About

“How long have you been organizing?” is a question that I’m asked quite often. My career as an organizer began when I was younger without my realizing it. Even before the age of ten, I was routinely clearing out, sorting, rearranging, and organizing the hall closet, the kitchen drawers and cabinets, my siblings’ rooms, and the garage, as well as my own room. Because I was sentimental and saved everything, I was always making room for all my “stuff” and developing ways to effectively fit a variety of things into small spaces.

By the time I was in my early twenties, I’d already had over fifteen years of hands-on organizing experience. However, a life-changing event caused me to shift my organizing approach. After my grandmother died, my family and I discovered pictures and memorabilia that she’d kept in boxes in her attic. She had told us some stories about her life when we were growing up, but she never mentioned these items.

Discovering all of her memorabilia made me realize that all of the things I’d been saving and rearranging my whole life only have meaning to me. It made me ask myself, “Why am I saving it and for whom?” So not only did I begin to look differently at what I was keeping and what I brought into my home, but I also began to think about the purpose of it now and what, if any, it would have after I am gone.

Professionally, I earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Industrial & Labor Relations and my career progressed from child care worker and career counselor to case manager, program coordinator, and business manager. My organizing skills proved very useful in all of these positions, but I have found being a professional organizer the most enjoyable and rewarding professional endeavor. In keeping with my love of organizing and striving to provide the best possible service to my clients, I obtained my CPO^® certification in 2008 and graduated from the Coach Approach for Organizers TM Foundation Training Program in May of 2011.

As a Certified Professional Organizer^®, my goal is to provide you with the tools you need to reach your goals. In Its Place helps you navigate the process of:

• Assessing what you have
• Understanding how it got there
• Determining its relevance to your present life
• Deciding what place, if any, you want it to have in your life
• Finding an appropriate new “home” for things you decide to let go of
• Developing a system that incorporates the items you choose to keep in a way that supports how you live

I consider it a privilege when people allow me into their homes and offices, share their concerns and frustrations as well as their dreams, and describe the connection they have with the “stuff” in their lives. That is why I:

• Adhere to the Code of Ethics as put forth by the National Association of Professional Organizers and to the Code of Ethics as put forth by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers
• Maintain the confidentiality of every client
• Continually further my education in the organizing profession by attending national conferences, chapter meetings, and educational teleconferences, as well as ongoing reading and research.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• The Board of Certification for Professional Organizers^® (BCPO)
  • CPO^® obtained 2008
  • BCPO Program Development Committee member, 2012 – present
• National Association of Professional Organizers^® (NAPO)
  •  Member since 2003
  •  2007 NAPO Conference Committee Member
  •  2007 NAPO In the Schools Task Force
• NAPO – Pittsburgh Chapter
  •  Treasurer, 2013 – 2014
  •  Secretary, 2011 – 2012
  •  Immediate Past-President, 2010 – 2011
  •  President, 2009 – 2010
  •  Vice President, 2008 – 2009
  •  Treasurer, 2007 – 2008
  •  Secretary, 2005 – 2007
• Leadership Westmoreland Alumni

Service Area

In Its Place provides professional home organizing and office organizing services. Our service area includes but is not limited to the following southwestern PA counties: Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland.

In Its Place works in and around the Pittsburgh region, including the communities of: Allison Park, Apollo, Belle Vernon, Bloomfield, Butler, California, Carnegie, Churchill, Coraopolis, Delmont, Derry, Dormont, Edgewood, Export, Fox Chapel, Gibsonia, Greensburg, Hampton Township, Hempfield Township, Highland Park, Indiana, Irwin, Jeannette, Latrobe, Lawrenceville, Ligonier, Lower Burrell, Manor, McCandless, McKeesport, Monroeville, Mt. Lebanon, Mount Pleasant, Murrysville, New Kensington, New Stanton, North Hills, North Huntingdon, O’Hara Township, Penn Hills, Penn Township, Pittsburgh, Pleasant Hills, Plum, Point Breeze, Regent Square, Ross Township, Salem Township, Scottdale, Shadyside, Shaler, Somerset, Squirrel Hill, Swissvale, Trafford, Uniontown, Vandergrift, West Mifflin, White Oak, and Youngwood.
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