2021 NAPO President’s Award Spotlight

“The President’s Award recognizes a NAPO member who has made a significant contribution benefiting the NAPO membership.”

In presenting this award to Kathy Vines, CPO, NAPO President Susie Hayman said, “This NAPO member of eight years works behind the scenes, serving in many capacities. She’s been an active member of her Chapter, while volunteering nationally as a member of the Conference Program Committee, the Membership Committee, the Nominating/Leadership Development Committee, the New to NAPO Community, and most recently, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Focus Group. Always viewing her volunteer work through the lens of “what’s best for NAPO”, she is a supportive force for all of us, no matter where we are in our career, what we look like or what we do. In fact, she probably doesn’t realize the true impact she has on our association. This year’s President’s award goes to star cheerleader Kathy Vines, CPO.”

Q.  How did you feel, and what did you think, when you heard your name called for the award?

I was ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED! Truth be told, I had just been texting my good friend, Wendy Buglio, CPO, a congratulations note as she’d just been announced as the winner of the “Service to NAPO” Award, so I wasn’t looking at the screen when the President’s Award graphic came up and Susie started speaking about it. When I looked up at the screen, there was a picture of me, and then another picture of me, and I was confused, thinking maybe some sort of weird screen saver of my own photos launched on my computer accidentally in that moment I wasn’t looking at the screen? After the 3rd one, I realized what might be going on and said out loud (to an empty room) “OH MY GOD! DID I WIN THE &%(*#^ PRESIDENT’S AWARD?????” and messages of “CONGRATULATIONS!” start popping up on the live-chat screen in front of me before they even said my name. I managed to pull my brain together and listen to what was being said about me, which then definitely had me crying! I was so gob smacked and humbled by the whole thing. I grabbed a screenshot of all the lovely messages people were sending on the chat in case they disappeared after the presentation. 

I wanted to instantly tell my husband, working in our home office down the hall, but had to pull myself together because I’d been such a crying mess he surely would have thought someone had died. I knocked on his door and he said I could enter (not on a Zoom call!) and I said, incredulously, “I just won the PRESIDENT’S AWARD from NAPO!!!” And he smiled with pride and said, “I know! I sent them all your pictures.” Sneaky devil.

The rest of the day was a bit of a swirl, even with the virtual lounge of people congratulating me, and being able to connect with the other award winners, Gayle Goddard and Wendy, such great company to be in! 

I had small pangs later that day where I could imagine what it would have been like to be in person, in an auditorium with hundreds of colleagues, as my face started appearing on HUGE SCREENS in a ball room, and what the rest of the day may have felt like for me had it not been a virtual conference. But I also realized how grateful I was that there were no cameras around and I didn’t have to get up on stage as a weepy mess in front of everyone, and I didn’t have to carry home a 5lb glass award in my carry-on (that arrived at my home the next day)!

Q.  How long had you been a NAPO member when you decided to volunteer? What inspired you to volunteer?

My first volunteer experience started in my first NAPO year (2013) at the Chapter level, when after about 6 months, I stepped up to the call to chair the Professional Development Seminar Day that was planned for the following year. It was a great experience and I appreciated the opportunity to have my hands in something so valuable for our members. 

My first volunteer experience at the National level began about 2 years after joining NAPO. I’d made some comments in a thread on POINT and the Chair of the Membership Committee reached out to ask if she could learn more about me and my interest of potentially getting involved in some bigger things. 

In both cases, each volunteer experience opened up more and more, and I don’t think I’ve had a break in volunteering yet! Each position allows me to bring my skills and interests into a project that brings value to our membership and our industry. I also got to make so many new connections and friendships with other members and board members and pioneers within our industry along the way!

Q.  What has been your most rewarding project and why? 

I’ve been able to play roles in a number of meaningful ways at the National level in the past couple of years, including Conference Committee for the Conference that Wasn’t (2020), the Conference that Went Virtual (2021), the Leadership and Nominating Committee for 2 years, and I was asked to lend a voice to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Focus Group in 2020 and 2021. I think that last opportunity may be the most rewarding, as I got to work with smart people who wanted to look at NAPO and our place in the world as an organization and as a collection of individuals in a very different way, and we got to lean into the challenges faced. I’m grateful to have been asked to play a role in that journey for our organization.

Q.  What are you currently working on for NAPO?

I rolled off of the Conference Committee and the Leadership and Nominating Committee this past May which created some space for me to become a Co-Lead role for one of my SIGs, the Speaking for Fees group. The SIGs are such an important and valuable benefit to our members, but it is entirely volunteer-member run, and I know it can be a struggle to find engaged leadership. I’ve been an engaged member for a number of years, and knew it was time for me to step up and play a role to give back to this group and help lead it!

Q.  Describe your most gratifying NAPO or business experience.

I don’t know if it’s a particular experience, but as much as I’ve done many behind-the-scenes type volunteer roles and Committee participation, I’ve also really enjoyed the role that I’ve been able to have throughout the years that help educate and develop our organization members and the industry. I’ve presented to 8 chapters, been an instructor for new organizer workshops for my Chapter, led the Business Building Blocks webinars and been a guest on NAPO’s podcast, been a speaker at the NAPO Conference and led an ICD educational session, and so much more. Whether I’m speaking to a larger audience from a stage or through a screen, or I’m working with the newer and veteran organizers that have hired me to be their business coach, I am grateful to have the opportunity to share my education, experience, and perspective to help move others forward in this amazing industry. 

If you’d asked me in 2013 when I started my business and joined NAPO if I could imagine doing ANY of that, I would have thought you were insane! I’m so grateful for where my NAPO volunteering has taken me and my business. I’m so grateful to have been recognized by Susie Hayman and the Board of NAPO for my contributions with this prestigious award. It really has been such an honor!

Kathy Vines, CPO, is owner of Clever Girl Organizes, and is a Coach (CTACC), Speaker and Author of Clever Girl’s Guide to Living with Less.

Do you share Kathy Vines passion and drive? Perhaps in Baltimore at the NAPO2022 Conference, you will find yourself walking toward the podium scrambling for the words to say thank you for winning the NAPO President’s Award!

About the Interviewer: Angela Loveless is a member of NAPO’s Awards and Recognition Committee. She is the owner of Actually Organized by Angela, LLC in Bolingbrook, IL and has been a NAPO Member since 2009.

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