The Beginning

Fifteen years ago, our founder and visionary embarked on a journey to build something big, even if he wasn’t exactly sure where it was going at the time. Sitting in a local bagel shop in 2009, Andrew Pass received an unexpected email that would change his future. That email was a contract offer from Pearson Learning Solutions. This opportunity – instructional design for Microsoft Office courses – was the humble beginning of A Pass Educational Group, LLC. Though the company’s origins are modest with that single contract, Andrew was sure from early on that his venture had the potential to grow.

In early 2010, Andrew had established relationships with other organizations, adding on to his original instructional design projects with content creation services. The expansion of projects meant that he couldn’t handle the work alone, so he began recruiting contractors to assist him. These first contractor hires set the precedent for A Pass’s fully virtual workplace, which remains today.

The Early Years

The company’s first big milestone came in 2011, when A Pass Educational Group generated over half a million dollars in sales. Andrew recognized the need for more structure, so he hired his first full-time project managers and operational staff, setting the foundation for a robust internal team.

Throughout the early years of the company, A Pass continued to secure additional projects from large clients, including Pearson. The company’s reputation for quality and reliability spread, and that led to new opportunities. Andrew and his team realized that diversifying client relationships was critical for long-term sustainability. He committed himself to ensuring that the company would never depend too heavily on any particular client.

Continued Growth

By 2012, A Pass grew to a team of four full-time staff members and had cultivated a contractor pool of more than 100 experienced freelancers. Steady growth followed because of the company’s high-quality work, timeliness, and proven processes. Over the next several years, A Pass expanded its services and grew its client base, particularly in content development for educational publishers and providers.

Andrew and his team won the Southeast Michigan Region Best Small Business award in 2013. Then in 2014, A Pass Educational Group received the honor of receiving the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award. This honor recognized the company’s innovation and creativity as well as its contribution to the Michigan economy. These awards, along with their proven process and the development of their own internal project management best practices, helped establish A Pass Educational Group as a leader in the field.

While on a cruise with his partner Debbie in 2017, Andrew read Traction (Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman. This book got him interested in EOS®, the entrepreneurial operating system for businesses, and its tools and principles. He felt that A Pass Educational Group could use the system to help achieve its vision. When he returned from the cruise, he continued researching and worked to implement it in the company. To this day, A Pass Educational Group uses EOS® to empower its staff and stay focused on goals.

In 2020, A Pass acquired Victory Productions. This strategic move allowed A Pass to expand its portfolio of services to include educational language translation, particularly in Spanish, and additional production offerings. The acquisition marked a new chapter for the company, positioning it as a leader in both K-12 and higher education content solutions.

The Present

Today, A Pass Educational Group boasts a network of more than 2,200 industry-leading contractors. Despite its growth, the company has remained true to its roots – delivering high-quality work and building strong relationships with its clients. The leadership team, including key figures who have been with the company for several years, continues to drive innovation and excellence.

As A Pass celebrates its 15 year anniversary, employees reflect on some of their favorite times working with the company.

A notable moment that I had back in 2015, a year after I began contract work with A Pass, was the first time I saw a writer get recognized for contractor of the month. It was pretty cool to see that a company with so many projects and contractors in leadership roles (project managers, developmental editors, etc.) took the time out to recognize and show their appreciation for a single writer.
Bernika Arthur, Project Director

The most notable experience that came to mind for me was our 10-year anniversary trip to Florida. It was so wonderful to get the team together in person. We all created school supply packages for underprivileged children as a great team-building experience.
Sara Schooley, Vice President of Finance and Administration

Andrew Pass still emphasizes the importance of building strong, lasting relationships and staying adaptable to an ever-changing industry. The company strives to stay up to date on new technology – including AI-generated assets as a support tool – to enable its consultative approach to client collaborations. The company’s processes and quality review standards support its core values and help keep the virtual workgroups in sync throughout the life cycle of each project. As A Pass looks to the future, it remains committed to working directly with schools, publishers, and more, helping them navigate the complexities of virtual learning and content development.

From Andrew’s first contract with Pearson to becoming a growing industry leader, A Pass Educational Group’s journey has been one of growth, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Here’s to the next 15 years!