Newspaper to host first Women in Business luncheon series

The Golden Triangle News Service, along with The Gazette, will be hosting the annual Women in Business luncheon series on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Riverside Casino and Golf Course.

Marlo Higgins will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. Higgins, commonly known as ?Chief Inspirational Officer? began her professional career in 1989 in the human resources field. After spending time working in both the nonprofit and corporate world, Higgins decided to bring her own brand and now speaks to businesses on how to inspire their employees, according to her website?s biography.

Registration for the event will begin at 11 a.m., and will allow for time to network. The luncheon will begin at 11:30.

Higgins? keynote presentation ?Ignite Your Success? will be followed by a panel discussion led by Dawn Oliver Wiand, executive director of Iowa Women?s Foundation in Coralville. Panelists include Nicole Baron-Kruse, store manager of Health and Wholeness in Fairfield; Shari DeMaris, senior vice president and CFO of Hills Bank and Trust in Hills; Melissa Flowers, Pilot Grove Savings Bank marketing director (Pilot Grove); Sarah Grunewaldt, executive director of Main Street Washington; Freda Sojka, CEO of Simply Soothing in Columbus Junction.

Individual luncheon tickets are available for sale. A table can also be purchased for group seating. Following the luncheon, an optional, special workshop led by Higgins is available.

Workshop participants will learn how to evaluate and be accountable for personal successes, create a visual display of success and implement those successes into current and future business plans.

For event questions, contact Elizabeth Kimmel at 319-368-8962 or at elizabeth.kimmel@thegazette.com.