Richard Progen 1926-2004

He started his printing career as a young boy helping out in a local print shop. He learned the business so well, and had such an eye for quality, that at age 16 he produced his own forged enlistment papers, which led the Navy to welcome him the very next day! He headed to the Pacific and fought in World War II. Years later he would be part of the team that set the foundation for today's Europe with his participation in the Berlin Airlift.

After serving our country he returned home to New York City and became a top end embossing operator, and then a shop foreman. His zest for knowledge sent him back to the classroom to earn a degree from New York University (NYU) in industrial engineering. And his eye for quality led him to work with people like Coco Chanel, to print perfume boxes for Elizabeth Arden, and to design invitations and stationary for several of the stars of Broadway. He often remarked that he was fortunate to work with top notch people who demanded excellence. His work is part of the Frick Collection at the Frick Museum in New York City.

His principles of top quality craftsmanship, timely manufacturing, customer service and affordability led him to found Michael's Invitations in 1980. Those principles were passed down to his children, Paul and Barbara, who joined him in the family business. The designers he had worked with helped him create a vision that merged creativity and printing. This vision was embraced by the Michael's team and has helped us grow for the past three decades. His insistence on the customer being satisfied has made Michael's Invitations the place customers come to and retailers count on.
His principles, vision and commitment to customer satisfaction are at the core of what we do each day.

Continuing the commitment

Barbara Scanzillo and Paul Progen, the second generation of Michael's Invitations, have built on the foundation created by their father, and expanded the business to meet the needs of today's discriminating customers. The Michael's team offers clean, classic, timeless looks as well as sophisticated, elegant and intricate designs. Simple or complex, our products still reflect Richard's principles: top quality craftsmanship, timely manufacturing, customer service and affordability. We pride ourselves on listening to you, and bringing your ideas to life by incorporating our vision of creativity in printing.

Your Michael's order is treated like what it is: individual. Our experienced team creates your special invitation whether we start from scratch or modify a design from one of our catalogs. The Michael's team is trained to look at every invitation in detail. We give your invitation the design, typesetting, printing and hand assembly scrutiny it deserves. Richard's insistence on the customer being satisfied has led Michael's Invitations to have a reputation for excellence.