In a corporate relocation industry that often reduces life-changing moves to data points, NRI Relocation has spent the past 40 years doing something quietly radical: putting people first. From day one, the company has built its culture around trust, empathy, and genuine human connection.
Guided by its motto, “Taking Relocation Personally,” NRI Relocation applies that core value to every relationship, with clients, transferees, suppliers, and employees. That’s why, as the company celebrates its milestone anniversary, its legacy is a story of people and relationships nurtured over decades.
A Company Founded and Led By Core Values
When Herbert Seeger and Theodore Bell founded NRI Relocation in 1985, their vision was clear from the beginning: relocation should be about people, not just possessions. And it should be delivered with integrity, empathy, and a sense of family.
“They were very hands-on,” recalled Stacy Seeger, NRI’s longest-serving employee, who joined NRI in 1988, at just 21 years old. “Herb was always in the office, always accessible. That was Herb. Quirky, generous, and always present.”
“Herb and Ted built something rare,” said Mike O’Brien, an NRI Relocation board member who start working closely with the founders as their legal counsel in 1986. “They didn’t just start a company, they started a culture. You could feel their values in every interaction.”
When Susan Bender stepped into the CEO role after the founders retired, she didn’t try to reinvent the culture. She simply deepened it.
She took on her new role with a focus on service, not just for her clients, but for her employees. “I was a servant leader,” she explained. “If someone was overwhelmed, I’d ask, ‘What can I do?’ I still knew how to review appraisals, reconcile files, whatever was needed.”
“We never lost a client due to poor service,” she said proudly. “And our employee tenure was incredible.”
“Taking Relocation Personally” In Practice
NRI Relocation’s slogan, “moving talent forward by taking relocation personally,” means relocation isn’t a transaction; it’s a relationship. Behind every move is a family, a career, and a life in transition. Putting that element at the center of relocation management services is how the company succeeds.
“We don’t treat people like files,” says Paula Keats-Ward, VP of Client Success. “We treat them like individuals going through a stressful time.”
She saw that philosophy in action every day. “Our consultants don’t just send emails,” Paula says. “They call transferees, build relationships, talk to spouses. Sometimes they become the only friend someone has in a new city.”
When a local transferee didn’t have the equipment to mow their lawn, the relocation consultant’s husband stopped by to get the job done. “Whatever it takes,” Paula chuckles. “That’s our culture.”
“I’ve seen NRI go above and beyond in ways that aren’t in any contract,” Mike O’Brien shared. “They show up for people. That’s what makes them different.”
NRI’s clients share that ethos. “We work with companies who also take relocation personally,” Paula explains. “They want what’s best for their employees and families. They care deeply. And that alignment makes all the difference.”
Paula recalls a moment that exemplifies this shared compassion: “A client called us after an employee passed away. They said, ‘We want to help the spouse move back home. We know you’ll do it with care.’ And we did. It wasn’t a relocation, it was a human moment.”
Relationships Built on Trust
Relationships are based on trust. In an industry like relocation, with so many people involved and high stakes, trust is also the element that makes or breaks a relocation company.
“Trust is the currency of relocation,” Mike O’Brien emphasized. “And NRI has earned it over and over again.”
The trust starts with NRI Relocation’s team.“Susan never micromanaged,” says Paula Keats-Ward. “She trusted her team. She empowered us to make decisions, solve problems, and grow.”
It extends to relocation service partners, too. “We trust that our partners want to provide the best possible service,” Paula says. “And we understand that mistakes can happen. It’s about working together, not pointing fingers.”
Clients and transferees are trusted as well. “We empower transferees,” Susan says. “We don’t just assign vendors. We give them choices. We make them part of the process.”
Empowering People’s Voices
NRI Relocation has consciously created an environment where people feel safe to speak up, knowing they’ll be heard.
“When we built our technology system,” Paula says, “every person in the organization had a say.”
That openness creates a sense of ownership. “People feel empowered,” Stacy says. “They know they can make a difference.”
Service partners are part of that dialogue, too. “We work together to solve problems,” Paula says. “We want win-win scenarios for the partner, the client, and the transferee.”
Clients are listened to through feedback surveys, open conversations, and collaborative planning. “We ask what they need,” Paula says. “And we act on it.”
Even transferees are empowered to make decisions, ask questions, and shape their own experience. “It’s not relocation happening to them,” Susan says. “It’s relocation happening with them.”
“We value input,” Paula adds. “From everyone. It’s not just top-down, it’s side-to-side.”
A Culture That Starts With Family
Family is a throughline of NRI Relocation’s culture. The company is centered on serving transferees and their families, and multiple generations of Seeger family members, descended from founder Herbert Seeger, have worked for the business.
“We’re a family business,” Paula said. “Not just in ownership, but in spirit.”
“We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, bring in lunch, order breakfast when only a few people are in,” Stacy says. “It’s not just work. It’s community.”
“It feels like home,” Mike O’Brien said simply. “That’s what NRI is: a place where people belong.”
That sense of community also shows up in the way people rally around each other during the daily challenges of corporate relocation. Despite the relocation industry’s high stress and pressure, employee turnover at NRI Relocation is extremely low.
“People didn’t leave,” Paula says. “They retired.”
Stacy agrees. “Our tenure is insane,” she says. “We’ve had people here 25, 30 years. That speaks volumes.”
That longevity is the best testament to the culture. The resulting stability is also a reason the company has lasted for four decades. Generations of NRI Relocation employees were able to build expertise over decades and pass it down to the next generation.
“We’ve never lost that family feeling,” Stacy said. “Even as we’ve grown, we’ve stayed true to who we are.”
NRI Relocation’s People Carry On Its Legacy
So what defines an NRI employee, from 1985 to today?
“They’re problem solvers,” Paula says. “They’re empathetic. They’re team players. They want to do what’s right.”
“We’re not just employees,” says Stacy. “We’re stewards. We care about this company.”
From the founders to today’s team, the throughlines are clear: trust, care, community, and a deep respect for the human side of relocation. The values that Herb and Ted planted have grown with each new generation of NRI Relocation.
“I wanted a company that did good work,” reflects Susan as she thinks back on her time leading the company. “That treated people well. That made relocation a little less stressful.”
As the company looks ahead, it’s clear that the heart of NRI Relocation is in its people. When you take relocation personally, you build more than a business. You build a legacy.
“Legacy isn’t just about longevity,” Mike O’Brien concluded. “It’s about impact. And NRI has impacted lives, mine included.”
“We’re not just managing moves,” Keats-Ward says. We’re managing relationships. And that makes all the difference.”