Cultivating
Civility, Fellowship & Trust
in a Changing World

Elevating Human Relationships to Realize Our Full Potential

Civil Society is a leading workplace consultancy and a premier partner of the Emily Post Institute. Founded by Mary Alice Proffitt, Civil Society is an authority on modern etiquette and social intelligence that envisions a future where we grow together into a better society.

We empower leaders and organizations with the modern etiquette and interpersonal skills necessary to cultivate a workplace culture of civility, fellowship and trust. Improved organizational culture attracts and retains enthusiastic and productive employees, optimizes operations, promotes strong collaboration, stimulates innovation.

Let’s Get to Work

Offering businesses, institutions and organizations a range of fun, experiential and effective trainings designed to empower individuals and teams to create a more civil, collaborative and productive workplace. 

  • We offer tools for getting really good at conflict, for the integrated daily practice of real dialogue, and analog teaching experiences designed to move business forward and make for a happier workplace.

  • In-person, interactive trainings are customized to meet each client’s unique needs and include a blend of the Emily Post Institute’s time-tested curriculum, real-world problem solving case studies in small groups, and engaging activities.

  • Select clients enjoy personalized training sessions that help refine their poise, professional presence, enhanced communication skills, and that build confidence in navigating complex social situations, building the leadership skills alongside a trusted partner who believes in them.

  • From a customized weekend or weeklong retreat to a beautifully-designed salon or party, we pull in partners and collaborators to deliver the Civil Society framework as an experience that enhances your group’s ethical skillset and modern etiquette toolbox in a bespoke experience suited to your needs. The art of hospitality is at the heart of everything we do.

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.  If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use." 

– EMILY POST

Modern Etiquette at Work

Modern etiquette is cultivating authentic regard for yourself and others while fostering a higher standard of personal responsibility that transcends judgment and shame. This is the ethos we teach and promote in our trainings.

As a premier partner of the Emily Post Institute, Civil Society goes beyond traditional etiquette training to encompass a high level of conflict skills, emotional intelligence, and effective communication strategies. Our approach draws on a legacy of expertise to provide a practical, applicable framework for building strong relationships, navigating difficult conversations, and creating more harmonious professional environments.

Civility can be taught and it can be fun! The ethical toolkit we teach is learned over food and beverage in a setting that promotes fellowship. We believe that over time, through fun, fellowship and lots of practice together, trust is earned. This trust becomes the inroad for taking our relationships and work to a higher level built on common ground and shared purpose.

“Having watched Mary Alice Proffitt in action, I am beyond excited to endorse her new business venture. Mary Alice is the right person at the right time to offer corporations, organizations, and individuals the “modern etiquette toolkit” so desperately needed at this moment in history. Mary Alice has the social grace of a career diplomat. She has a keen intellect, a deep curiosity about her fellow humans, and the ability to bring people together in the most delightful way. She has  navigated her way through myriad social, educational, and organizational cultures with humor, aplomb and the desire to help people find common ground and treat each other with respect.  I endorse her new venture wholeheartedly, and I think anyone who is fortunate enough to work with her will learn from her and will benefit exponentially.”

– LAUREN GEIGER
Senior Counsel, Demont Associates

“Having developed a comfort level dealing with conflict over 30-plus years of mediating in many areas, I immediately recognized Mary Alice's potential for being a good mediator and I strongly encouraged her to enter into this field of work. Having had the pleasure of working with Mary Alice, I have witnessed firsthand her ability to combine compassion and pragmatism which then provides her clients permission to move forward with a sense of confidence and comfort. These are the skills the world needs right now.”

– NEIL RODAR
State and Main Mediation

“Mary Alice has been instrumental in honing my coaching practice, keenly informing how to master the art of real dialogue and the gift that conflict presents in getting organizations to live their values. I don’t believe I would have otherwise viewed conflict with such a wide and optimistic lens and lean into those uncomfortable conversations to move strategy forward, recommend organizational restructures, or create a new way to develop business. While modern etiquette is one of her core offerings, I believe her secret sauce is making people who appear to be in opposing camps into collaborators problem-solvers, and often friends. She is a gem. I highly recommend her if you need to energize a workforce, inspire teams, and increase productivity and new thinking”

– RUTH GAVIRIA
Founder, Quantum Brand Partners
Fractional CMO, Board Advisor