Sonja
Owner/Operator
From a young age, Sonja found organizing to be a relaxing pastime. Prone to anxiety, there was something about forming order out of clutter that she found soothing. Soon friends and family began asking her to organize their spaces or pack for an upcoming move.
After journeying with her own parents through their downsizing process, she recognized that her skills could have a greater purpose in helping others.
What started out as hobby soon became a career, and in 2015, The Pack Up Artist was born!
Now, years later, Sonja and her team of Pack Up Artists provide home clear outs, decluttering, organization, and packing services to clients throughout Minnesota!
As a parent and concerned citizen, she is passionate about striving to protect our environment for the next generation. With every job, our team discovers new ways to reduce waste, minimize landfill contribution, and connect folks who can creatively repurpose old items into something new!
Sonja is mom to Cooper, step mom to Esther and Trygve, and wife to Tony. She lives in Circle Pines, MN with their blended family and a pack of furry canines that keep them on their toes! She loves to dog sled, spend time on the North Shore, explore the BWCA, garden, and pursue the world’s greatest Root Beer!
Suzi Hilger
Organization Specialist
Back in 2016, Suzi found herself wondering, “What do I really want to do with the rest of my life?” The answer was: Find something she’s excited to do, using her skills to make a big difference in the lives of others. She noticed her kid’s previous youth director, Sonja, had started her own organization/packing business, so Suzi gave her a call. Three years later, Suzi’s still hanging out at the Pack Up Artist and loving her job!
Suzi gets excited when she sees a cluttered, unorganized space, wanting to dive in and make it better! Whether it’s organizing a craft room, downsizing a client’s Tupperware collection, or emptying a house down to the last paper clip, she gets a thrill when she sees the finished spaces, and the relief in clients’ eyes knowing they are free of their clutter!
Suzi is a mom to three grown kids, and a wife to Pat, the happiest man on earth! She loves to read, dig in her flower gardens, watch movies, make cards, organize, laugh with friends, and pet every puppy she meets!
Jen Gay Foline
Operations Manager
Jen Foline joined the Pack Up Artist in May 2021. She is genuinely energized by helping others, and completely understands and empathizes with clients who have built up “collections of treasures” over the years. In addition to general helping, she enjoys the overall transformation of a chaotic space, to one that frees the mental weight of “stuff”. She knows that getting rid of Clutter and unused things, can open a new chapter of doing creative activities, or relaxing without worry. Working primarily with women, she absolutely loves the teamwork, togetherness, care and sometimes physical strength it takes to rise to each challenge. As a result, our clients can see that women can do anything, and they do it fabulously “together.”
Jen enjoys Painting, Giving new life to old furniture (inspired by Flea Market Flip) and is a bit obsessed with Lake Superior Agates (a collection that is never likely to downsize.) She loves a good laugh, and has many with her Husband Joe, and 2 witty and sweet daughters. Diesel is the baby of the family, and likes to remind everyone who is a good, handsome boy.
Izzy Mayhew
Izzy joined The Pack Up Artist in February 2022 shortly after graduating with a degree in General Business. Similarly to Suzi, she had previously known Sonja when she was the youth director at her church. Her brother-in-law reached out asking if she would be interested in the position, and she jumped at the chance. Izzy does various tasks for the business, but most notably she is the primary contact/distributor for client donations. She understands clients wanting their items to find a new home where they will be used by those who really need it. Izzy has developed partnerships with many individuals and organizations to find items a good next home!
Izzy enjoys being with her friends, family, and most importantly Sparky – her fur-baby she has with her partner Derek. She enjoys baking treats and trying new recipes in her spare time. Along with reading, painting, gaming, and being outside!
*Non-profits or individuals looking for donation partnerships reach out to pua.officetasks@gmail.com
Join Our Team
We are always looking for talented, energetic staff!
This could be you if you…
- are a natural organizer
- are available to work between 9 AM and 4 PM weekdays (not every day)
- can lift a minimum of 30 lbs
- can be on your feet for 3-6 hours
- have reliable transportation to jobs located throughout the metro area
- are a highly-motivated team player who displays initiative and takes direction with a positive attitude
- like to get your hands (and sometimes more) dirty
- are moderately physically fit
- enjoy home clear outs, hauling away unwanted items, packing, unpacking, organizing kitchens, closets, bedrooms, garages and more! Each job is different!
Do you have what it takes to be a Pack Up Artist? Complete our employment application today!
