Collector Care Interviews: Barry Izsak Organizing Expert, Author & Philanthropist

Collector Care Blogs with Barry Izsak

Hello Collectors! I have  a fascination with the pioneers in the industry, and always love to gain knowledge. So when I attended the NAPO LA Organizing awards last January, a certain guy by the name of Barry Izsak caught my eye.  Winner of the philanthropy award, certified organizer and a man.  Who is this guy? I had to learn more about him. I also kept hearing about this scholarship … and how much he has helped the industry.

I initially connected with Barry via social media and we carried our convo over to email where he signs his name with this very cute “{:->====< “. That I had not seen before,  did this certified male philanthropist mega organizing guru have a sense of humor? I hoped so, as we scheduled a time to chat on the phone.

When I called Barry Izsak I was laughing within minutes. I asked him how his day was, and he told me this fabulous story of one of his elderly clients and the exhausting day he had moving her. He was quite comical in his story, and I felt at ease immediately.

Rachel: Barry please tell me more about your Barry Izsak/Glorya Schklair scholarship, and what inspired you to create it?

Barry: I was inspired because I wanted to give those that might not be able to afford it, the opportunity to attend a conference. For me, it was truly a pivotal moment in my decision to become an organizer. When I went to my first conference in 1996 in Santa Clara, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be an organizer. A friend of mine told me if I really wanted to do this with my career, then I had to check conference out. Back then there were probably 200 people at the conference, and NAPO had a membership of probably 800. I went to conference, and  I was really impressed. I decided to become an organizer and the rest is history! The (NOLA NAPO 2013 Conference) was my 18^th conference since 1996. I have not missed one since. Secondly, I had left some money in my will for NAPO.  I thought, why don’t I just give it to them now, why wait until I die?  I figured why not create my legacy when I am alive? Where I can actually see what the money does. I added Glorya Schklair who was a member of the NAPO-LA chapter. I met her at my first conference, and she inspired me because of her passion for NAPO and her vision for industry certification. After she died I thought about how much she had meant to me, and what a great way to memorialize her - so I put her name on it as well.

Rachel: Certified male Organizers there are few and far between, is this correct?
Barry: There are a few – Scott Roewer is one. I don’t know how many guys are certified, but you’re right probably not many.
Rachel: I <3 Scott Roewer!
Barry: I feel like being a guy in this industry of predominantly women, is actually an advantage because some people would rather work with a guy. Since there aren’t a lot of guys, they don’t have as many choices.

Rachel: Who is your ideal client?
Barry: A senior couple wanting to move that really realizes life is not about the stuff and just wants us to handle their entire move from start to finish. I have been part of NASMM for over five years now. I like working with seniors because that’s the one segment of the population where they really need you. They just don’t have the physical stamina or the emotional where withal to do it all themselves.

Rachel: Do you have any tips for new Professional Organizers?
Barry: People need to realize early that they need to take care of their bodies. Don’t wait before it’s too late!
Rachel: That's for sure, I like to bring a gardening knee pad or a stool if I know I am going to be on the floor decluttering for a while. Bad backs are no help in this business.

Thanks so much for the great interview Barry!

Diva

More fun facts about Barry!

It turns out that Barry is quite close with Rhonda Elliott a local organizer and good friend of mine. She was his conference buddy at his first conference in 1996!

Barry has a maine coon cat named Diva - this is a picture of her that Barry was kind enough to share. She sure looks like a DIVA! That expression is priceless meeeooow!

Barry works when he is not traveling.

Organize your Garage - Buy Now!

Barry Izsak, Certified Professional Organizer®, and founder of ARRANGING IT ALL™ in Austin, Texas, has been helping corporate and residential clients nationwide get organized since 1996. He is the author of Organize Your Garage in No Time (Que, 2005) and co-author of Exploring Productivity (Dawson, 2006).

Having served two consecutive terms as President of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) from 2003-2007, Barry is recognized as an articulate leader, advocate and spokesperson for the professional organizing industry. He has been quoted in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post and the New York Times and has been featured on CNN, HLN, FOX, CNBC, ABC, NBC and CBS.

In 2007, Barry was one of the first professional organizers in the world to become a Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) and in 2008, he earned the Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist (CRTS) credential. 

Barry is a member of NAPO’s Golden Circle and has received three of the association’s highest honors: President’s Award (2010) and (2002), Service to NAPO Award (2008), as well as the NAPO Founders’ Award (2005). A member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) since 2008, he was inducted into the Circle of Service in 2013.

He has also been recognized several times at the NAPO-Los Angeles Organizing Awards: The Philanthropy Award (2013), Most Innovative Organizer (2007) and his book, Organize Your Garage in No Time, as Best Organizing Book (2007).