photo provided

Before.

photo provided

After.

That's what Trident Literacy's executive and marketing directors did, thanks to volunteers from the Charleston chapter of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers). To celebrate National GO (Get Organized) month, NAPO volunteers chose Trident Literacy Association to receive a complimentary office makeover on Jan. 11. Two offices and the supply closet were totally transformed in one day, just like on TV.

'We chose Trident Literacy because we felt like literacy is one of the most important issues affecting the tri-county area,' said Hillary Hutchinson, treasurer of the local chapter. A brief meeting with Eileen Chepenik, Trident Literacy's executive director, and an assessment of the office situation confirmed that the organization was a perfect candidate.'

The team of three professional organizers, Hillary Hutchinson of West Ashley, Jennifer Truesdale of Mount Pleasant, and Diana Aversano of Myrtle Beach, spent an entire day reorganizing and setting up workable systems. The result is a streamlined office system that will allow the directors to effectively manage multiple projects and responsibilities.

'The result is worthy of a TV production,' according to Chepenik. 'The place is a vision of neatness and organization.'

In addition to the actual makeover, the directors were taught simple systems for filing and follow-up that are easy to maintain long after the organizers are gone.

NAPO is an association of 4,200 professional organizers nationwide. Each local organizer is listed on the Web site, along with their specialty and contact information.

For more information visit www.napocharleston.org.