A Passion for Restoring Order to Your Home
Hi! I’m Debbie Zechini. I founded Order in the House in 2003 and I’ve been an organizer of some fashion for more than 30 years…actually, since childhood. Like a drill sergeant overseeing a house with seven children (I was the first daughter and the middle child), my mother taught me well!
I discovered my organizing talents while working my way through college as a live-in home & administrative assistant to the wife of a gospel singer. She called me “magic fingers” because she loved how I kept everything running smoothly, and I realized I loved doing it too. Thanks to her, I recognized and found confidence in my gifts.
Of course, the idea of being a full-time organizer was unheard of back then. So after college, I became a USAirways gate agent where my top priority was getting flights out on time. Between preparing the paperwork for the flight crew, preplanning for full flights, handling passenger problems and getting everyone boarded on time—any errors or disorganization could cause delays that would disrupt flight schedules and passengers’ lives for the rest of the day.
But perhaps my biggest organization and time management challenges were raising my children. At one point, my four children were on three different school schedules--one in pre-school on a traditional calendar, one on track two in year-round school and twins in different classes on track four. To top it off, I was working part-time at USAirways with a schedule that alternated days and nights every three months while my husband worked the opposite schedule in the food service industry. Talk about a hectic life in need of organization!
When USAirways declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002, I realized I needed to create a “plan B” for myself and my family in case the airline did not survive. An article about an organizer who helped people pack and move sounded like the perfect new career path. I launched my business while raising my children and working at the airline until August 2011, when I retired from USAirways after 26 years of service.
From Chaos to Calm
When you’re an organizer, it seems like everyone is afraid for you to come into their home! Even friends and family seem to get embarrassed and apologize about the “mess.” But there’s nothing to be worried about.
When I walk into a messy home, I don’t see the chaos--I see the possibilities. And I never judge because I know the disorganization isn’t a true reflection of the person standing in front of me. So, like a puzzle that’s calling out to be solved, my mind immediately starts devising a unique system that suits the client. Through both organizing and coaching, I work with my clients to create the peaceful, orderly environment they’ve been longing for.
No mess is too great! I work with a variety of clients, including situationally disorganized to chronically disorganized, and especially love the open, creative and fun nature of my clients with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). In fact, I recently discovered I have a form of ADHD myself.
Training & Certifications. Keen to stay on top of the newest and best ways to help my clients, I attend a variety of conferences and classes. In June 2011, I became one of the few Certified Organizer Coaches (COC) in the country, after training with Master Certified Coach & Certified Professional Organizer Specializing in Chronic Disorganization Denslow Brown and Professional Certified Coach Cameron Gott, who specializes in ADHD Coaching.
I also completed more than 100 hours of training with the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) to glean further insights into the organization and time management challenges of those with ADD.
Professional Activities. I currently serve as the local liaison for Faithful Organizers and Golden Circle members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). I am also the Speaker Coordinator for the ICD Annual Conference. Previous roles included Secretary and Hospitality Chair for the North Carolina chapter of NAPO.
Personal Notes. I reside in Cary, NC with my husband, four children and two cats. I love keeping busy, spending time in the outdoors and look forward to enjoying the perks from my career with USAirways as life settles down.
In The Media
Spring Cleaning: Organizing Your Garage, NBC17
Cary Living (pg. 30-33), “Women Helping Women”
Triangle Business Journal, “First in N.C. for Container Store”
MoJo Mom “Real Life Strikes Back”
ScanDigital “Affiliate Spotlight”
Home Organizer – Professional Organizer
Raleigh NC – Cary NC – Garner NC
