Contributed Article
THATCHER – Torey Cranford, a business analyst and DreamBuilder facilitator with Eastern Arizona College’s Small Business Development Center, has been selected to participate in Class 35 of Project CENTRL.
Cranford has been with the SBDC for the past 3.5 years, bringing more than 20 years of small business ownership experience to her role. Before joining the SBDC, she successfully owned and operated Cakes with TLC for 15 years, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face as they build and grow their businesses.
For the past three years, Torey has served as the facilitator of the DreamBuilder program, guiding aspiring and existing business owners as they build confidence, strengthen their skills, and develop sustainable businesses. Her passion lies in helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into action and providing the tools, knowledge, and support needed for long-term success.
Beyond her professional work, Torey is deeply committed to serving her community. She currently serves as President of the Graham County Chamber of Commerce and as a Board Member of Nathaniel’s Childhood Cancer Foundation. On July 1, 2026, she will begin her term as President of Safford Rotary, continuing her dedication to community service, leadership development, and economic growth throughout Eastern Arizona.
Torey’s combination of real-world business ownership, entrepreneurial education, and community leadership makes her a trusted resource and champion for the small business community throughout Eastern Arizona.
She has been married to her husband, Randy, for 27 years and is the proud mother of two children, Nick and Emaleah Davis (Ethan), and grandmother to two grandsons, Maverick and Colter.
The Arizona Center for Rural Leadership equips and empowers leaders to meet the needs of rural Arizona. The flagship program, Project CENTRL, has trained over 750 Arizona leaders since 1983. Project CENTRL’s impact on rural Arizona is significant, as participants hold many leadership positions across the state.
Sixteen participants were competitively selected for Class 35, which held its first seminar June 4-6, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Flagstaff, AZ. Project CENTRL Class 35 will be traveling the state over the next 12 months, participating in nine seminars, including Effective Communication, Natural Resources and the Rural Economy, State Budget Basics: Healthcare, Education & Corrections, Agriculture in an International Border Community & Public Policy in Arizona. They will travel to Sonora, Mexico; Gettysburg, PA; and Washington, D.C. to explore leadership lessons from all perspectives. The program culminates with a team “Make A Difference” project where class graduates address how they would help address and solve some of rural Arizona’s crucial issues and challenges.
The Fundamentals of Leadership seminar at DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff in Flagstaff, AZ, provided important opportunities to learn about personal communication and learning styles, and to make connections with each other and alumni.
Scott Koenig, MBA and alumnus of Class 21, serves as the program’s fifth Executive Director, based at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Arizona Center for Rural Leadership is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to ensuring rural Arizona is healthy, vibrant, and sustainable. Since 1983, it has developed leaders and established a network of problem-solvers, decision-makers, and spokespeople for rural Arizona. Visit www.centrl.org for more information.
