THATCHER — Hannah Colvin, with the Thunderbird School of Global Management, said the Gila Valley is a special place when it comes to entrepreneurship.
“When I see the small businesses on Main Street — which a lot of them are women-owned, which is super awesome — I just see that this is a place where small businesses can thrive,” Colvin said. “You have a lot of resources, not only the SBDC and through your Chamber, but through all the kinds of programs that are offered here. So it’s really special and I’m really, really excited that Dreambuilder continues to thrive here.”
Colvin was one of the speakers at 2024’s second DreamBuilder graduation in Graham County Wednesday at Eastern Arizona College. Thirteen women and one man completed the program designed to help existing and start-up businesses succeed.
Vickie Seppala, general manager of Safford operations for Freeport McMoRan — the other sponsor of DreamBuilder with the Thunderbird School — praised the graduates and the growing number of female business owners, saying, “Who better to meet the needs and wants of women than women?”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Featured speaker was Elsa Seballos, owner of Mi Casa Tortilla. She talked about how she was ready to close the business’ doors when she took DreamBuilder, but the program gave her a new perspective. Since graduating in 2023, sales at the Safford Mi Casa store have increased, Seballos has opened a second location in Morenci and she’s looking at expansion into the Maricopa County market.
She offered tips to the new graduates, including:
- Listen to people
- Do away with things and relationships that no longer serve you
- Digest the good and the bad
- Don’t be afraid of money
The Small Business Development Center at EAC operates the DreamBuilder program and, since its inception at the college, has differed from the program in other parts of the world. Instead of being operated as online only, as originally designed, the SBDC at EAC offers one in-person session each month in addition to the online course work.
The result is a 77-graduation rate compared to 27 percent when online only. That success prompted the Arizona Commerce Authority to make funding available to Small Business Development Centers around the state to implement the SBDC at EAC model.
The next DreamBuilder cohort will begin Jan. 21. Cost is $50. Click here to register.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
DreamBuilder graduates
- Tabitha Campbell
- Kristi Carrell
- Anansa Clifford
- Hyla Cline
- Juanita Coghill
- Lavor Fox
- Karen Fox
- Jenna Hoisington
- Tiffany Hoisington
- Christy Lochridge
- Vonna Miscovich
- Samantha Pearce
- Marikah Porter
- Wendy Shupe
