I get a kick out of public speaking, especially when it leads to assisting others with their businesses...

The "Blizzard of 2007" caused postponement of many activities throughout Indiana, including the Association of Women Business Owners (AWBO) February meeting. As a result, freelance writer and marketing consultant Lisa Munniksma will present the "Garden of Image" during AWBO's March 13 meeting in West Lafayette. Munniksma will discuss how creating a positive business image translates into a better-targeted customer base, happier employees, and increased community respect.

"Image" is an intangible concept, and it's one that entrepreneurs often don't consider when they're working with their heads down. Your image is what attracts a customer to you in the first place. It is what gets you the call from the journalist and puts your name on the front page. It's what makes your business a place that others want to work. These aren't revolutionary concepts to AWBO members, but they're ones that may not have been considered in such a vital way.

Based in Frankfort, Munniksma has been involved in writing, editing, and image building since 1996 with a focus on small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She has had more than 100 articles published in a variety of national, regional, and local outlets, including The Indianapolis Star and Lafayette's Helen. She has represented companies and organizations of all sizes—from a husband-and-wife operation to a 33,000-member nonprofit organization—with her marketing and media work.

Munniksma can be reached through her website, www.lisa-writes.com, via e-mail at lisa@lisa-writes.com, or by telephone at 765-258-3913.

The Association of Women Business Owners meets at 11:45 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at MCL Cafeteria in West Lafayette. For more information about the organization, visit www.awbo.org.