Tri-County Small Business Women of the Year Honored

The Small Business Women of the Year honors for Graham, Greenlee, and Gila counties were awarded by Eastern Arizona College's Small Business Development Center in a celebration of business and success. The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, brought together the greatest businesspeople from these countries.

Dr. Susan Jones, owner of Gila Valley Clinic, has been selected Graham County's Small Business Woman of the Year for 2023. She became the sole owner in 1995 after a spectacular journey that began in 1984 as part of the clinic. Her commitment and leadership helped the practice grow from a two-doctor operation to a successful medical center with seven physicians, four nurse practitioners, a physician's assistant, and two mental health counselors.

Dr. Susan has also been an active member of the community, acting as the local hospice director, the director of physicians for nursing homes, and a key figure in the development of Samaritan Home, a respite and information center for the local homeless population.

Joyann Hernandez, owner of Sunflower Environmental in Greenlee County, was named Small Business Woman of the Year. Despite the fact that she started her environmental consulting firm during the pandemic in 2020, she has successfully extended her clientele to include big corporations such as Freeport-McMoRan, Raytheon, Tucson Electric Power, and Arizona State University. Hernandez's community involvement includes STEM awards to local teachers, Earth Day lectures for school students, and sponsorship of active participation in running and cycling activities.

Amanda Haas, owner of Animal Magnetism, was named the first Gila County Small Business Woman of the Year. She has been grooming dogs in the Globe-Miami region for three decades and is also an AKC Star certified canine behavioral specialist. Her dedication to her community includes assisting with many organizations and establishing Jacob's K9 Field of Dreams, a training facility for local 4-H children.

Each winner got a $1,000 award, a trophy, a gift bag, a certificate of honor from Congressman Juan Ciscomani, and a $500 marketing package for winners from Graham and Greenlee counties.

This event drew 20 nominations from Graham County, 5 from Greenlee County, and 14 from Gila County, highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of women in small business throughout the region. The Small Business Women of the Year honors recognize these great entrepreneurs' tenacity, ingenuity, and community participation.