The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) mission is to facilitate the creation of a critical mass of successful production sites across Russia to increase the availability of affordable domestic products and services to Russian families. The mission includes empowering Russian citizens to transform their personal well being, their businesses and their local economies. Further, the mission includes inspiring American citizens to volunteer their business expertise, homes and energy to deliver personalized foreign assistance in their own businesses and communities.

PEP is based on a profound faith in the extraordinary capability of ordinary citizens and the transforming power of newly-communicated ideas. We hold the conviction that sharing technical expertise, business management and culture from personal,altruistic motives has far greater impact than delivering technical assistance for financial gain.

We, the PEP staff, dedicate ourselves to remember daily the spirit of our mission and the long-term impact our efforts will have in the businesses and personal lives of the Russians and Americans with whom we will work.

The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) is a variation of the historic Marshall Plan Technical Assistance Program which was carried out in US businesses and plants in the post-WWII period. This aspect of the Marshall Plan brought 25,000 non-English speaking foreign production managers to study at American firms and manufacturing sites during an eight-year period beginning in 1946. Although the US training aspect accounted for only 1.5% of the Marshall Plan's budget, it has been hailed as the most effective part of the entire postwar effort.

PEP's goal for Russia in the next decade is the same as the Marshall Plan's goal for Europe in the 1940's and 50's: to stimulate local manufacturing, production and services in order to ensure economic and political stability in a country vital to America's future trade relations and strategic welfare.

PEP is primarily a training program for Russian entrepreneurs. In addition to business knowledge, PEP participants gain an understanding of democracy and community service. PEP facilitates cultural exchange and friendships between Americans and Russians, and motivates Russian business people to persevere through economic crises.

A PEP participant must be an owner, manager, or top decision maker in a private, wholly Russian-owned small or medium sized business. The company must provide products or services primarily for the Russian market. Participants must undergo an intensive pre-travel training and orientation emphasizing the intensity and seriousness of the program. They are also required to document their US training experience and offer presentations to colleagues upon returning to Russia.

• Production

  • Food: crop farming, dairy production, bakeries, meat processors, fisheries, food storage, wholesale food, food processing and packaging
  • Other consumer goods or light industry products: furniture, water bottling, clothing, building materials, paints and varnish, wood processing
• Infrastructure

  • Building and services: large construction, renovation, subcontractors, interior design, architecture
  • Communications: telecommunications, radio and TV, newspapers, graphic design, advertising, book publishing
  • Transportation: road construction, trucking and shipping
• Service

  • Financial: auditing, accounting, banking, investment banking, financial managers
  • Health: private medical clinics, dental clinics, chiropractors, drug stores/pharmacies.
  • Other: legal services, real estate, auto repair, insurance, leasing, computer services, personnel recruitment, marketing directors, hotel/hospitality, tourist/travel agencies, private schools, restaurants, supermarkets, retail owners/managers