Bio

Amy Trager is a Certified Professional Organizer® based in Chicago. Certified in 2007, she is also a NAPO member and past president of the Chicago chapter. Since 2006, she has been guiding individuals through the stress of their stuff.

Amy Trager's interest in organization began early in her college years helping friends and relatives organize their lives and spaces. After discovering this passion, Amy completed a custom curriculum at Bradley University that included an internship in the organizing industry; Housing and Interior Design Concepts; Family Systems and Applications; presenting "The Study of/Research and Analysis of Professional Organizing" at Bradley's Annual Research Expo, resulting in publication in a professional journal; Principles of Psychology; and a senior project managing moving multiple college departments into temporary housing for building renovations. Amy then graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and a minor in Business Management.

Amy started working with her own clients in January 2006. Ever since, she has enjoyed creating calm, enjoyable spaces. As part of the inaugural class of Certified Professional Organizers, Amy sat for the first ever certification exam for Professional Organizers in 2007. To qualify for this exam, one must prove 1,500 hours of paid work experience in the three years prior to the exam. The exam tests communication skills; project assessment, design and implementation; maintenance and legal and ethical considerations. Only about 250 people were accepted to sit for this first exam, with only a dozen Illinois participants achieving certification.

Amy is currently a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and served for eight years on the Board of Directors of their Chicago chapter. She served as secretary for three years, president for four and director at large for one. She is also the former Chair of the NAPO Higher Education Taskforce, a nationwide committee formed to design and implement an educational curriculum for a bachelor's degree in organizing and productivity.