Hal Sparks To Host Fourth Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards, January 30

Stand-up comedian, former host of "Talk Soup" on E! Entertainment Television and star of the acclaimed Showtime series "Queer As Folk" will serve as celebrity host in the event that honors the people, products and services that make the world neater and more productive.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2009 -- Hal Sparks ("Queer as Folk") will host the 2009 Los Angeles Organizing Awards (http://www.organizingawards.com), honoring the best and the brightest in the professional organizing industry, Friday, January 30 at the luxurious Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Bel Air (Los Angeles), CA. As the host, Sparks will share his humorous personal experiences of working with a professional organizer.

"We're thrilled to welcome comedian Hal Sparks as the celebrity host of the Fourth Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards," said John Trosko, President of NAPO-LA. "Sparks has an extraordinary charm in developing rapport with his audience and we're especially thrilled he has personal experience working with a professional organizer. His skillful comedy has the unique ability to break down barriers and return us to common interest, much in the way I remember comedians George Carlin and Steve Martin did. This year's Awards will be the biggest and best event we've ever produced, complete with a Hollywood-style red carpet. The public is invited to join in the fun, and learn firsthand about the most effective organizing strategies, products and services available."

A comedian, actor and musician, Hal Sparks began his career performing stand-up comedy by way of his home state, Kentucky and later, Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles, he crafted witty additions to VH1 programs, served as host for the 1999 season of "Talk Soup" on E! Entertainment Television, starred for five seasons as Michael Novotny in the acclaimed Showtime series "Queer As Folk" and currently voices the main character "Tak" on the Nickelodeon animated series "Tak and the Power of Juju." As a musician, Sparks is also the lead singer and guitarist for rock band, "Zero 1."

The gala red carpet event, presented by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-LA) and Presenting Sponsor Office Depot (http://www.officedepot.com), celebrates professional organizers who set the standard for home and business productivity, and the products and services that help consumers and businesses organize themselves and their information, manage their time and control habits that can lead to clutter and chaos.

Los Angeles Organizing Awards' recipients were chosen by a popular national vote which took place October 31 through December 31 online at http://www.organizingawards.com. The top three finalists are invited to attend the ceremony with a total of twenty awards presented, including: seven awards for organizing products and retailers, five awards for organizing services, five awards to organizing professionals and two awards to media outlets. The chapter will also honor several of its members with chapter awards. The "Volunteer of the Year Award" is presented to the chapter member with an exemplary record of service. The "Leading Edge Award" recognizes a NAPO-LA member whose actions and efforts elevate the quality or profile of professional organizers everywhere.

In addition, this year's "Special Recognition Award" will be presented by Office Depot and given to Stephen R. Covey, best-selling author, business leader and personal productivity pioneer.

A portion of proceeds from The Awards will benefit NAPO-in-the-Schools, a national community outreach program that brings basic organizing principals to students in all grade levels. The event is produced by NAPO-LA with production support by the Dave Linden Group, Inc. Office Depot is Presenting Sponsor. Additional sponsorship support has been provided by Green Plug. Event video produced by Corp Shorts and hosted by KNBC/KCAL news reporter and anchor, Angie Crouch.

Tickets and details are available by visiting http://www.organizingawards.com.

Awards Finalists, in alphabetical order:

Best Closet Design Firm:

California Closets

Closet Factory

Get It Together LA!

South Bay Closet Lady

Best Garage Design Firm:

Garage Envy

Garage Tek

OrganizIT!

The Green Award for Most Eco-Friendly Organizing Product:

Bamboo Laptop Stand from KangaRoom Storage

Mrs. Meyers

Packtoozi

The Green Award for Most Eco-Friendly Organizing Service:

Hands On Organizing Services

No Wire Hangers

UCLA S.A.F.E. Collection Center

Best Office Organizing Product:

Corky Wall Organizer from KangaRoom Storage

Hanging File Folders from Pendaflex

Shelf Conversions by ShelfGenie

Best Home Organizing Product:

Complete Closet System from KangaRoom Storage

Vital Records PortaVault from Securita

Shelf Conversions by ShelfGenie

Most Helpful Organizing Technology:

Anywhere Vault

Microsoft Outlook

Paper Tiger

Quicken

Best National Organizing Television Show:

Clean Sweep

Mission Organization

Real Life, Real Simple

Best Organizing Book:

Knack, Organizing Your Home by Emily Wilska

Organize Your Office & Manage Your Time by Dhawn Hansen & Tracey Turner

The Floor is Not an Option, by Sheila G. McCurdy

Best Publication Featuring Organizational Information:

Domino Magazine

Organize Magazine

Real Simple Magazine

Best Organizing Website or Blog:

Jeri's Organizing & Decluttering News

OnlineOrganizing.com

Organize in Style

Most Valuable Educational Resource:

A Red Bench

NSGCD

OnlineOrganizing.com

NAPO Los Angeles Chapter Awards:

Best Organizer as Coach or Mentor:

Jean Furuya, The Office Jeanie

Kristine Oller, Personalized Organization

Most Innovative Organizer:

Debbie Gilster, Center for Growth and Productivity

John Trosko, OrganizingLA

Peter Walsh. Peter Walsh Design

Most Supportive or Organizer-Friendly Charity:

Habitat for Humanity

National Council of Jewish Women

The Salvation Army

Additional chapter awards presented will include Volunteer of the Year Award, Raising the Bar Award, and The Leading Edge Award.

Tickets and additional details are available at http://www.organizingawards.com.

About Office Depot, Presenting Sponsor:

Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe. For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,705 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.9 billion e-commerce operation. Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $15.1 billion, and employs about 49,000 associates around the world. The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 48 countries.

Office Depot's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com.

About NAPO-Los Angeles:

NAPO Los Angeles is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to developing, leading and promoting professional organizers and the benefits of better home and business organization. The founding chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, "The Organizing Authority®," NAPO-LA provides members with a forum for networking, professional development and raising public awareness since 1985. The chapter produces the Los Angeles Organizing Expo as well as the Los Angeles Organizing Awards and is the recipient of the 2008 NAPO National President's Award for innovative contributions to the organizing industry. For details visit http://www.napola.org or http://www.organizingawards.com.

Contacts:

Heather Furlong, Director of Marketing, NAPO-LA

http://www.organizingawards.com

805-577-8267

Jason Shockley, Public Relations, Office Depot

http://mediarelations.officedepot.com

561-438-0037

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