THATCHER — Fiona DeYoung, community liaison for U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., told the audience at Eastern Arizona College on Thursday that 99.5 percent of all business in Arizona is small business, and 50 percent of those are owned by woman.
Female entrepreneurship was celebrated with the 2025 Small Business Woman of the Year awards, presented by the Small Business Development Center at EAC.
Jacquelyn Natal, owner of Delicious Desserts, received the award for Greenlee County; and Royce Hunt-Bell, owner of Roycycled Treasures and Roycycled Academy, the Graham County winner. Both are graduates of the Dreambuilder women’s business development program taught by the SBDC.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Natal turned her hobby of baking into a business 11 years ago, and supports numerous community fund-raisers and local houses of worship throughout Greenlee County.
“I just feel thankful and blessed that the little bit that I do, which is bringing sweets and desserts, that people appreciate that and enjoy it. That just makes me happy,” Natal said.
Hunt-Bell has been designing decoupage paper and stencils, as well as instructing craft techniques and organizing conventions that bring visitors to the Gila Valley for nine years. She serves on the Graham County Chamber of Commerce board and volunteers with SEACUS and other nonprofit organizations.
“My grandmother taught me a long time ago, if you see a need, fill it. That’s how I live my life,” Hunt-Bell said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Finalists for the award included:
- Trinity, Dominique and Mariyah Bejarano with ReVive Innovations
- Jenna Ferrin with Country Financial
- Kym Gifford with Keyhole Properties
- Karen Martin with Quality H2O and Ice
- Elsa Saballos with Mi Casa Tortilla
- Maylean Taylor with GiGi’s Treasures
- Neva Corbell with Cactus Rose Aesthetics
Graham County Supervisor Paul David presented the proclamation of October as Women’s Small Business Month; Taylor Banks, 2024 Small Business Woman of the Year for Graham County, presented the Graham County award; Marina Morales, with Greenlee County, presented the Greenlee County award; DeYoung presented Certificates of Congressional Recognition to every finalist; and the keynote speech was presented by Sean Wenham with Freeport-McMoRan, who said the mining giant supports women in leadership positions.
“It’s a walk that we actually walk. It’s not just a bright idea, it’s not a buzz word for us,” Wenham said. “Diversity is not a bad thing. It’s how the best ideas and the best solutions find their way to address the real world’s opportunities and challenges that businesses (encounter).”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
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 & Main Street Bean
- 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/Roycycled Academy
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
Editor’s note: Royce Hunt-Bell is the wife of reporter David Bell.
