Women Who Lead

Originally born in Mexico, Leslie Contreras migrated to The United States at a very young age with the determination to reach success. From a young age, her parents instilled in her the power of education and focused on making sure she had access to it.

Featuring Vanessa Evans, Sheri Shaw, Candy Hull, and Audra Yamamoto

When Jean-Marie Bellington and her husband Jim began searching for the perfect place to live in 2007, they had no idea their purchase of a commercial business in Prescott would lead to what has quickly become a rejuvenated spot for locals and visitors. 

The women of the APS Northwest Division don’t just help keep the lights on; they’re active members of the community who serve on more than 20 community boards and committees. For example, Mackenzie Rodgers, APS Northwest Division director, and second-generation APS employee volunteers on boards for the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arizona, and Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation.

Liberty Casarez’s giving heart has served her well in her position as the Community and Public Relations Director for Findlay Automotive Group Prescott’s Toyota and Buick/GMC Dealerships. Her passion, determination, and commitment to making a difference in her community have been evidenced since she arrived in Prescott nearly a year ago.

Over the past fifteen years, the Wagners have been a part of the construction industry in Prescott and have watched firsthand the growth of this town. For the past five years, Courtney worked as the business manager for Wagner Flooring LLC, which she owned with her husband. In December 2018, she decided to change careers and became a Loan Originator and is now a Business Development  Manager for the Riggs Team at Guild Mortgage, focusing on helping families purchase the homes she and her husband had been a part of the building throughout the years.

The craft beverage industry has no intent of slowing down throughout the US, and that includes right here in Prescott.  In recent years, the town has seen local crafters staking claim— from Superstition Meadery on Gurley Street, to Granite Mountain Brewing on Cortez Street, to the newest Stoic Cider based in Williamson Valley. 

After growing up in an artistic family here in Prescott, Arizona, and a short go at working for her brother in the Los Angeles movie industry, Sadie moved to Durango, Colorado to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and attend Fort Lewis College. While working toward her bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, Sadie also excelled in business and marketing classes, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. The timing of her education coincided with the global transformation to doing business online, which would tie Sadie directly into her future career at Sadie Sarti Design Co.

The management team at Ponderosa Hotel Management is not new to the world of Hotel Restaurant Management Programs (HRM). Still, this August, the team is taking advantage of a new opportunity by participating in the HRM program at Yavapai College’s Prescott campus. The program launches August 19 and will not only bring a skilled labor pool to the region’s hotels, resorts, and restaurants but will also provide a new career path for local students.

Although many people think of farming as a male-dominated industry, women play a significant role in growing our food and, therefore, nourishing our families and

In fact, a 2017 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed women farmers out-earned their male counterparts. An article on the United States Department of Agriculture website states that women make up 30 percent of farm operators in this country. And here in town, they’re making huge contributions, not just in terms of offering local produce, but also, economically.

Working Independently but Together Provides Camaraderie and Increases Productivity … and It’s Fun!We are part of the new sharing economy among the growing population of independent workers here in the Greater Prescott Area. We choose to work independently...