By Kris McBride/EAC
THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College Small Business Development Center Business Analyst Torey Cranford recently represented Arizona and the businesses of Graham and Greenlee counties on a national stage during an America’s SBDC Next-Gen Collective meeting, sharing how entrepreneurship, collaboration and business education are helping strengthen rural communities.
Cranford, who serves as the Arizona SBDC Network’s Next-Gen Ambassador, was one of four SBDC professionals selected to present during the national roundtable. The virtual event brought together SBDC representatives from across the United States to exchange ideas, resources and best practices for supporting entrepreneurs and developing the next generation of SBDC leaders.
During her presentation, Cranford highlighted the unique opportunities and challenges of serving businesses in rural Eastern Arizona and discussed the impact of the DreamBuilder program offered through EAC SBDC.
“Torey represents the very best of rural economic development,” said Keith Alexander, EAC chief government relations officer. “She understands that strong communities are built by helping local entrepreneurs turn good ideas into sustainable businesses. The fact that SBDC professionals from across the country are now looking to Eastern Arizona College for ideas and best practices is a testament to Torey’s work and the impact of EAC SBDC.”
For Cranford, the work is personal.
Before joining EAC SBDC, she was an SBDC client for more than 10 years and later became a community partner and mentor to other entrepreneurs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped co-found Gila Valley Made, a shared retail space that supported more than 90 small businesses that had traditionally relied on events and festivals to reach customers.
That experience helped shape a philosophy she continues to bring to her work at EAC SBDC: Strong local businesses are not simply individual enterprises; together, they form the foundation of a resilient community.
That idea was especially evident as Cranford shared the history and purpose of DreamBuilder.
Developed through a partnership between Freeport-McMoRan and Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, DreamBuilder was created to provide entrepreneurship education and help foster strong, sustainable economies in communities surrounding mining operations worldwide. That mission has particular resonance in Graham and Greenlee counties, where mining is an important part of the regional economy and Freeport-McMoRan has been a longtime community partner.
Cranford understands the program from both sides.
She completed DreamBuilder as a small-business owner in 2019 while considering whether to expand her custom bakery from a private studio into a brick-and-mortar location. The planning process helped her examine the financial realities of expansion and determine that her existing business model was already profitable.
Today, she helps other entrepreneurs make those same kinds of decisions — not simply how to start or grow a business, but how to build one that is financially sound and positioned to last.
“We’re seeing businesses sustain,” Cranford told participants. “They’re not just an idea or a hobby that’s gone wild. … These businesses are lasting.”
EAC SBDC uses DreamBuilder as the foundation of a hybrid entrepreneurship program. Participants complete 13 online modules covering topics such as business planning, marketing, finance, and access to capital, then attend 11 weeks of in-person instruction, during which Cranford helps them apply what they are learning directly to their businesses.
Collaboration is an important part of EAC SBDC’s approach to DreamBuilder. EAC SBDC Center Director Joel Robinson works alongside Cranford to support the program and, as a Spanish speaker, helps ensure that Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs can participate and receive assistance in their preferred language.
“Torey understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with owning a small business in a rural community,” Robinson said. “She brings that experience, along with a genuine commitment to helping others succeed, to every entrepreneur she works with. We’re incredibly proud of the work she is doing.”
Cranford reported that while the standalone online DreamBuilder program has a 27% completion rate, EAC SBDC’s hybrid model has achieved a 77% completion rate. EAC SBDC celebrated 50 DreamBuilder graduates in spring 2026 and is preparing additional cohorts, including industry-specific programs and cohorts serving Graham and Greenlee counties.
More than 75 participants had preregistered for the upcoming cohorts at the time of Cranford’s presentation. The success of the local model has also helped demonstrate its potential statewide, with funding supporting 30 DreamBuilder cohorts expected to reach more than 300 entrepreneurs across Arizona.
But Cranford emphasized that the program’s impact is about more than numbers.
“My experience as a business owner, a community partner, an SBDC client [and] the DreamBuilder facilitator here at EAC SBDC has taught me that lasting impact begins with relationships,” Cranford said. “For me, that’s what this work is truly about. It’s building relationships, strengthening the businesses and helping my rural community grow and thrive.”
Her message resonated with SBDC professionals participating in the national call. Throughout Cranford’s presentation, the virtual meeting screen filled with applause and heart reactions, while participants praised her leadership and asked questions about the DreamBuilder model and its potential to support entrepreneurs in other communities.
Cranford has served with EAC SBDC for four years and specializes in home-based businesses, branding, marketing and community partner development. She was nominated for Arizona SBDC State Star recognition and was accepted into Cohort 35 of Project CENTRL through the Arizona Center for Rural Leadership.
Her presentation gave Cranford an opportunity to represent more than EAC SBDC on a national stage. It allowed her to share the story of the entrepreneurs, community partners and organizations working together to strengthen Graham and Greenlee counties.
Through programs such as DreamBuilder, Cranford and EAC SBDC are helping local entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable businesses — businesses that create opportunity today while helping build a stronger Eastern Arizona economy for generations to come.
For those who have dreamed of starting a business but aren’t sure where to begin, EAC SBDC is ready to help.
Prospective and existing business owners can contact Cranford at torey.cranford@eac.edu or (928) 428-8276, or visit EAC SBDC at 576 N. College Ave. in Thatcher to learn more about DreamBuilder and other business resources.
About EAC SBDC:
The EAC Small Business Development Center is part of a national and statewide network of small business assistance providers. The Center’s main goal is to give local small businesses the tools and training needed to be successful. The Center is funded by Eastern Arizona College with assistance from a grant provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBDC provides no-cost counseling to assist entrepreneurs with finding answers to the numerous questions that arise when starting or operating a business. The SBDC works in cooperation with the SBA, local Chambers of Commerce, and other community partnerships.
To take your business to the next level, contact us at sbdc@eac.edu or call (928) 428-8590.
About Eastern Arizona College:
Since 1888, Eastern Arizona College has been the undisputed Smart Higher Education Destination, shaping student dreams into reality. With a faculty of qualified and caring instructors, EAC is committed to preparing students for high-demand careers and advanced studies at top universities.
Offering a diverse range of over 90 degrees and certificates, EAC is home to the state’s premier nursing school, a fine arts program featuring Arizona’s only community college marching band, and an engineering program that equips students for success at top-tiered firms and universities.
Beyond academics, EAC is a vibrant community where students thrive, forging connections that last a lifetime. Experience on-campus housing, engage in over 30 clubs and organizations, participate in dynamic intramurals, and cheer for nationally ranked athletic and e-sports teams.
What sets EAC apart is its commitment to financial accessibility, allowing most students to graduate with $0 debt.
Choose EAC as your Smart Higher Education Destination. For more information, contact admissions@eac.edu or call (928) 428-8272.
