alleging that NAPW advertising presented membership as free while sales representatives offered paid packages, sometimes involving annual fees of up to approximately $1,000. Complaints also described high-pressure sales tactics, inadequate written information, cancellation difficulties, and refund problems. These are reported consumer allegations and should not be treated as a blanket adjudication of every complaint.

  Source

Read more

• 2014NAPW Foundation philanthropic partnerships

  United States

  NAPW formalized charitable work through a foundation focused on women's issues, health, education, and child wellness.

  Outcome. The foundation's public activity later appeared to become inactive, with associated online properties no longer maintained by early 2018.

  Source
• 2013Spark. Ignite Your Network.

  United States

  The 2013 NAPW national conference used a career and networking theme and featured Martha Stewart, Arianna Huffington, and a panel of executives and professional-development specialists.

  Outcome. The event reportedly attracted more than 1,200 members, giving NAPW a prominent large-event platform.

  Source
• 2011Annual National Networking Conference

  United States

  NAPW used a recurring national conference in New York City to promote networking, career development, and access to prominent business and media speakers.

  Outcome. The conference series continued through 2014 and became one of the brand's principal visibility and engagement programs.

  Source

• 2017

  Introduce the International Association of Women brandStrategy

  Background

  The NAPW business was under pressure from declining operating performance and reputational problems, while its parent company sought an international growth opportunity and a refreshed brand.

  Action taken

  Professional Diversity Network announced the International Association of Women and began moving the online and membership presence toward the IAW identity.

  Aftermath

  By 2018, company-related communications described NAPW as rebranded as IAW, and NAPW social-media properties were reportedly closed or redirected.

  Source

• 2016

  Reduce the NAPW operating footprintStrategy

  Background

  Reference material describes continuing revenue declines after the 2014 merger and the closure of two of the three offices operated before the transaction.

  Action taken

  The parent company reduced the physical and operational scale of the NAPW network while attempting to preserve the business.

  Aftermath

  The operation continued to contract, with later executive turnover and a reduction in force reported in 2017.

  Source

• 2014

  Merge NAPW with Professional Diversity NetworkM&A

  Background

  NAPW had developed a sizable membership and event-oriented professional-networking operation, while Professional Diversity Network sought to expand its diversity and professional-community businesses.

  Action taken

  Professional Diversity Network announced the transaction in July 2014 and completed the merger on September 24, 2014.

  Aftermath

  NAPW became part of the publicly traded parent company's operating portfolio. Proman and Jones received senior roles, while the business later experienced declining revenue, office closures, executive departures, and staff reductions.

  NAPW revenue reported at the time of the merger. More than 19 million US dollars in revenue and positive cash flow were described in the merger announcement (2014)

  Source

1. 1National Association of Professional Womenen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Association of Womeniawomen.com