About Kathy Waddill

• The highlights
• The whole story
• Media gallery

The Highlights    Back to Top

• 2005 Recipient, National Association of Professional Organizers President's Award, for
  her steadfast commitment to NAPO Chapters and her work as a member of the Chapter Relations Committee
• 2005 Nominee, National Association of Professional Organizers Founders' Award
  (1 of 4 nominated by the full membership)
• Member, National Chapter Relations Committee, National Association of Professional Organizers, 2003-present
• President, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, National Association of Professional Organizers, 2001-2003
• 2003 Nominee, National Association of Professional Organizers Founders' Award
  (1 of 6 nominated by the full membership)
• Author, The Organizing Sourcebook: Nine Strategies for Simplifying Your Life, McGraw-Hill, 2001
• Founder, New England Professional Organizers, 1994
• Principal, The Untangled Web, 1993 to the present
• Systems Analyst, Harborview Systems, Boston, 1986-1994
• Programmer, Sears Roebuck & Company, Chicago, 1985-1986
• Administrator, The Ounce of Prevention Fund, Chicago, 1982-1985
• Writer, Diocese of Cleveland, Cleveland, 1981-1982
• Teacher, St. Adalbert's School, Cleveland, 1979-1981
• BA, American Studies, University of Notre Dame, 1979
• Wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, friend, colleague, and volunteer

The Whole Story    Back to Top

Kathy Waddill says:  "I have always been organized.  I was born with a logical brain, then received further training as the oldest of 5 children.  When I graduated from Notre Dame in 1979, I became a 3rd grade teacher in Cleveland.  Managing 33 children, 13 subjects, and 1 hamster in a not-overly-large classroom further enhanced my organizational skills.

After my teaching contract ended, I became the administrator for a new social service network in Illinois.  In the three years I worked there, my agency expanded from 2 to 25 people with a $3 million budget.  I managed all the contracts and the office staff for the organization.

From social services, I moved to the for-profit world of computer software.  I was trained by Sears Roebuck in Chicago, then took a position with a small software firm in Boston in 1986.  When my first child was born in 1987, I became a full-time mother and a part-time systems analyst.  In the 7 years I worked with computers, my life was made more hectic by the addition of:  a second child; a 10-room house; a rental property I managed; active participation in my church and several charitable organizations; and interaction with a large network of family and friends.

The Untangled Web came into being in Boston in 1993, when I realized there was such a thing as a "professional organizer."  This was the job for me!  Through my business, I've been able to improve my clients' lives by helping them streamline their homes and offices, get rid of their clutter, and rearrange their physical space to suit their individual lifestyles.  I also give presentations to business groups, parents' groups, women's groups, and teachers about how to get and stay organized.

In April 1997, my husband was relocated to the Bay Area.  I orchestrated the cross-country move of furniture, household, children, and pets, and now operate The Untangled Web (West) in Orinda, California.

Since 1993, I've been an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).  I founded New England Professional Organizers in 1994 and was elected president of NAPO's San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (the largest in the world) in 2001 and 2002.  In 2003, I was nominated for NAPO's Founders Award, its most prestigious honor. 

My book, The Organizing Sourcebook:  Nine Strategies for Simplifying Your Life (Contemporary Books / McGraw-Hill), was published in 2001.  It is available at local, national, and online bookstores.

Features about me, The Untangled Web, and The Organizing Sourcebook have been televised nationwide on NBC's Real Life; in the Bay Area on the CBS 4:30 News, CBS Bay Sunday, NBC3 Morning Show, NBC3 News at Noon, and Fox's Bay Area People; and in Boston on ABC's Chronicle, the Channel 7 News, PBS's The Group, and the Channel 56 News At Ten.  My ideas have also been showcased in:

• Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

• Good Housekeeping Magazine

• Investor's Business Daily

• Woman's Day Magazine

• Women's Health Magazine

• Bridal Guide Magazine

• American Baby Magazine

• Fitness Magazine

• The Christian Science Monitor

• Nick Jr. Magazine

• The Oakland Tribune

• The Boston Globe

• The Boston Herald

I've appeared on numerous radio and internet broadcasts across the United States and Canada."

 

Media Gallery    Back to Top

• Television Appearances

• Radio and Internet Broadcasts

• Print and E-Zine Appearances

• Conferences and Workshops

Television Appearances    Back to "Gallery"

• February 23, 2003.  Bay Sunday.  San Francisco Bay Area (KPIX-TV, CBS, Ch. 5).
• January 18, 2003.  Eyewitness News.  San Francisco Bay Area (KPIX-TV, CBS, Ch. 5).
• January 13, 2003.  4:30 News.  San Francisco Bay Area (KPIX-TV, CBS, Ch. 5). 
• July 22, 2002.  The Exchange.  Connecticut and New York City (News 12 Connecticut).
• May 11, 2002.  NBC3 Weekend Show.  San Francisco Bay Area (KNTV-NBC3, Ch. 3).
• February 26, 2002.  NBC3 News At Noon.  San Francisco Bay Area (KNTV-NBC3, Ch. 3).
• February 23, 2002.  Bay Area People.  San Francisco Bay Area (KTVU-FOX2, Ch. 2).
• May 26, 1999.  Family Milestones, "Getting Organized."  Contra Costa County, California (CCCTV, Mt. Diablo Adult Education, Ch. 19).
• February 3, 1999.  Family Milestones, "Time Management."  Contra Costa County, California (CCCTV, Mt. Diablo Adult Education, Ch. 19).
• July 1996.  Real Life, "Parent to Parent."  United States (NBC, multiple stations and channels nationwide).
• July 10, 1996.  News At 5:30, "Parent to Parent."  Boston, Massachusetts (NBC, Ch. 7).
• May 15, 1995.  Chronicle, "Time-Saving Tips."  New England (ABC, WCVB-TV, Ch. 5).
• January 9, 1995.  The Group.  Boston, Massachusetts (PBS, WGBH, Ch. 2).
• April 17, 1994.  News At Ten.  Boston, Massachusetts (WLVI-TV, Ch. 56).

Radio and Internet Broadcasts    Back to "Gallery"

• NPR's Talk of the Nation, December 28, 2006. "In Favor of Mess." 
• WGNU-AM, St. Louis, MO, 7/12/06, 10:15 a.m. CST, "Sort It Out."
• WRTE-FM, Chicago, IL, 8/14/02, 8:30 p.m. CST, "Radio Arte."
• KURV-FM, Edinburg, TX, 8/13/02, 10:10 a.m. CST, "The Davis Rankin Talk Show."
• WBZ-AM, Boston, MA, 8/9/02, 12:00 midnight EST, "The Jordan Rich Show."
• WNYE-FM, New York, NY, 7/23/02, 10:00 a.m. EST.  "Everything Goes."
• www.epotec.com.  An interview about the Nine Strategies of Reasonably Organized People.  Available indefinitely to Epotec members.
• WNYU-FM, New York, NY, 7/16/02, 7:30 p.m. EST, "The Mess of Too Much Organization."
• KSFO-FM, San Francisco, CA, 7/14/02, 7:30 a.m. PST, "Bob Tanem in the Garden."
• KSLX-FM, Los Angeles, CA, 7/2/02, 9:00 a.m. PST, "The Small Business Hour."
• www.ladybuglive.com, 6/26/02, "Inside Books With Chuck Englund." 
• CFAX-AM, Victoria, BC, 6/19/02, 9:30 a.m. PST, "C-FAX Newsline."
• WKCT-AM, Bowling Green, KY, 6/18/02, 5:00 p.m. CST, "Drive Time."
• WRQX-FM, Washington, DC (ABC Radio), 6/18/02, 8:45 a.m. EDT, "Jack Diamond Morning Show."
• WLW-AM, Cincinnati, OH, 6/11/02, 10:00 a.m. EST, "Morning News."
• CFRB-AM, Toronto, Ontario, 6/5/02, 12:05 p.m. EST, "How to be Reasonably Organized."
• KBAY-FM, Bay Area, 6/2/02, 6:00 a.m. PST, "Getting Organized."
• KEZR-FM (Mix 106.5), Bay Area, 6/2/02, 7:00 a.m. PST, "Getting Organized."
• KVEC-AM, San Luis Obispo, CA, 5/30/02, 2:45 p.m. PST, "Financial Fitness."
• KUCI-FM, Los Angeles, 4/26/02, 8:00 a.m. PST, "The Bonnie and Heidi Surprise Party Show."
• Wisdom Radio, Bluefield, WV, 4/8/02, 5:00 p.m. EST, "Jill and Friends."
• KWIX-AM, Moberley, MO, 3/25/02, 9:30 a.m. CST, "Home Show."
• WLBE-AM, Leesburg, FL, 3/23/02, 12:05 p.m. EST, "Consulting Eve."
• KOIT-FM, Bay Area, 3/19/02, 1:30 p.m. PST, "Positive Parenting."
• Cable Radio Network, Hollywood, CA, 2/28/2002, 9:30 a.m. EST.  "Mike Horn Show."
• Bott Radio Network, St. Louis, MO, 2/16/2002, 11:05 a.m. CST.  "Family Shield." 
• KGO-AM, Bay Area, 2/9/2002, 8:30 a.m. PST.  "Health & Fitness with Joanie Greggains." 
• Wisconsin Public Radio, 2/7/2002, 11:00 a.m. CST.  "Conversations with Larry Meiller." 
• CHRW-CFM, London, Ontario, 1/30/2002, 5:00 p.m. EST.  "People Are Talking."
• KCBI-FM, Dallas, TX, 1/29/2002, 12:00 noon CST.  "The Johanna Fisher Show." 
• WRNJ-AM, Hackettstown, NJ, 1/28/2002, 10:30 a.m. EST.  "Let's Talk About It."
• WKJY-FM, Hicksville, NY, 1/24/2002, 5:10 p.m. EST.  "Coping Conversations." 
• WJON-AM, St. Cloud, MN, 1/22/2002, 11:10 a.m. CST.  "The Midday Show."
• Talk America Radio Network, nationwide, 8:00 p.m. PST.  "Rhona At Night."
• CNET Radio, San Francisco, 1/16/2002, 2:15 p.m. PST.  "Early PM."
• KKHT-FM, Houston, TX,1/16/2002, 12:00 noon CST.  "Houston Perspectives."
• WGCH-AM, Greenwich, CT, 1/14/2002, 4:10 p.m. EST. 
• Talk Radio News, Washington, DC, 1/14/2002, 2:35 p.m. EST.  "The Right Side with Armstrong Williams."
• KYXY Radio, San Diego, CA, 1/14/2002, 9:15 a.m. PST.  "Kicksy Morning Show."
• WRDB-AM, Reedsburg, WI, 1/14/2002, 9:25 a.m. CST.  Morning show.
  KILR-AM, Estherville, IA, 1/14/2002, 9:05 a.m. CST.  "On the Town With Dave Roekel."
• Cable Radio Network, nationwide, 9:00 a.m. EST.  "Mike Horn Show."
• KEXL-FM, Norfolk, NE, 1/14/2002, 7:15 a.m. CST.  "Breakfast Call Radio Program."
• WOBM-FM, Bayville, NJ, 1/14/2002, 7:45 a.m. EST.  "The Early Morning Show."
• CBS News Radio, nationwide, 1/13/2002, 2:30 p.m. EST (taped).  CBS Newsradio.
• WIBC-AM, Indianapolis, IN, 1/13/2002, 12:30 p.m. EST.  A public affairs show.
• WTOP-FM, Washington, DC, 1/13/2002, 8:20 a.m. EST.  "Issues."
• WBAP-AM, Dallas, TX, 1/12/2002, 10:00 p.m. EST.  "Mick William's Cyber-Line."
• WERC-AM, Birmingham, AL, 1/11/2002, 1:00 p.m. CST.  "Viewpoints."
• WHRV-FM, Norfolk, VA, 1/11/2002, 12:20 p.m. EST.  "Hearsay with Kathy Lewis."
• WHIR-AM, Danville, KY, 1/11/2002, 8:10 a.m. EST.  "Talk of the Town."
• KYPT-FM, Seattle, WA, 1/10/2002, 12:00 noon PST.  "The Breakfast Club."
• Westwood One Radio Network, nationwide, 1/10/2002, 8:50 a.m. PST (taped).  "Young and Elder."
• WOMX-AM, Orlando, FL, 1/10/2002, 9:30 a.m. EST.  "Scott & Erica Morning Show."
• KFUO-AM, St. Louis, MO, 1/9/2002, 11:15 a.m. CST.  "Living Jubilee."
• WIBC-AM, Indianapolis, IN, 1/9/2002, 10:30 a.m. EST (taped).  News.
• WABJ-AM, Adrian, MI, 1/3/2002, 9:45 a.m. EST.  "John Sebastian Morning Show."
• WCUB-AM, Manitowoc, WI, 1/2/2002, 9:05 a.m. CST.  "Breakfast Club."
• WCHT-AM, Escanaba, MI, 12/26/2001, 3:10 p.m. EST.  "Power Talk Radio."
• KATD-AM, Concord, CA, 6/26/1998, 4:15 p.m. PST.  "The Moms Club."

Print and E-Zine Appearances    Back to "Gallery"

• "Stop the Clutter! Quick Fixes for Every Room," Woman's Day Magazine, June 17, 2008.
• "Organizing for the Holidays," Weekend Magazine, December 2006.
• "Family Adapts to Structure Change," San Mateo County Times, September 17, 2006.
• "Oops! The Top 10 Organizing Mistakes," Woman's Day Magazine, May 30, 2006.
• "Secrets of the Organizational Gurus," Quick & Simple Magazine, February 28, 2006.
• "The Guide to Carefree Holidays," Diablo Magazine, December 2005.
• "Life Just Got Easier," Women's Health Magazine, November/December 2005.
• "Keep It Or Sweep It," Woman's Day Magazine, September 1, 2005.
• "27 Ways to Get Organized."  Woman's Day Magazine.  October 5, 2004.
  organized enough for your busy life.
• "101 Ways to Get Organized."  Woman's Day Magazine, February 17, 2003. 
• "50 Best Toys (and the Best Ways to Shop For Them)."  Nick Jr. Magazine, November 2003.
• "Safe Internet Shopping."  Woman's Day Magazine, Fall 2003.  From a longer article, "Things You Should Never Do With Your Money." 
• "Order in the House!"  Good Housekeeping Magazine, August 2003.
• "Can't Get Organized? How to Avoid 10 Common Mistakes."   Woman's Day Magazine, July 8, 2003. 
• "Unclutter Your Life."  Fitness Magazine, May 2003.
• "How to Organize Your Life."  Diablo Magazine, April 2003.
• "68 Real-Life Organizing Tips."  Woman's Day Magazine, 2/11/03.
• "Shared Spaces: How to Make an Office, Living Room or Older Child's Bedroom Double as a Cozy Nursery."  epregnancy.com.  February 2003.
• "Organizing 101."  Style At Home (Canada's Decorating Magazine).  December 2002/January 2003.
• Today's Creative Home Arts Magazine, November 2002.  "Unclutter Your Home."
• "HR Manager's Bookshelf."  Canadian HR Reporter.  November 4, 2002.
• Home Basics Magazine, October 2002.  An article for women about how to organize their purses.
• "Get Organized."  American Baby Magazine.  USA:  August 2002. 
• "Clear Out the Clutter!"  San Diego Family.  San Diego:  August 2002. 
• "Getting Organized."  Enjoy Whole Health.  San Antonio:  July/August 2002. 
• "My Spouse and Business Partner is a Slob."  The Morning Call.  Allentown, PA:  June 10, 2002.
• "20 Ways to a Simpler, Saner Life."  Woman's Day Magazine.  USA:  May 2002. 
• "Families Get Organized For Success."  The Teachers.Net Gazette.   Internet:  May 2002.
• "Straighten Up and Find Organized Medicine."  American Medical News.   USA:  April 22-29, 2002. 
• "Clear the Clutter Before Baby Arrives."  Pregnancy Today.  Internet:  April 2002.
• "The Woman's Day Guide to Saving Time."  Woman's Day Magazine.  USA:  April 2002.
• "My Purse is a Mess!"  HomeBasics.com. 
• "Spring-Clean Your Desk."  Investor's Business Daily.  USA:  March 26, 2002.

• "Conquering Clutter."  St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  St. Louis, Missouri:  January 5, 2002.

• "Organization is the Key in Kathy Waddill's New Book."  The Orinda News.  Orinda, California:  November/December 2001.

• "Finding a System to Match Your Lifestyle."  Contra Costa Sun.  Lafayette, California:  September 26, 2001.

• "Just Say Goodbye to Clutter."  St. Petersburg Times.  St. Petersburg, Florida:  September 30, 2000.

• "Resolve to Get Organized...."  The Oakland Tribune.  Oakland, California:  January 9, 2000.

• "Time to Organize."  Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.  United States:  September 1998.

• "Cut Out Clutter!."  Valley Parent.  Contra Costa County, California:  September 1998.

• "At Your Service:  The New Chore-Masters."  The Christian Science Monitor.  United States:  August 11, 1997.

• "The Titans of Tidy."  The Boston Globe.  Boston, Massachusetts:  March 12, 1997.

• "The Holiday Scene:  How to Organize Buying, Entertaining."  The Boston Globe.  Boston, Massachusetts:  November 24, 1996.

• "A Place For Everything."  The Boston Herald.  Boston, Massachusetts:  March 24, 1996.

• "Clutter Control."  The Boston Globe.  Boston, Massachusetts:  March 3, 1996.

• "Untangled Chaos:  Professional Helps Clear Cluttered Lives."  The Middlesex News.  Middlesex County, Massachusetts:  January 3, 1996.

• "Closet Cases."  The San Diego Union Tribune.  San Diego, California:  December 31, 1995.

• "In the Scramble to Simplify, Organization is Big Business."  The Christian Science Monitor.  United States:  November 9, 1995.

• "Getting Organized."  The Boston Parents' Paper.  Boston, Massachusetts:  November 1995.

• "Getting Organized."  The Boston Globe.  Boston, Massachusetts:  October 15, 1995.

• "Spring Into Action:  Let a Pro Get You Organized."  The Boston Herald.  Boston, Massachusetts:  March 19, 1995.

Conferences and Workshops    Back to "Gallery"

• National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Annual Conferences (May).
  • 2006, Boston, Massachusetts.  "PO-201: Residential Needs Assessments: Kathy
    Waddill's Eyes of a Stranger™ Method," an accredited NAPO course.
  • 2005, San Diego, California.  "What Does Your Client Really Need?"
    2003, Denver, Colorado.  "What's Going On Here?  Client Needs Assessments."
  • 2002, Atlanta, Georgia.  "How to See What Your Client Really Needs."
  • 2001, Austin, Texas.  "Organizing Families and Children."
  • 2000, Los Angeles, California.  "That Thing You Do:  Why Do Our Clients Hire Us?"
• NAPO - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.
  • Annual Conferences, San Francisco Bay Area (October).
    • 2005.  "Ask the Experts Panel."
    • 2004.  "Gem Sharing" session for all conference attendees.
    • 2003.  "Paper Organizing 101" with co-presenter Mary Lynne Murray.
    • 2001-2002.  Chapter President and Conference Emcee.
    • 2001.  "Ask the Experts Panel."
    • 2000.  "The Business of Organizing (panel)."
    • 1999.  "Needs Assessment:  How to Tell What Your Client Needs."
    • 1998.  "Needs Assessments:  Organizing Principles in Action."
    • 1997.  "Needs Assessments."
  • Chapter Meetings, Millbrae, California.
    • July 11, 2001.  "Organizing Families and Children."
    • May 10, 2000.  "The Nine Strategies of Reasonably Organized People."
    • June 9, 1999.  "Ask the Experts Panel."
    • April 8, 1998.  "Family Organizing."
• South Bay Home and Garden Show, Santa Clara, CA, January 5-7, 2007.  "The Nine Strategies of Reasonably Organized People."
• Women's Faculty Caucus, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. 
  March 7, 2006.  "The Nine Strategies of Reasonably Organized People."
• Network of Entrepreneurial Women, Bend, Oregon.  October 19, 2005.  A
  presentation on how to get and stay "organized enough." 
• Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.  April 14, 2005.  "How to be Organized
  Enough."
• New England Professional Organizers (NEPO).  Keynote for Annual Conference:  "How It All Began."  Natick, Massachusetts, October 2, 2004.
• Mothers Club of San Ramon Valley.  Workshop on organizing your children and family.  San Ramon, California, August 26, 2003.
• San Francisco Legal Secretaries Association.  Past Presidents Luncheon.  February 15, 2003.  San Francisco.  "Organize Your Life!"
• International Association of Administrative Professionals, California Division.  Annual Meeting.  May 17, 2002.  Emeryville, CA.  "The Nine Strategies of Reasonably Organized People."
• National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. Teleconference.  October 2, 2002.  Nationwide.  "Assessment for the Chronically Disorganized Client."
• Mt. Diablo Unified School District.  8th Annual Parent Conference.  November 14, 1998.  Concord, CA.  "Time to Organize" and "Straighten Up!"
• Women & Infants' Hospital.  8th Annual Contemporary Issues in Health Care.  December 6, 1995.  Boston, MA.  "Untangling the Web:  Getting Organized to Fight Illness."
• La Leche League of MA/RI/VT.  Annual Conferences (Spring).
  • 1996, Burlington, MA.  "In the Bag:  New & Useful Ways to Organize Your Materials."
  • 1995, Burlington, MA.  "Whistle While You Work."
  • 1994, Westborough, MA.  "Everybody Out of the Car and Help Me Look for My Keys."

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