Pictured above is The Sedona Women’s board of directors for 2021-2022. President of The Sedona Women, Linda Scott, is in the first row, center.
THE SEDONA WOMEN
MAKING A DIFFERENCE THEN, NOW & TOMORROW
FOREWORD BY LINDA SCOTT, PRESIDENT, THE SEDONA WOMEN
My husband and I moved to Sedona six years ago. I was unpacking boxes when my neighbor stopped by to say “hello.” We chatted, and she invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. As she was leaving, she said, “I’m picking you up on Wednesday morning at 9:15, and you’re going with me to The Sedona Women meeting and you’re going to join me on the program committee.” I did, and that has made all the difference. When I walked into that meeting six years ago, here is what I saw and felt: Welcoming smiles, women of various ages engaged in conversations and a positive can-do energy that was both appealing and formidable. As I met more members and attended more meetings, I learned more about this group, all the while meeting amazing women and making new friends. The Sedona Women was founded by Helen Wolfe and a group of Sedona friends in 2000. While our main goal is to meet new people and have fun through various activities and trips, we hold fundraisers and participate in various community-based activities in conjunction with local organizations.
Organizations in the area know they can turn to The Sedona Women in times of need or crisis. We evolve to support the changing needs of the community. The group also sponsors female scholars whose educations have been interrupted. We currently are sponsoring five such scholars. We recently started the Helen Wolfe Endowment Fund through the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona to enable us to continue this important work in perpetuity. Many of our members have had careers. A good number have owned businesses, and some still do. One member was among the first women to own a McDonald’s franchise; another ran her family’s dance costume business; another was a magazine publisher. Many members worked for major corporations when women were being hired for the first time ever in sales, engineering, operations, technology and legal counsel. Today, they’re “Making a Difference: Then, Now and Tomorrow,” whether in leadership, on a committee or volunteering on a regular basis. Many serve as officers of other local organizations and some currently hold or have held elective office. In short, The Sedona Women are a group of intelligent, fun-loving, service-oriented women who enjoy each other’s company and are thrilled we all landed in Sedona. Visit thesedonawomen.com to learn more.
Renee Taylor
“For the past 22 years, my husband and I have owned three art and jewelry galleries. From an early age, it was always a dream to have an art gallery, but I never imagined it would be in such a beautiful place. Our team has many strong women, but their real strength comes from how they all work together, dive in and work outside of their comfort zone. It takes a considerable amount of teamwork to do a lot of what they do. Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow and create something positive in this world. As women it’s easy to be hard on ourselves, get frustrated when we don’t accomplish everything on our list or make mistakes. We need to give everyone grace, including ourselves, because we are all trying to navigate this complex reality the best we can. At the end of the day, we should feel proud knowing we did our absolute best, even if we didn’t accomplish everything we set out to do.”
Leslie Wagner
“I’m a Sedona native, and I run the business with my husband, Sammy Wagner, my mom, Debbie Miller, and my uncle, Rod Zaun. The Wood Joint is a business that my grandparents started. I love what we do. It’s an amazing process to see how unfinished pieces of wood become gorgeous cabinets ready for someone’s home, office or commercial space. This is true craftsmanship at work. I also really enjoy working with our contractors, designers and clients and seeing how our cabinets transform their space. It’s so rewarding to see how happy the client is with the finished product, and many clients have become good friends while working together over the years. There was a definite learning curve to balancing my work and home life when I first started out at The Wood Joint a little over two years ago. My husband and I would go from the shop to home and in the beginning. We’d talk about work, projects we have in production and the ones coming up 24/7. We had to learn how to ‘turn off work’ and set up a rule not to talk about work after a certain time. We don’t always stick to this rule, but it helps us to reset and focus on our family and spend quality time together. Being a female small business owner in the construction industry has pushed me to grow, learn and adapt at a very quick pace. When I started with the business, it was also the start of COVID. This was a challenging time for everyone and also my debut as a business owner. We’re very blessed to be going on almost 50 years in business with a loyal customer base that’s committed to quality and craftsmanship alike.”
Katie Cook
“I’m the director of food, beverage and events at Sedona Golf Resort in the Village of Oak Creek. I’m also formerly Katie Draxler. I’m a driven woman, a Sedona native, a graduate of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and Sedona Red Rock High School. I recently received Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau’s “Women’s Business leadership Award.” Through my leadership in recent years, Sedona Golf Resort has been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine, the Knot, Wedding Wire and 12NBC. I’m a great example of managing both work and home. I strive to create environments where teams thrive. At home, she is a role model for her 3-year-old daughter Abbie and 1-year-old son Bryce. At work, I have built a loyal team, and I’m proud to prove that women can be great leaders.”
Claudia Gonzalez Rodea
“I practically grew up in the kitchen. I learned how to make great recipes from scratch from my relatives. I worked in the federal government before opening my business Tamaliza. It started with the idea of offering old-fashioned Mexican cooking with no processed food. My business eventually became so popular that I was finally able to open my own shop in West Sedona in February of 2017. We have to believe in the product that we offer. We have to be consistent. Customers will appreciate good flavor, good product and good quality. Customers can feel the passion that we have. I only have women in my kitchen. They can feel the mothering flavors. The flavor is different. I’m so grateful because my team really cares about the business, the cooking, integrity, the flavors, the quality.”
Natalie Kurz
“This year marked my twentieth year of living in Sedona. With over two decades of industry experience and deep ties in real estate, I’m a true seasoned professional. As branch manager and business development officer for Stewart Title in Sedona, I work closely with title and escrow staff, realtors, lenders and clients (just to name a few), ensuring smooth transactions. I’m a creative wiz at marketing, business and relationship building. My strong character and diligence, combined with her expertise is the foundation of her success. The things in life I hold most dear are my family and my four-legged fur babies. I’m very passionate about my community and serve as a governing board member for the Humane Society of Sedona. My philosophy is simple: Be kind, operate with integrity, and treat others with respect.”
Heather Hermen
“I own Front Burner Media, specializing in marketing, social media management, and public relations for destinations, small businesses and nonprofits. I enjoy helping destinations and businesses maximize their investment by reaching as many people as possible to tell their story. I work with Prescott, Williams and Cottonwood to help invite visitors from around the world to experience the beauty of Northern Arizona. By being self-employed, I’m able to devote time to the community and give back whenever possible. As a Rotarian I strive to live by the moto: “people of action.” I volunteer in the community garden in the Village of Oak Creek, assist the Sedona School District whenever possible, support the Verde Valley Imagination Library and other community groups in need. Being busy is something everyone can relate to, but I find balance and scheduling priorities make it realistic and easier to manage tasks at hand. Being a mom, wife, business owner and involved community member are all achievable without feeling overwhelmed. I like to remind working women: It’s OK to say, ‘no.’ Pick and choose what will make the most difference, set an example for youth, and make it easier to go to bed at night without worrying.”
Makenzie Sulfaro
“I’ve been working in the fitness industry for the last six years and teaching Pilates for four years. I completed Polestar Pilates comprehensive training. I’m also certified in TRX, Barre, and NASM and teach a mix of classes. My loud and upbeat personality is the perfect motivator to help you get the most out of your class. After losing over 100 pounds and finding a new appreciation for life and activities, my goal is to help others reach their full potential and enjoy their lives. That newfound love and appreciation for life and living a healthy and active lifestyle is what led me to open Cottonwood’s Sultivate in 2020, with the support of my husband Joe. Sultivate is a reformer Pilates and group fitness studio that focuses on helping people feel their best through movement. At Sultivate, expect to be surrounded with people sharing this same passion for Pilates, along with a holistic approach to nutrition and group fitness. Our experienced instructors customize each class to suit your needs and experience level with one goal in mind: To help others reach their own fitness goals and enjoy the journey. I get everything done by leaning on the amazing team including my instructors, studio assistant and my husband. I would not make it through a day without them. The tip I would give anyone in business: you can’t do it all yourself.”
Molly Spangler
“My job can be tremendously rewarding. I do what I do because I see how it helps others achieve a higher quality of life. I’ve served as the city of Sedona’s Economic Development Director for almost six years. The Economic Development Department is charged with supporting local businesses and diversifying Sedona’s economy. My role includes serving as a business advocate for local businesses and those interested in doing business in Sedona. I’m also actively engaged in building and maintaining relationships that build on the economic development efforts of the city and leverage assistance for our businesses. My work isn’t just professional, it’s personal too. I want to better our community because I want to live in a beautiful sustainable region with opportunities for my children to work and thrive. My family often gets forced into civic lessons they didn’t ask for, but I see how our children are embodying the value of community service. My work can be intense with long hours, but this allows me to demonstrate the importance of community engagement to my family. I often get asked how to balance my career with being a wife, mother and daughter. There’s no silver bullet to compartmentalizing these roles, but I find that bringing my family along in my journey is beneficial to all of us. I’ve found that my family values and passion for my family’s wellness has only made me a better employee and community servant.”
Kachina House
The three women who own Kachina House have spent almost two decades working closely with the indigenous peoples of North America. Learn more about them below. Here’s what they had to say about running a business: “All three of us enjoy sharing our love of the cultures and arts of the indigenous peoples of North America. This passion for what we do and the cultures we are helping to share with a larger audience has allowed us to take Kachina House from a small shop to the largest distributor of Native American arts in Arizona. As women small-business owners, the one bit of wisdom we can pass on to someone starting out would be to focus on your audience. You have to realize that your goal is not for everyone. You will work harder than you ever have. You will realize that ‘working for yourself’ actually means you are working for your vendors and your customers. And at the end of the day, you will feel satisfied with what you have accomplished.”
Toby Frank
“I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Early inhabitants of New Mexico and Arizona were always a draw for me when I vacationed in the area. I would visit the sites and learn anything I could about the people who created the arts and crafts. After a long career in international education and intercultural communication, I chose to make the Southwest my home.”
Judy Frank
“Just like Toby, I also was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I’ve long been drawn to the pottery and textiles of the southwestern Native peoples. I would make my way to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I would travel whenever I could. I would browse through the shops and historical sites gaining more knowledge about these artists and their beautiful pottery and weavings. When the opportunity came to relocate to the Southwest, I left my long law career at university and moved.”
Patty Topel
“I was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. I studied art from the time I was a little girl and have spent my life using it in every job I’ve ever had. My lifetime in the cold weather of the northern states and a desire to move to a warmer climate brought me to Sedona to help run and grow Kachina House.”
WOMEN TO WATCH
Barbara Baker
Barbara Baker of Barbara Baker Realty runs a boutique real estate firm in Sedona. Her motto: I will get you top dollar for your home.
Magdalena Romanska
Magdalena Romanska of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is on a mission to get your home sold.
Michelle Grimm
Michelle Grimm is the RE/MAX Sedona Real Estate Team business manager, chief financial officer and social media guru.
Kristin Boston
Kristin Boston is the co-owner of Zerorez Northern Arizona. Zerorez uses non-toxic chemicals to get both residential and commercial spaces very clean.
Lindsey Dale
Lindsey Dale is the executive chef and director of beverage at Ambiente, a forthcoming landscape hotel in Sedona.
Hallie R. Tessendorf
Hallie R. Tessendorf, JD, is an estate planning lawyer with Dana Whiting Law who re-entered the legal profession after raising three children.
Jeannine Kinney
Jeannine Kinney, DVM, is the owner of Oak Creek Small Animal Clinic, where she cares for cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and small mammals. Her next goal is to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner.
Consuelo Vega
Consuelo Vega is the executive chef of Amara Resort & Spa.
Amaryth Gass
Amaryth Gass is an instructor at Sedona Mountain Bike Academy.
