Cleveland: NAPO-North Coast Ohio has held its first elections and is proud to announce its new board members, who will take office on May 15, 2008.

Newly elected officers and their positions are as follows: JoEllen Salkin of Solon, President; Christy Talese of Wooster, Vice-President; Patty Clair of Shaker Heights, Secretary; Muffy Kaesberg of Cleveland Heights, Treasurer; Jamie Escola of Canton, Director-at-Large; Nancy McGarity of Canal Fulton, Marketing Director; Bonnie Krueger of West Salem, Membership Director; and Donna Beheydt of Wadsworth, Communications and Technology Director.

Celebrating its first anniversary, NAPO-North Coast Ohio has a membership of 19 professional organizers serving all of northern and northeast Ohio.

Organizers work with both residential and business clients, helping to reduce stress through organizing and streamlining systems and spaces. Many organizers also give classes and presentations on topics of organizing.

To find an organizer near you, attend a chapter meeting, or learn more about the field of professional organizing, go to www.naponorthcoastoh.com.

Peter Walsh delivering the opening address.

Nancy joined twelve other organizers from Ohio at the annual NAPO Conference in Reno. Organizers from all over the world came for this 4-day event of training, networking, seeing new products, and other such enriching activities for the industry.

NAPO President Standolyn Robertson and Nancy

Among the speakers for this year's conference were: Peter Walsh, author of It's All Too Much and organizing specialist appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show; Vicki Norris, author of Restoring Order to Your Home and frequent organizer on HGTV's Mission Organization; Dorothy Breininger, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul's Life Lessons for Busy Moms and the Organizing and Life Coach Expert on the Dr. Phil Show; Helen Buttigieg, Professional Organizer and Life Coach and Host of the organizing show Neat; Barbara Hemphill author and creator of Taming The Paper Tiger book and filing system; Barry Izaak, author of Organize Your Garage in No Time and Past President of NAPO; and Karen McCullough, an award-winning speaker and branding expert.

ABOVE: Nancy with Dorothy Breininger

ABOVE: Nancy with Helen Buttigieg

Nancy belongs to two NAPO chapters here in Ohio: NAPO-Ohio, which meets in Columbus, and NAPO-North Coast Ohio which meets in Cleveland. Below are pictures of Nancy and some of her chapter-mates that attended conference with her.

ABOVE: some of the NAPO-Ohio members in Reno

ABOVE: some of the NAPO-North Coast Ohio members in Reno with NAPO President Standolyn Robertson

Nancy had the pleasure of attending an informal evening of cocktails and conversation with Barry Izsak and her local chapter of NAPO Organizers in Cleveland on May 9. At that time, Barry was in the last weeks of his NAPO Presidency.

NAPO is the National Association of Professional Organizers. Barry Izsak has been its president for the past 4 years. It has been under his leadership that the following has been accomplished for the field of Organizing:

           -- NAPO membership has grown from 1800 members to nearly 4,000
           -- Golden Circle membership (those who have been members longer than 5 years
               and have met other criteria) has grown from 270 to 486
           -- NAPO Conference attendance has grown from 430 attendees to over 860
               attendees
           -- NAPO's annual operating budget has tripled
           -- NAPO's reserves have doubled
           -- NAPO has begun educational training for its members, launched the first
               Certification program ever for Professional Organizers, and has started
               programs to educate children and eventually reach the college level
           -- NAPO has accomplished this without raising its dues in the last 4 years!

Barry's visit to Cleveland was two-fold: he came to officially recognize our local group as the 28th NAPO chapter to be formed. Our chapter, the NAPO North Coast Ohio chapter, meets in Brook Park. Cindy Gunderson of Port Clinton is our President.

Secondly, Barry addressed highlights of this year's NAPO Conference, which was held in Minneapolis this past April, and also share exciting news as to NAPO's future.

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the '08 NAPO Conference and was impressed by the level of professionalism and knowledge of my fellow Organizers. Their commitment and enthusiasm for their work was exciting to be around.

The NAPO Annual Conference provides its members with educational training, a look at the latest resources and products available from participating manufacturers, networking opportunities to grow our businesses, and three outstanding well-known speakers. We had the priviledge to sit under Jack Canfield, Sam Geist, and Mark LeBlanc.

It is through the hard work and dedication of leaders such as Barry that the field of Professional Organizing is becoming a trusted and viable solution to so many individuals, families, and companies today who need answers to their organizing needs. Our field is becoming increasingly recognized as professional, educated, serious, competent, and needed. We have Barry and so many others like him who have gone before him and have worked alongside him to thank.

Our new NAPO President is Standolyn Robertson. You can learn more about her here. I am very proud to be part of a strong and dynamic organization. To learn more about NAPO go to napo.net.

         

         


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Contact Real Solutions For Living:
Nancy McGarity      330-309-5280      nancy@realsolutionsforliving.com