Month: January 2009

  • Celebrity Presenters Announced for Organizing Awards This Friday

    2009 Awards Logo

    Celebrity Presenters Join The Fourth Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards And Celebrate a Productive, Organized Nation

    Award Presenters from “Real Simple. Real Life.,” “Extreme Makeover,” “MISSION: Organization,” “Dr. Phil,” and “Clean House” join celebrity host and comedian Hal Sparks “Talk Soup,” and “Queer as Folk,” onstage at the 2009 Los Angeles Organizing Awards, Friday January 30th in Bel Air, California.

    – Public is Invited to Gala Event –

    Julie Morgenstern Sherri Shepherd Los Angeles, CA (January 26, 2009) – The entertainment industry is not the only group walking down the red carpet and celebrating their own this Hollywood Awards’ season.  This Friday, professional organizers along with celebrity presenters will convene in Los Angeles to celebrate the “organizing of America” at the Los Angeles Organizing Awards.

    The Fourth Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards announces the list of celebrity presenters for the January 30th gala, to be held at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Bel Air, California.  Scheduled to appear include actor Christopher Knight, “The Brady Bunch,” VH1’s “My Fair Brady”; Sam Saboura, “Extreme Makeover”; Gia Russo and Jodie Watson, “Real Simple. Real Life.”; Dorothy Breininger, “Dr. Phil”; Linda Koopersmith, “Clean House”; Monica Ricci, “MISSION: Organization,” among others.

    Breininger Koopersmith Red Carpet Stand-up comedian Hal Sparks, former host of “Talk Soup” on E! Entertainment Television and star of the acclaimed Showtime series “Queer As Folk,” will host the event.  Sparks has used the services of a professional organizer and will share his experiences in his humorous way.  The event is produced and presented by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers and Office Depot.

    The Organizing Awards honor the best in the organizing industry, including professional organizers who set the standard for home and business productivity, and the products and services that help consumers and businesses organize everything from information to time management and control habits that lead to clutter and chaos. The public is invited to attend.  Individual tickets to the Awards are available to the general public and can be purchased online at https://www.organizingawards.com.

    Joyce Dorny Peter Walsh Red Carpet More than 1,500 people across the United States voted in 20 categories over a three month period October 31 through December 31, 2008.  The top three finalists are invited to attend the ceremony with recipients announced onstage by “celebrity” presenters.  The red carpet gala event is a celebration and the culmination of national “Get Organized Month,” which is every January.  A list of finalists and web links are available online at https://www.organizingawards.com.

    Celebrity Presenters:

    • Christopher Knight:  Actor, "The Brady Bunch," VH1’s "The Surreal Life,” and “My Fair Brady”; host of "Trivial Pursuit:  America Plays"; green advocate and business owner
    • Sam Saboura:  Celebrity Fashion Stylist on TLC’s “Real Simple. Real Life.,” “The Fashion Police on E!”, and “ABC’s Extreme Makeover”; Contributing Fashion Editor  “LA Confidential Magazine”
    • Gia Russo:  Design Expert on TLC’s, “Real Simple. Real Life.”; author, former editor and designer, “Martha Stewart Living”
    • Dorothy Breininger:  Organizing Expert and Life Coach on "Dr. Phil Show” ; author "Chicken Soup for the Soul"
    • Linda Koopersmith:  Organizing expert and co-host of Style Network’s “Clean House”; author of “The Beverly Hills Organizer's Home Organizing Bible”
    • Monica Ricci:  Professional organizer on HGTV’s “MISSION: Organization”; organization expert for Office Depot; consultant for Beazer Homes; author of “Organize Your Office In No Time”
    • Jodie Watson:  Organization expert on TLC’s “Real Simple. Real Life.”; Vice-President, NAPO Los Angeles

    Other Award Presenters:

    • John Trosko:  President, NAPO Los Angeles; contributing author “The Experts Guide To Doing Things Faster”
    • Chris McKenry and Robin Davi:  Past Presidents, NAPO Los Angeles
    • Standolyn Robertson:  President, National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)
    • Beverly Clower and Ann Gambrell:  Co-Founders, NAPO
    • Kit Anderson:  President, National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD)
    • Dhawn Hansen:  President, NAPO San Diego; co-author “Organize Your Office and Manage
    • Your Time”
    • Joshua Zerkel:  President, NAPO San Francisco Bay Area
    • Kelli Wilson:  President, NAPO Sacramento
    • Debbie Gilster:  Former Vice President, NAPO National; small business reengineering expert
    • David Bertnick:  President, The International Association for Private Service Professionals (IAPSP)

    NAPOLA-F180 In addition, this year's "Special Recognition Award" will be presented by Office Depot and given to Stephen R. Covey- best-selling author, business leader and personal productivity pioneer.  Covey has recorded a special taped message for the Awards.

    A portion of proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit NAPO-in-the-Schools, a national community outreach program that brings basic organizing principals to students in all grade levels. The event is produced by NAPO-LA with production support by the Dave Linden Group, Inc. Office Depot is Presenting Sponsor. Additional sponsorship support has been provided by Green Plug. Event video produced by Corp Shorts and hosted by KNBC/KCAL news reporter and anchor, Angie Crouch.

    Individual tickets to the Awards are available to the general public and can be purchased online at https://www.organizingawards.com.

    About Office Depot, Presenting Sponsor:

    Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,705 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.9 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $15.1 billion, and employs about 49,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 48 countries.

    Office Depot's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: https://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

    About NAPO-Los Angeles:

    NAPO Los Angeles is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to developing, leading and promoting professional organizers and the benefits of better home and business organization.  The founding chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, "The Organizing Authority®," NAPO-LA provides members with a forum for networking, professional development and raising public awareness since 1985. The chapter produces the Los Angeles Organizing Expo as well as the Los Angeles Organizing Awards and is the recipient of the 2008 NAPO National President's Award for innovative contributions to the organizing industry.  For details visit https://www.napola.org or https://www.organizingawards.com

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  • Video Interview with Dorothy Breininger

    We shot some video at the 2008 Los Angeles Organizing Expo last September and we're not just getting to posting some of them.  How other organizing bloggers get their video and pictures up so soon we'll never know.

    We interviewed Dorothy Breininger, professional organizer and principle of the Delphi Center for Organization, a Southern California-based organizing and consulting firm and overall organizing industry expert. Dorothy brought the Delphi VIM to the Organizing Expo to showcase their comprehensive online system to store and access your vital information, documents and records. The system is perfect for busy people, folks who travel, elderly parents with caregivers, and children.

    If you're reading this post on RSS or Feedblitz, click here to see the video on our blog, or click here to see it on YouTube.

    We know Dorothy checks into our blog every once in a while.  Check out the video and leave some feedback for Dorothy and the folks over at Delphi VIM.

    Dorothy will also be presenting at the 4th Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards next Friday, January 30.

    Delphi Center for Organization

    Delphi VIM (Vital Information Manager)

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  • In the Land of the Happy Labelmakers

    LA Weekly logo

    Are Professional Organizers happy people?

    It's a good question, but you should judge that for yourself by reading this article.  This past week, a few Los Angeles-area organizing colleagues (including John Trosko) were featured in the LA Weekly, a widely read alternative weekly newspaper in Los Angeles.

    Chris McKenry Los Angeles Professional Organizer Weekly staff writer Gendy Alimurung presents In the Land of the Happy Labelmakers: True-Life Tales of Professional Organizers for your reading pleasure. The full-page article hints that as business owners, we're more than just heart, we're full of humor and a passion for zen.

    Our colleagues Chris McKenry (pictured right, of Get Together LA!), Erin Haas, Susan Eleftherakis (Spacial Clarity), along with M by Staples, Pendaflex, Brother P-Touch and The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization were include in the profile.

    "[John] Trosko got flak from friends for compulsively making a last-minute list of things he had to bring tonight [to the meeting], which included masking tape, a NAPO banner, double-stick tape (for the banner), eyeglass cleaner, wristwatch, scissors. Lists, he believes, are excellent for “mind dumps,” defined as “putting everything down on paper so you free your mind of the mundane tasks and reminders, and encourage your head for creative freedom.”

    Gendy also mentioned John's February accident which Chris promptly turned into a joke:

    "Gazing with pleasure at the pantry, where the client’s “mung whole polished” beans are in a separate labeled container from her “arborio rice” and “dried cranberries,” [Chris] McKenry recites the organizers’ mantra: “We sort. We purge. We contain. Then maintain.” [Chris] gets that distant, meditative expression that comes with finding everything in its place, a place for everything. “John [Trosko] broke his foot and I took him to the hospital and we were joking that instead of signing his cast, we’d use a label maker and label it,” he says of current NAPO president Trosko. “Let me tell you. He was in pain, but he half wanted to do it.”

    The LA Weekly is owned by Village Voice Media, the parent company of other major weeklies around the United States such as the New York City's Village Voice, San Francisco's SF Weekly, and the OC Weekly of Orange County, California. LA Weekly has won more awards from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies than any other paper in the country, and in 2007 was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for criticism by food writer Jonathan Gold.

    Read the article online:

    LA Weekly: In The Land of the Happy Label Makers

    Links:

    What is the LA Weekly?

    Related Posts:

    4th Annual Los Angeles Organizing Expo Wrap-up

    Announcing the 2008 Los Angeles Organizing Expo

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  • Los Angeles Interior Designer Appointed as White House Decorator

    Our friends back east keep talking about the very organized flurry of activity surrounding the Presidential Inauguration.

    Scott Roewer, our Washington, DC-based professional organizing colleague says he been impressed with the parade of improvements being made all over the city and how proud he is to experience the big day with people from all over the world.  Scott also mentioned to us today the sight of over 5,000 portable toilets organized along Constitution Avenue as quite a stunner, all lined up in perfect rows awaiting the millions of people expected.

    Michael S Smith Interior DesignerAmerica is excited about the Inauguration of a new President, but the design community is super happy about the announcement that a new re-decorator has been chosen to oversee any future improvements that Michelle and Barack Obama wish to make during their 4-year stay.

    Michael S. Smith of Michael S. Smith, Inc. has been appointed as the official White House Interior Designer.  Smith, with homebase offices in Santa Monica (Los Angeles) is considered one of the leading interior designers in the United States and internationally. His signature style has been characterized as a "delicate blend of European tradition and American modernism" and an impressive client list includes Steven Spielberg, Rob Reiner, Brian Brazer, Cindy Crawford and Michelle Pheiffer.

    Elements of Style Michael S Smith In addition to hands-on projects, Smith proudly counts two successful best-selling books to his credit, Elements of Style (2007) and Houses (2008), both published by Rizzoli.

    While Mr. Smith may seem like a look-don't-touch designer, publications like Domino Magazine have noted Target and Urban Outfitters as major department stores his sensibilities reach towards making his style very "democratic."

    So now that the Obama's interior designer has been hired, can we next talk about how both professional organizers and interior designers can collaborate to make the White House not only pretty, but functional, too?

    Links:

    Obamas Appoint Michael S. Smith as White House Decorator Edge/Boston

    So You Wanna Decorate The White House?  Domino Magazine

    Michael S. Smith, Jasper Furniture, Jasper Fabrics – Official Website

    Related Posts:

    Veranda Magazine Celebrates Greystone Mansion

    Interior Designer Thinks Americans Need Less Storage Than 18th Century France

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