THATCHER — Taylor Banks has had a busy 2024.
Banks, the owner of Gila All-Star Cheer, serves on the boards for the Boys and Girls Club of the Gila Valley, the Graham County Chamber of Commerce and the Safford Downtown Association; she volunteers for her daughters’ school; has taken her cheer students to numerous cheer competitions this year, as well as perform at every public event and parade; and she moved her business into a new location.
All that work paid off Thursday, when her name was announced as the 2024 Graham County Small Business Woman of the Year.
“To be up here right now, I’m looking around and I look up to so many of you in this room; I look up to so many of you and it’s such an honor just to be nominated next you guys,” Banks said to the other nominees.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The Small Business Woman of the Year Award is presented to a Graham and Greenlee female business owner by the Small Business Development Center at Eastern Arizona College. The 2024 Greenlee County Small Business Woman of the Year is Christine Roof, owner of Humble Pie in Duncan.
“They asked about giving back to the community, and I received so much from my community, so much love, especially during Covid and during my cancer, that it’s so easy to give back when you’re that loved. It just is,” Roof said.
Roof has owned Humble Pie for 26 years, and supports numerous local activities, including the Duncan Girl Scout chapter, 4-H livestock sales, the Spirit Couch for Duncan homecoming, kindergarten Letter P parties, as well as donating pizza to countless events and fund-raisers.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
All finalists from both counties received a gift basket and certificate of Congressional recognition from U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz. As winners, Banks and Roof each received $2,000, a $500 advertising package from Double R Communications, and a trophy donated by Trophies N’ Tees owner Janet Quinn, the first winner of the Graham County Small Business Woman of the Year award.
Guest speakers at Thursday’s ceremony included state Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford; Graham County Supervisor John Howard, R-Dist. 2; Fiona De Young, community liaison for Ciscomani; and Martha Lujan with Freeport-McMoRan.
Sponsors of the Small Business Woman of the Year Award include Freeport-McMoRan, Eastern Arizona College, Trophies N’ Tees, Double R Communications, Jars & Lace wedding planning and event service, and the Small Business Development Center at EAC.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Past 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 — Graham County, Jenny Rogers, Safford Dance Academy
Greenlee County, Susan Snyder, Chase Creek Marketplace
2018 — Graham County, Jenny Howard, Ginaveve’s Marketplace
Greenlee County, Meghan Wagley, Chaparral Mini-Mart and Motel
2019 — Graham County, Margo Henrie, Fizek Fitness
Greenlee County, Jackie Norton, PJ’s Restaurant
2023 — Graham County, Dr. Susan Jones, Gila Valley Clinic
Greenlee County, Joyann Hernandez, Sunflower Environmental
2024 — Graham County, Taylor Banks, Gila All-Star Cheer
Greenlee County, Christine Roof, Humble Pie
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