:R 1- he lCe m nt -erly o lid vner 'lati- ~tty :t up d re's look l," last -the ded d aard work and inspiration that he does to his business. He also maintains active interests in the arts, serving on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Board of Trustees and pursuing inter- ests in music. d .rbes vate U POOJA GUGNANI: UPCOMING ORGANIZER IN CHICAGO Being an organizer in Chi- .:ago can lead to great success, as President Obama has shown. Pooja Gugnani, MPA '03, is also seeking success by using ller organizational skills to help ;>eopleavoid clutter in their lives andbusinesses, "I founded Or- ganizing With You, Inc. in 2009 mer working for seven years in a :narketing and communications :ole in a non-profit in Michigan," says Gugnani, who notes there lie now about 4,000 professional organizers on the country. "It is growing fast. People want to avoid clutter and I can help them." Poojahas been featured in Crain's Chicago Business and a number ofblogs. She notes that Oprah llelped promote the field when she tune irect ent ~. I ing se r col- lers Ilent nara- ,age with -and ;in EO rer :tball s, :s of featured a professional organizer on her television show. "Many people make space for things they buy," notes Pooja. "But I tell them, sometimes make space by giving something away." A native of India, Pooja and her family moved to the U.S. when she was 17. After gtaduating from the University of Pittsburgh, she attended MSU. "I loved it," she recalls. "MSU changed me completely. The school spirit was phenomenal. I fell in love with the campus and also with the warmth of the people." She now helps the MSU alumni club in Chicago organize their annual gala event, the Sparry Ball. She donates her services to the event's silent auction. She says her clients include both people and business- es. Many of her clients, referred to her by Chicago doctors, suffer from ADHD, anxiety, depression or multiple sclerosis. "This is a very rewarding aspect of my job," says Pooja. "You are not just mak- ing people feel better, but you are actually contributing to their well- being. Being organized is actually a parr of your overall health."