THATCHER — The Small Business Development Center at Eastern Arizona College is asking for the public’s help in identifying female business owners deserving of recognition.
Nominations are now being accepted for Small Business Woman of the Year, one each in Graham and Greenlee counties.
To qualify, nominees must:
- Be the owner or part-owner of a small business, headquartered in Graham or Greenlee County
- Own a business with 50 or fewer employees
- Be an active owner
- Be in business for a minimum of three years
- Show evidence of community involvement
Independent consultants (i.e., Scentsy, DoTerra, Avon, etc.); managers, vice presidents, chief financial officers and chief executive officers; and previous grand-prize winners of the Small Businesswoman of the Year Award are not eligible for nomination.
Self-nominations will be accepted and multiple nominations for the same business woman are encouraged; however, finalists will be selected based on quality and not quantity of nominations submitted.
Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 30. Nominations will be reviewed by an appointed committee and the top 10 from each county will be selected, as well as one outstanding nominee per county. Click here to nominate.
The Small Business Woman of the Year from Greenlee County will be announced at a ceremony at the Clifton Social Club on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and Small Business Women of the Year from Graham County will be announced Wednesday, Oct. 29 at a ceremony at the Hoopes Activity Center on the EAC Thatcher campus. Each woman named Small Business Woman of the Year will receive $2,000 for her business.
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
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
