guest expert

• Voyage Minnesota Magazine

The Change Makers: Stories that Inspire

Hi Valerie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always loved organizing. I’ve been organizing for myself, my family, and my friends for as long as I can remember. The thought of organizing as a career always seemed like a dream, but not something I’d get to do.

As a child, I loved both organizing and books. I was often re-organizing my closet for fun. And I loved trips to the library to bring home piles of books to read and deciding what order to read them in. I went to college to major in English Literature and for many years I worked in bookstores, enjoying the process of organizing shelves and helping customers. Later I went on to become a marketing professional and for over 20 years I managed the Operations side of the business, perfecting my organization at the business level.

When 2020 changed all of our lives and working from home became a thing, I decided to switch gears. I have always wanted to be a professional organizer and decided to take the leap, so I started organizing part-time and joined the National Association of Productivity and Organizing (NAPO). I took classes, got some hands-on experience, and then decided to start my own company, Very Organized by Valerie. I have a certificate in Residential Organizing and specialize in book and home library organization. I currently serve on the Board of Directors as Treasurer of the Minnesota Chapter.

Today, I’m dedicated to helping people achieve a clutter-free and well-organized home. I provide a range of services from decluttering and organizing, to storage solutions and space planning. I’ll transform a home into a stress-free and functional space. And I’ll do it in a way that works for each person.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had a ton of support from family and friends, and by joining NAPO I have a community of other organizers around me to support and help me along the way.

My business is still fairly new but I’m learning more each day and the business is growing each day.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a certificate in Residential Organizing, so I have an array of services including Kitchen/Pantry, Closet, Bedroom, Home Office, and Paper Organization. I can also help with life transitions such as moving, downsizing, divorce, empty nest, blended families, senior transition, and packing/unpacking.

I also love to help with project management so if someone needs help organizing home projects, hiring contractors, arranging in-home services, etc. I can help with that too. Because of my love of books, I also specialize in book and home library organization/collections. Think book collections (old or new), music, movies, etc. and it doesn’t matter how big or small the collection is.

How do you think about luck?
I’m lucky to have the natural ability to organize. Lucky to have had parents who encouraged me to read books and work hard.

Lucky to have had teachers and schools that provided life lessons and the tools to achieve what I set out to do. And I’m lucky to have the support of family and friends throughout the years.

 https://voyageminnesota.com/interview/check-out-valerie-ruhas-story/