Ellen began her professional career as an educator earning a Bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a Master’s degree in Education from Boston College. As a kindergarten teacher, Ellen practiced the concepts and methods of organizing! In a room with 30 students, all scurrying between centers to accomplish tasks, she created and implemented effective ways to organize time and space.

After moving to Houston, Ellen began work as an executive assistant in small companies. In this time of downsizing, she stressed the importance of organization for multitasking busy executives to have access to their papers, contracts and contacts. In working with her superiors, she created paper and time management strategies particularly suited to their needs, goals and requirements.

Making a difference for others has always been important to Ellen. Ellen has worked in a major volunteer capacity organizing efforts for two charities, Mothers Against Cancer, a fundraising effort for children’s cancer research funds for Texas Children’s Hospital, and Kingwood Women’s Club, a philanthropic women’s group working in the Northeast area of Houston, Texas. Here Ellen’s organizing skills were put to use in organizing membership information, coordinating distribution of funds and chairing major events. Ellen continues to give back in her speaking series Sharing Organizing Solutions held semi-annually in Kingwood.

Ellen’s passion for organizing, as well as her desire to assist others, led her to create Professional-Organizer.com in 1999. Ellen is a member of the National Association Of Professional Organizers and the local NAPO Houston Chapter, having held leadership positions in both. As a member of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, she holds two certificates of study, the Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization and the Certificate of Study in Basic ADD Issues with Chronic Disorganization Clients. In May 2007 Ellen earned the title of Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) through the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers. Working along side her clients, Ellen encourages and teaches her clients simple systems and routines leading to personal organizing solutions for home, school, work and life.