Interview With Mary

Morristown, Tennessee, resident Mary Pankiewicz says she has been organizing all her life: as a child on Amelia Island, Florida, she delighted in making the family junk room tidy. “I was born with an organizing gene but would love to have the music, art, or other talents my clients have,” she relates.

Mary honed her skills rearing three sons and four daughters. Then one day while reading an article on how to reduce stress, she saw the term “professional organizer” and realized that people earned money doing what she had done free for family and friends.

“When I work with clients I’m there to help them accomplish their goals,” she says, emphasizing that she doesn’t decide what to keep or not. “My clients make all the decisions.”

In 2004 Mary was certified by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) as a Certified Professional Organizer — Chronic Disorganization. Currently she is one of fewer than 20 who have achieved this designation. She has also earned the designation Certified Professional Organizer - which explains the initials CPO, CPO-CD, after her name. She faithfully attends the NSGCD and National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) yearly national conferences and has served as a presenter several times. Mary served a 2 year term on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Organizers. She continues to add to her education in the field of organizing by receiving certificates of study in such subjects as "Hoarding" and 'Understanding the Needs of the Elderly". She brings to her clients the expertise from working with hundreds of clients just like you over the past 15 years.

Mary has a philosophy about her work. Surprisingly, she says, “Life is not about being organized. I’m not a neatnik. Organizing should support us, but life is not about being rigid. Life is to enjoy!”

“My business philosophy is Simple is Smart
—what is the simplest way we can organize things?
Helping people get organized is very satisfying to me,
because I am contributing to other people’s quality of life.”

Mary's Own Story

When I was a child, our house had a unfinished room that naturally became the junk room. I can remember loving to go in there and organize it. But I often say life is a trade-off, and although organizing is in my genes, I missed out on the music and art genes that so many of my clients have.

As an adult I was determined not to run my household as tightly as my parents did theirs. And raising a large family with seven children certainly helped keep my organizing in check. Our structure had to be more relaxed. I do not believe life is about being a neatnik. Organization should support us in life, not control our life.

I can understand how someone can have several bookshelves of organizing books and still not be organized. I have all the gardening books, but to make things look right I need hands-on assistance. Somehow I can't translate a gardening book into reality, so I can understand how organizing doesn't flow for others even if they own many organizing books.

At home I enjoy reading, feeding the birds, and being owned by three cats. The birds are no trouble, but our house now looks like we have a two-year-old because of the cats. There are toys on the floor and and occasional races through the hallways and over the furniture, with the victor sometimes ending on top of the fireplace. Each cat has a distinctive personality that contributes to our comfort and entertainment. With the cats outnumbering the people, we now have a full house.

About 15 years ago an article in Reader's Digest about a Professional Organizer inspired me to start my business. I thought, “I could do that!” So I immediately joined the National Association of Professional Organizers and have been to every national conference since. I served on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2007.

In 2004 I was certified by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) as a Certified Professional Organizer—Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD). I was one of the first to receive this designation and was also one of the first to be certified by the National Association of Professional Organizers (CPO) in 2007. My goal is to attend every conference of the NSGCD and NAPO. I have been privileged to be a presenter several times.

I'm also a member of the National Speakers Association and the TN Nashville chapter and also attend their yearly conferences. Attending the yearly conferences is important because I want to bring the very best available to my clients!

I love my work. Helping people get organized is very satisfying to me, because I feel I am contributing to other people’s quality of life. My business philosophy is Simple is Smart. What is the simplest way we can organize things?