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 and now serves as President, bringing over two decades of experience in client relations, hospitality, and project management. She leads with a hands-on approach, guiding teams with clarity and care to ensure exceptional service and results.
Originally from Indianapolis, Katie graduated cum laude from Miami University (Ohio) with degrees in International Business and Spanish. Since moving to the Bay Area in 1998, she has held leadership roles at LesConcierges (now John Paul), managed a high-profile catering and events company, and worked as a Senior Project Manager at Restoration Hardware.
Katie lives in northern Marin with her husband, two children, and two spirited dogs.
Favorite Organizing Item: The Container Store Women’s Shoe Box — perfectly stackable and endlessly versatile.
Favorite Room: 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: Rattan baskets in all sizes are great to hold everything; blankets, sheets, linens, napkins…even my Christmas Tree.
Favorite room in her home: 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: 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: My vintage bathroom. The pink tiles are so cute and the bathtub is my absolute favorite place to be.

Julie joined Changing Places in June 2021 as a Project Manager, bringing over 20 years of experience in project leadership and event production. With a double major in Art and French from Saint Mary’s College and a Visual Communications degree from FIDM, Julie’s career spans the visual arts, fashion, and marketing industries.
She has held roles at SFMOMA, the San Francisco Art Institute, and Nordstrom—where she spent nearly a decade in fashion show production and event marketing. Julie later led events and marketing for Nelson Staffing and the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.
Originally from Idaho, Julie has called the Bay Area home for over 30 years and lives in Petaluma with her two sons, Basil and Flynn.
Favorite Organizing Item: Oversized rattan baskets — perfect catch-alls for blankets, shoes, toys, and more.
Favorite Room: My sun-filled living/dining room. It’s full of art books and records—and the best place for a dance party!

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.

Desiree, a pioneer in the Bay Area’s home organizing and move management industry since 2000, is passionate about creating spaces where beauty and function work hand in hand. Her mission is to design organized environments that support rest, productivity, and ease. Influenced by her Mediterranean and Middle Eastern roots and a childhood spent in nature-rich settings, Desiree brings a unique, holistic approach to organizing—blending indoor and outdoor elements with thoughtful, lasting design. Having called San Francisco and Marin home for the past four decades, Des is grateful to live and work in a place that offers a wealth of cultural and outdoor experiences.
Favorite organizing item: Elfa Drawer Solutions – Versatile, space-saving, and easy to assemble with just a mallet, these drawers offer all-purpose storage solutions for any room or closet.

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.
Favorite organizing item: Velcro cord keepers–they keep the messiness manageable.
Favorite place in her home: I prefer to be out in the yard in the sun & fresh air vs. indoors!

Claire brings a unique blend of hands-on experience and heartfelt dedication to every project. With a background that includes building tiny homes, managing private estates, overseeing renovations, and even project-managing a fashion show, she’s no stranger to complex logistics and creative problem-solving. A natural-born organizer, Claire joined Changing Places in 2024 after working with San Rafael High School, where she taught students on design, engineering, and build for a tiny home. Claire is known for her can-do attitude, and ability to dive into the most challenging projects with clarity and calm. Originally from Michigan, she now calls Fairfax home, where she enjoys the natural beauty of the area with her beloved cat, L’il Bit.
Favorite Organizing Item: Bamboo drawer dividers and acrylic magazine holders.

Kirsten has been a professional organizer for over a decade, bringing a wealth of experience and a calm, solutions-focused approach to every project. She has worked with top Bay Area organizing companies, including NEAT Method, and has developed deep expertise in product selection and space planning.
Before entering the organizing industry, Kirsten served as Managing Director of Youth Programs at the Marin YMCA, where she honed her leadership and project management skills. Her thoughtful, client-centered style helps people create beautifully organized spaces that are both practical and personal.
Favorite Organizing Item: Elfa Closet Systems from The Container Store. They are amazingly efficient and work in most spaces.

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.