Jan Wencel

Spark Productivity founder Jan Wencel brings clarity to others through her passion for organization and teaching. Ardently curious and unwaveringly grounded, she combines an intuitive understanding of time management with a zest for living in the moment. She brings those gifts to others through dynamic workshops that help employees become more focused and productive.

A 12-year veteran of the Chicago advertising world, Jan well understands the stresses inherent in corporate life. As an account director at firms such as Leo Burnett and Draftfcb, she worked to tame potential chaos, developing systems to ensure that projects for Fortune 500 clients were launched on time and on budget.

In 2002, Jan took a year-long travel sabbatical from corporate life to explore the world. After living out of a backpack for 12 months, she returned home with a profound appreciation for the depth of focus and productivity that can be achieved through organization. Determined to empower others with that skill, she began a productivity training company to develop customized solutions to the challenges faced by companies of all shapes and sizes.

Jan’s affiliations reflect her passion for knowledge that improves people’s lives. She is a Certified Professional Organizer® and an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and NAPO-Chicago, as well as a member of the Chicagoland chapter of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). She also participates in National Speakers Association (NSA) training programs.

Jan is a member of the Network for Productivity Excellence (NPEX), where she helps develop quality standards for the organizing profession. She is a co-author of Insights on Productivity, a collection of essays about getting more done in the workplace.

When not conducting time management training in Chicago, Jan lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband in a rescued bungalow. When she’s not traveling, she’s biking, walking, watching movies, listening to music, dining, singing, or practicing yoga.