Women of Prescott
Strong. Passionate. Inspiring. In Prescott Woman Magazine’s Women of Prescott section, we honor the incredible women who shape our community — from business leaders and artists to educators, volunteers, and visionaries. Through their stories, we celebrate resilience, leadership, and the unique spirit that makes Prescott shine.
Elisabeth Ruffner Looks Back on a Life of Volunteerism, Fueled by Her Love for This City
Elisabeth (Bette) Friedrich was a medical student finishing her junior year at the University of Cincinnati when she met Prescott native Lester Ward (Budge) Ruffner, a recent graduate of the University College of Mortuary Science. The die was cast. The two became...
Bringing the Healing Power of Nutrition to the Silver Screen
Karen VanBarneveld says “W.T.F” (What the Food?) with her upcoming docuseries W hen Karen VanBarneveld saw her children and grandchildren developing food-related illnesses, she knew she had to take action, get educated and share what she learned with others. That’s...
A Life She Genuinely Loves
Although Helene Schaffer’s life experiences have been varied, there’s one thing she knows for sure: she has genuinely loved what she’s done.
Helene, the Operations Supervisor of National Bank of Arizona in Prescott, is set to retire August 31, after nearly twenty years in the banking industry. When she does, she’ll celebrate by doing more of what she loves: spending time with her family and continuing to
Local Barista Fills Cups and Hearts
To coffee drinkers, the barista in the superhero getup known as an apron can seem like she has magical powers. But who is the regular human who hands over that much-needed cappuccino or non-fat skinny vanilla something-or other? And why has she pursued this calling, taking orders and frothing drinks day in and day out?