Guest speaker will help Mary Valley businesses think 'outside the square' at launch of new directory

Lorraine O'Neill will demonstrate how to shift your way of thinking and open the door to success when she appears as guest speaker at the launch of the Mary Valley local directory on Monday (EDS Nov 30) in Imbil.

Ms O'Neill loves life and is a passionate advocate for the mantra that "what you think is what you create".

She was invited to appear at the evening at the Imbil Bowling Club where the new Mary Valley Business and Community Directory will be launched.

Community service information is a new addition to the 2010 local directory, which is expected to be the primary source of information for valley residents, as well as becoming a useful tool for other organisations which work in the area.

It is just one project being delivered by Mary Valley Inc (MVI), the peak community group which connects the communities of the Mary Valley from Dagun through to Conondale.

Ms O'Neill is also a high performance/success driver who integrates business and life concepts through straight-thinking, practical strategies - creating outstanding "outside the square" results.

And her ideas are relevant for both your business and your personal life.

Coming from a working class background and hating school, Lorraine now has an MBA, has recently completed a PhD on high performing athletes and artists, and is focused on getting people to develop their dream goals.

Her international business consulting, event development and individual mentoring services allows her to have a hands-on, personal approach that helps to cultivate the capabilities of individuals, businesses and non-profit organisations.

Mary Valley project coordinator Kaili Parker-Price said Ms O'Neill would be motivational for the business operators and residents in the valley.

She said MVI continued to deliver on recommendations from the 2008 Mary Valley Business Expansion and Retention Project, and the directory had already proved a major marketing and networking tool.

"The MV BEAR survey gave us a snapshot of the business landscape in the valley for the first time, and it is now 12 months since we released that report," Mrs Parker-Price said.

"It identified the need to find out what businesses existed in the valley and the need to network and support those businesses, hence the development of the directory.

"It is now timely that we re-group and update residents and business operators on developments since the report was launched."

Mrs Parker-Price said there were now three exciting projects underway -- the identity project to position the valley in the tourist sector, the agritourism project to help landowners enter the tourist market, and the tourist experience review.

The directory launch and information evening opens at 6pm for a 6.30pm start on November 30 at the Imbil Bowling Club, Yabba Road, Imbil. Light snacks will be provided and drinks will be available at the bar.