Organizing and Productivity Professionals Appointed to International Certification Board

SAN ANTONIO - April 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Last week at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Conference in New Orleans, the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers® (BCPO®) appointed its 2013-2014 Board of Directors:

President: Helene Segura, CPO® of LivingOrder San Antonio  

Secretary: Renee Belisle, CPO® of Clutter Rehab

Treasurer: Tracie Utter, CPO® of Utterly Organized

Director of Program Development: Julie Bestry, CPO® of Best Results Organizing

Director of Professional Practices: Gail Furgal, CPO® of OuttaSight Organizing

Director of Communications: Bonnie Joy Dewkett, CPO® of The Joyful Organizer

Director at Large: Karen Koedding, CPO® of A Little Elf

Director at Large: Margaret Lukens, CPO® of New Leaf + Company

Public Director: Sharon Fanning

Immediate Past President: Audrey Lavine, CPO®

Liaison to the NAPO Board: Angela Wallace, CPO® of Wallace Associates

“Unfortunately in our industry, anyone off the street is able to purchase business cards and a domain name and call themselves an organizer. Joining NAPO and going to training is an important first step. The CPO® certification is the next step. It protects the public by allowing prospective clients, as well as journalists and the media, to discern credentialed organizing and productivity professionals from the rest of the pack,” stated BCPO’s incoming president, Helene Segura.

BCPO® monitors and maintains the Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) credential. In order to qualify to sit for the international standards-based exam, professional organizers and productivity consultants must have acquired 1,500 paid hours of skills transfer (teacher, consulting, coaching) appointments within a three-year period or less. Once certification is earned by passing the rigorous exam, certificants are required to uphold the BCPO® Code of Ethics, as well as continue increasing their knowledge in the organizing and productivity fields by attending a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) within each three-year certification period. There are currently 391 CPOs in six countries.

“Earning this certification from BCPO® is not a cake walk, and that’s why CPOs wear those three letters so proudly. It takes a dedicated person who is successful in business, has immense knowledge of his or her craft, and is willing to be held to a higher code,” stated Segura.

For details about BCPO’s certification or to find a Certified Professional Organizer®, visit www.CertifiedProfessionalOrganizers.org.