A client once said that Margaret was “a blue blood with blue collar work ethics.”
Margaret Fearey Walsh, a native of Philadelphia, grew up in the legendary Chestnut Hill neighborhood. She was a debutante, skier and competitive ice skater and attended an exclusive boarding school in New England.
However, Margaret has never been afraid to roll up her sleeves and work. She studied Interior Design at what is now George Washington University and began working in the design industry. She married and began buying for her husband’s family business, the House of Walsh, in Amherst, MA, and later had her daughter Samantha.
Margaret returned to Philadelphia in 1971 to work for Julia Dannenbaum, a talented cooking teacher. She went on to open her own catering company, which was recognized as the #1 catering company in Philadelphia in 1980. Margaret studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, in France with Louisette Bertholle, co-author of the bestselling cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” with Julia Child and Simone Beck.   READ MORE

Katie joined Changing Places in 2012 with a background in client relations, sales, hospitality, and event planning. A native of Indianapolis, Katie attended Miami University (Ohio) where she graduated cum laude with a dual degree in International Business and Spanish.
She moved to the Bay Area in 1998 to join LesConcierges (now John Paul), the premier personal- and corporate-concierge company based in San Francisco. She went on to manage a catering and event company which brought high-profile conferences and meetings to San Francisco and then worked as a Senior Project Manager for Restoration Hardware at its Northern California headquarters. She lives in northern Marin County with her husband, two young children, a lovable Terrier rescue and a frisky Labrador Retriever.
Favorite organizing item and why: The Container Store Women’s Shoe Box because it’s the perfect size to stack and neatly store so many things, in many spaces of the house.
Favorite room in her home and why: Our kitchen! It’s where the family thrives.

Karen joined the team in 2023 with 20+ years of business experience working for Levi Strauss and Laurel Burch Studios in various creative and operational roles. She has a background in commercial operations, project management, financial oversight, and business development. A long time Marin resident, Karen has a passion for HOME and setting up beautiful working and living spaces.
Favorite organizing item and why: Rattan baskets in all sizes are great to hold everything; blankets, sheets, linens, napkins…even my Christmas Tree.
Favorite room in her home and why: My kitchen–it’s the hub of the house and the first place everyone gathers.

Erin joined the Changing Places team in 2024 with a background in boutique retail and hospitality operations, professional organizing, and financial administration.
Erin moved to the Bay Area 20 years ago to study Urban Studies and Planning at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and has a passion for public spaces and mass transit. She fills her time creating collage art using vintage botanical guides and hiking all the beautiful trails of the bay.
Favorite organizing item and why: Bamboo expandable drawer dividers. They make any drawer have the perfect-sized compartments for your items while making it look custom made.
Favorite room in her home and why: My vintage bathroom. The pink tiles are so cute and the bathtub is my absolute favorite place to be.

Julie joined the Changing Places team in June 2021 as Project Manager. She has more than 20 years of experience leading and managing projects and multifaceted events.
With a double major in Art and French from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Julie spent 10 years in the visual arts industry, working for San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI). Julie then received a degree in Visual Communications from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in San Francisco.
Julie then worked for Nordstrom for nearly a decade in fashion show production and event marketing, navigating the complex intricacies of the fashion events world. Following her time at Nordstrom, Julie switched gears and worked in Events and Marketing for Nelson (a staffing company headquartered in Sonoma) and the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.
Originally from Idaho, Julie has lived in the Bay Area now for over 30 years and says she can’t imagine living anywhere else. She currently resides in Petaluma with her two sons Basil and Flynn.
Favorite organizing item and why: Oversized rattan baskets. I use them as a catch all for everything – throw blankets, shoes, toys, etc.
Favorite room in her home and why: My living room/dining room! It’s a sun filled space with big windows, houses all my art books and record collection, and also serves as a great space for a dance party with friends.

A Bay Area native and proud Berkeley local, Phoebe studied at UCSC and has pursued a career that weaves together creativity, wellness, design, and collaboration. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her from a massage practice to a custom jewelry business, eventually taking her to the Pacific Northwest for 16 years. In Seattle, she worked in the high-end staircase industry, holding roles in design, project management, and marketing. Back in California, Phoebe is grateful to support clients through meaningful transitions as a Project Coordinator. She lives in Marin, where she enjoys quiet evenings, swimming in the Bay, and staying grounded in the beauty of community and nature.
Favorite organizing item: Clear bins that slide under the bed or fit on narrow shelves—perfect in small spaces.
Favorite spot at home: My patio in spring, overlooking a tree-filled canyon and blooming with jasmine and rose.

From a young age, Samantha knew she wanted to be an organizer. Right out of high school, she started budget planning and organizing offices for her friends on a part-time basis. Her passion became a full-blown business which she officially started in 2016.
In 2017, Samantha joined the team at Changing Places. Her extensive background in customer service, hospitality, and office administration made her a dream crew member and a perfect fit for what we do.
Samantha’s Favorite organizing item and why: Velcro cord keepers – they keep the messiness manageable.
Favorite place in her home and why: I prefer to be out in the yard in the sun & fresh air vs. indoors!

Julie comes to Changing Places with over 30 years’ experience in customer service and hospitality, including years at the luxurious Gump’s. She is passionate to finding homes for our clients’ unwanted possessions, whether it’s consigning antique sterling silver or donating art supplies for kids. Her sense of organization and attention to detail make her a great asset to the Changing Places team.

Mary Lee is the style and design guru on the CP team, and we also call her the “Art Savant” for placing our clients’ art after a move-in. Mary Lee holds dual degrees in Interior Design Technology and Aeronautical Science, and has practiced design for over 25 years. She is skilled in staging real estate for sale. She enhances our clients’ homes using existing furniture, rugs and art to achieve a “staged” home for a fraction of the price of traditional staging.

Diane is a Marketing and Strategic Business Consultant who utilizes her MBA in Marketing from UCLA and her 25 years of Corporate Marketing experience to support Changing Places for the past 5 years. She has been instrumental in hiring all the office staff and helping Changing Places plan and prepare for its growth and development.