Dear PEP Volunteers & CCI Supporters,

As many of you have heard by now, the CCI Board of Directors and I made the difficult decision on January 23 to gradually phase out PEP by the end of November 2007. Given your enduring support and tireless participation over the years, I wanted to personally provide further explaination about this decision.

Until mid-January, we optimistically believed CCI could keep PEP moving toward sustainability. However, this task admittedly had become considerably more challenging due to reductions in staff, space and operation funds following termination of our U.S. State Department grant in April 2004. In 2006, Russian owners of small businesses began to reach a maximum they could pay for PEP trainings, and it wasn't sufficient to meet program costs. To offset the revenue shortfall, we began experimenting with delegations for advanced management training, hoping these innovations would make up the difference in the future. However, these innovations were cut short in January with the announcement that several of PEP's management team would be leaving CCI for a variety of unexpected personal reasons. With this untimely cluster of circumstances, our plans for PEP had to be re-evaluated. Hence, the CCI Board and I began work on a strategic plan to begin phasing out the program.

Eventually and perhaps naively, I finally fell back on the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season." I don't know that this is the answer regarding PEP, but surely this is a truism in life. Nothing is forever. Interpreting events in this light, perhaps these past 11 extraordinary years have been PEP's "Season". And all who have been drawn into this remarkably heartful and enriching training program have served in ways larger than we will ever know. Of this I am absolutely certain. It may be that the PEP door is closing, but I know that other doors will open.

We will maintain the coordination staff and Russian support staff needed to manage all of our scheduled PEP delegations this year. We will bring approximately 350 more Russian participants to the U.S. before the end of November.

Fellow PEP enthusiasts and friends, I hope that you feel as deeply satisfied and proud of what we have accomplished to date as I do. In 1996, PEP arose out of the vapors of the historic Marshall Plan's training program, and took on a life of its own. Throughout these years, we transferred world-class management skills, hope, and confidence to over 5,500 Russian entrepreneurs from across Russia. American "know-how" and your generous spirits have been implanted in the minds and hearts of thousands of these young courageous entrepreneurs - and in tens of thousands of their workers and colleagues with whom they have shared their American experiences. In the future, perhaps even millions will profit (in some tangible way) from the unending ripple effects set in motion across Russia as a result of your direct work with PEP. We have made a huge difference in both individual lives and in the environment witin which our two countries will work out future relations.

Now, alongside many of you, we will get busy putting together PEP's last 35 delegations - with a sense of pride in PEP's ongoing and near-magical legacy. Heaps of gratitude to all of you who have participated with us in PEP's noble mission!

With thanks and admiration,

Sharon Tennison
President