ProAct staff joined Board Member Brian Knapp to present an Award of Appreciation plaque to Koozie Group and its employees in Red Wing, thanking them for the continued collaboration and employment opportunities they have provided to people served by the nonprofit.

Work crews at the business have been supported by ProAct since 2009 and, more recently, the organization helped with direct hires, explains ProAct Senior Program Manager Pam Veith. “This work has provided valuable training for participants to gain work skills.”

Case Coordinator Lynn Sutherland worked with staff at Koozie Group to further expand employment opportunities for participants.

Koozie’s commitment to ProAct has been consistent through several company name changes, contracting for the group enclave or work crew and for packaging work at ProAct’s Red Wing site. Earlier, it was called Norwood Promotional Products.

More recently, Koozie hired some limited part-time positions, with two being filled by ProAct participants who had served on the crew. “They are now official employees of Koozie Group and are paid directly by them,” said Veith.

Koozie Group employees joined the presentation from ProAct. Several said the ProAct crew and direct hires are very valuable, Veith explained.

“They have been very impressed with the commitment from ProAct participants, their reliability, and willingness to try a variety of jobs,” she said.