KOUTS- While many of us only dream about turning our natural talents into our own business, Stephanie Jones has done just that. Jones, owner of Innovative Organizing, runs a two-fold organizing business. The first part is professional organizing for homes or businesses. She uses a hands-on approach to organize offices, closets or rooms. She also helps businesses or home owners develop new approaches to filing systems and paper flow. "I will help them plan out procedures as well as daily and monthly tasks," Jones said. While here time in a home or office varies, Jones said it usually takes about four to eight hours to organize small rooms or closets. "People are amazed at how much we can accomplish in four hours," said Jones, who usually limits the time of each session because the work is physically demanding. "If (clients) get tired after two or three hours, we stop and reschedule." Home staging is the second part of her business. Jones works with home owners to get their houses in the best possible showing condition before they go on the market. She said she becomes the "eye of the buyer" for home owners and works on creating clutter-free, organized homes as well as rearranging furniture and selecting complimentary colors. While she was not always a professional organizer, Jones claims she has always been organized. "Ever since I was little, I would figure out how to organize things better," she said. "I would rearrange my furniture once a month." Jones interest in her own business started about six years ago, when she met a professional organizer and started keeping notes on the business. When her husband was transferred to Northwest Indiana, Jones decided it was time to venture out and start her business. She finds the most difficult part of her job is working with clients who have stuff to get rid of. "They want to keep things, but they need to get rid of it," she said. Jones said she tries to find creative ways so they can keep some of it. She also helps people find things they have been searching for. "I’ve been looking for that" is a phrase Jones said she hears over and over again. Even in her organized life, the unexpected can happen. "I was working with a client, and my eyes started to swell because of the cats. I actually ended up in the emergency room because of it," said Jones, who now asks clients if they have cats and takes allergy medicine to prevent another reaction. She celebrates her one-year anniversary in the business this month. For more information about Innovative Organizing, services, and how to hire a professional organizer, visit www.innovativeorganizing.net.

About Stephanie Jones…owner of Innovative Organizing

Stephanie L. Jones is the owner of Innovative Organizing. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). She is also an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP). Stephanie is a successful professional due to her focus on organization, planning and time management skills.

Stephanie has been organizing spaces since she was five years old. She had a dream to start her own business and to do something she truly loves. She has always had a passion for making spaces look great and loves the challenge that comes along with each organizing project.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Taylor University. She has worked as the Director of Victim Services for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, and continues to work for the agency as a consultant for various projects and events. Stephanie believes in community involvement and giving back to your community. She is the Vice Chair of Victim Services for the MADD State Council and is an Assistant Track Coach for Kouts High School. She is married and has a police K-9 named Boss.