THATCHER — Before reading the proclamation that October is Small Business Woman Month in Graham County, County Supervisor Clay Mack praised the finalists for the Graham County Small Business Woman of the Year Award.
“Owning your own business is not easy. It has a lot of trials and most of the time you have two choices — you either sink or swim. You all are here today because you swam,” Mack said.
During the ceremony put on by the Small Business Development Center at Eastern Arizona College on Thursday, Candice Garcia, owner of Candice’s Creations, was named the 2026 Graham County Small Business Woman of the Year.
“I was not expecting it,” Garcia said. “There are so many great women business owners here in the Valley, and I still think of myself as a newbie.”
Garcia credited her family for their support in helping her business succeed, having started her confectionary business out of her home. She also said her participation twice in the Dreambuilder program has helped her business grow and expand to catering events and a food truck.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
2026 finalists for Graham County Small Business Woman of the Year included:
- Dominque, Mariayah and Trinity Bejarano — ReVive Innovations
- Kym Gifford — Keyhole Properties
- Sarah Henderson — Sarah’s Bullpen
- Jessica McBride — Finding Sunshine
- Laurie McClain — Rustic Barn Bakery
- Lori Rhinehart — Daley Accounting
- Brittney Rossow — Bark Avenue Paw Spa
- Maylean Taylor — Gigi’s Treasures
The Greenlee County Small Business Woman of the Year was presented Wednesday at the Clifton Social Club; however, the winner was unable to attend.
Instead, Brandi Bodine, owner of 3-Way, Stage Stop and Mt. Graham Market convenience stores, received her award Thursday at the Graham County ceremony.
She said her favorite part of owning three businesses in two counties is helping the communities in which her stores are located.
“We try to make sure that our money stays local,” Bodine said. “To help all — the schools or the kids — with whatever they need up there, we try to provide.”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Bodine and Garcia each received $2,000 for their businesses, $500 advertising packages from Double R Communications and trophies from Trophies N’ Tees.
Speakers at the ceremony included Amanda Patterson with United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Paola Vergara with Freeport-McMoRan, and Torey Cranford and Joel Robinson with the SBDC.
Small Business Woman of the Year is sponsored by Freeport-McMoRan, the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Trophies N’ Tees, Double R Communications, Eastern Arizona College and the SBDC.
Previous Graham County Business Woman of the Year winners:
- 2013 — Janet Quinn, Trophies N’ Tees
- 2014 — Kally Efros, Indigo Mountain Wellness, Toys & Gifts
- 2015 — Dr. Debbie Chapman, Desert Cross Veterinary Hospital
- 2016 — Sheryl Goodman, Taylor Freeze
- 2017 — Jenny Rogers, Safford Dance Academy
- 2018 — Jenny Howard, Ginaveve’s Marketplace
- 2019 — Margo Henrie, Fizek Fitness
- 2023 — Dr. Susan Jones, Gila Valley Clinic
- 2024 — Taylor Banks, Gila All-Star Cheer
- 2025 — Royce Hunt-Bell, Roycycled Treasures
- 2026 — Candice Garcia, Candice’s Creations
Previous Greenlee County Business Woman of the Year winners:
- 2017 — Susan Snyder, Chase Creek Marketplace
- 2018 — Meghan Wagley, Chaparral Mini-Mart and Motel
- 2019 — Jackie Norton, PJ’s Restaurant
- 2023 — Joyann Hernandez, Sunflower Environmental
- 2024 — Christine Roof, Humble Pie
- 2025 — Jacquelyn Natal, Delicious Desserts
- 2026 — Brandi Bodine, 3-Way, Stage Stop and Mt. Graham Market
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
