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Progressive Endeavors Launches Internet Certification Program
Progressive Endeavors/Websuite has had plenty of problems getting its new Internet certification program going, but a few were cleared up last week. Among the hurdles, Progressive had to fulfill its contract to service the stranded NAR ePRO customers and wait for its noncompete agreement with the NAR to expire June 22nd, before launching sales of its new Internet certification program for Realtors. Wait a minute. Wasn"t it the NAR that was certifying Realtors with its ePRO program? Yes, but thanks to unfavorable contracts between the NAR and original technology service provider Websuite, the NAR didn"t own the rights to the e-PRO educational content. That put the NAR back to starting from scratch. The only thing it walked away with was the ePRO name, which it plans to resurrect with the help of a new technology vendor and ePRO content architect Michael Russer. Meanwhile Progressive Endeavors, the court-appointed vendor charged with getting Websuite to profitability as quickly as possible, is trying to resurrect the revenue source that enabled Websuite to get its investors in the first place - the online educational program for Realtors that certifies them in Internet competency. But it will have to do so without the NAR"s blessing. The NAR is a direct competitor now, unless the NAR allows Progressive into the ePRO vendor hunt. So far, that invitation hasn"t come. While a stung NAR reviews new service providers, Progressive Endeavors/Websuite says it regrets not getting a call from the NAr, but that is not stopping the company from moving forward. In fact, it has devised a clever way to promote the Internet certification/educational program - cobrand the program with Realtor associations, NAR subsidiaries, franchises, independents and others that may want credit for Internet-savvy associates. Customers are already in the que, including the Washington Association of Realtors, says Progressive"s CEO Bob Hayes. "The ePRO program has been deleted from our database, and we are going to launch the WAR program today," he says. "We have inquiries from seven other state associations to follow the model that WAR is using," But at the last minute, there was another problem to overcome. Seems that Progressive, operating on Websuite"s behalf, didn"t have the right to use Russer"s educational, a key component to the curriculum. Complaining about the unauthorized use of content put Russer in an uncomfortable position to say the least. As one of Websuite"s largest creditors, it is in his interest to see Websuite turn around and become successful so that it can pull out of debt and pay its creditors. However, Russer feels he owes greater allegiance to the NAR. When Russer pointed out to the court-appointed trustee in charge of getting Websuite out of bankruptcy, that they couldn"t use his content, hostilities nearly broke out. Explains Hayes, "It came to our attention that there was a licensing contract agreement that became changed because of the way NAR was working with Websuite. We realized that Michael Russer had some valid claim to some content in the old course." To avoid lengthy and expensive law suits, Progressive and Russer negotiated. To their mutual credit, an agreement was reached that was satisfactory to all sides. While Progressive considers Russer"s agreement to relicense a coup, it will have to be happy with that, because it is not going to get a ringing endorsement, too. Russer"s relationship with the NAR simply wouldn"t allow it. In response to queries by Agent News, Russer issued the following statement: On June 21, 2001 I signed a license agreement with the Bankruptcy Trustee of the Websuite.com, Inc. Estate and Progressive Endeavors, giving them the right to use and market online course materials that are based upon the original NAR ePRO program, which they acknowledge are derivative works of my previously copyrighted works. This agreement was entered into to avoid a lengthy and costly litigation over their rights to continue using and marketing this course material. In no other way am I connected with these parties or their online educational products. As per this agreement I am not obligated in any way to promote or recommend their products or assist in their future development. However, I am free to create or help others, including NAR, create competing online educational products. My original vision has always been, and continues to be, to assist NAR in creating the industry"s first sanctioned Internet Professional Certification/Designation Program. As architect of the original ePRO program, I stand ready to assist NAR once again in the development of the next version of ePRO. Even without Russer"s endorsement, Progressive Endeavors/Websuite stands to win a second coup. The company hopes that the job they did for the stranded Realtors will encourage the strategic alliances committee to reconsider their experience and the fact that they have an ePRO-ready platform primed to go. In that case, they could be allowed in the hunt and be ready to relaunch ePRO as soon as they are given the nod. But they may be just as well off if they aren"t chosen by the NAR. Progressive Endeavors/Websuite now has a significant head start, as it may take months for the NAR to choose a vendor, approve a new platform and relaunch ePRO. And by then, the NAR may be in competition with some of its own subsidiaries to certify Internet-ready members.ecommerce website development commented:
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09.04.2012