In July 1942, thirty-five interested suggestion administrators met at the United Airlines Offices in Chicago, IL and agreed to establish what was to become the National Association of Suggestion Systems (NASS). The purpose of this Association was to improve employer-employee relations, to stimulate constructive thinking on the part of both, and in general to enhance a sympathetic understanding of mutual problems toward making this a better working world in which to live.

Through years of internal and external challenges, including downturns in the economy the Association still continues to provide a valuable service to its membership both in North America, UK, Dubai and Germany. In order to better define the future of the Association the name was changed from the Employee Involvement Association to Ideas America in October, 2010. NASS was dedicated to spreading information on how to make employee suggestion systems work successfully and 75 years later the legacy continues. Employee involvement is the keystone of organizational development, nurturing the engagement and empowerment of people. IdeasAmerica is committed to increasing organizational effectiveness through the imagination of employees. Our members work in a broad range of companies who understand that their employees have the skills and ideas to help make their companies more productive and profitable. IdeasAmerica's annual Awards Program specifically recognizes the creativity of employees and offers awards that honor outstanding Ideas of the Year as well as recognizing the role leadership plays in promoting employee involvement.