Fatima Fernandez and Arizona Community Foundation honored in sixth annual celebration.
“I’ve felt six-feet tall and bulletproof since Friday,” said Mary Ann Suttles, three days after the sixth annual 2025 Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards, where she received a standing ovation. “I’m walking a little taller and sitting a littler straighter. Lots and lots of people have been getting ahold of me and congratulating me. It’s been super!”
Suttles, who has been an active community member since she arrived in Prescott including serving three four-year terms on the Prescott City Council, was visibly surprised when her name was called as the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient.
“You kept a good secret,” she said. “Once I saw those 13 candidates, I thought, ‘What in the world am I doing in this pool with these women?’ Some manage banks. Some have their own businesses. And here comes Mary Ann Suttles with a little bit of history. Everyone has been so gracious.”
Currently, Suttles serves on the Prescott Frontier Days Foundation Board of Directors. She also chairs the City of Prescott’s Community Development Block Grant committee and is active with Yavapai County Republican Women, the Adult Center of Prescott and Arizona Cowboy Poets.
“I think the No. 1 project that I was involved with was building our public parking garage here in Prescott. Something needed to be downtown and that was one of my priorities. We brought everybody to the table and we got that garage built. It was a huge project for Prescott because there was just no parking for all the downtown employees and visitors.”
Her longtime dedication to the Quad Cities area includes 10 years as chair of the United Way Board. “We did a lot of good things and touched a lot of nonprofits.”
In addition, she has been a member as well as a past director of the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo for more than 25 years. She also chaired the Tough Enough to Wear Pink initiative for many years at the World’s Oldest Rodeo to support local cancer patients and served as a Frontier Days Rodeo Parade judge for more than two decades.
Suttles was born in Upland, California, and grew up in Phoenix. When her family, including four brothers, made the move to the valley, she wholeheartedly embraced Arizona’s Western spirit. “I loved the theme of rodeo and started wearing Western clothes and Western jewelry when I was 15. I don’t own a horse, but I love all the Western culture!”
Her late husband, Ken Suttles, an Arizona Department of Transportation land surveyor from Morenci, worked all over the state. “We were looking for a place to live outside of the Phoenix area and he said, ‘Let’s move to Prescott!’” she said.
That was nearly 50 years ago. Today, she has two grown sons, two granddaughters, two grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
Fatima Fernandez Honored as ATHENA Young Professional
“I’m blessed to be in a room full of brave and dedicated women,” said Prescott Valley Town Clerk Fatima Fernandez in an emotional statement as she accepted the 2025 Prescott-Area ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
“I look around this room and I see true leaders. I look up to each and every one of you. You all carry amazing stories of resilience, hard work, dedication and devotion to your careers, your families and your communities. That inspires me.”
When she was appointed to her position in 2020, she became the sole Hispanic department head and youngest director in the organization. Her key accomplishments include the establishment of Prescott Valley’s inaugural Early Voting location, a comprehensive overhaul of the Records Management Program and the enhancement of the Business License Program to better support local enterprises. She also collaborated with the Mexican Consulate to expand services for the Hispanic community.
Fernandez, a single parent, is intensely aware that her 9-year-old daughter is watching her every move. “I have to continue to be that good example and show her what can be done.”
At the Friday, Sept. 12, Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards event at Starting Point, she said, “Tonight isn’t just about recognition. It’s about reminding ourselves that we are stronger together. We are proof that when women lift each other up, incredible things happen. So, let’s keep pushing forward with courage, with laughter and with the determination to leave this world better for those who come after us.”
Among her many community involvement roles, Fernandez chairs the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association and teaches youth about leadership at Saint Germaine Catholic Church.
ACF of Yavapai County Honored for ATHENA Organization Leadership
“We are so thrilled with this honor,” said Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County Regional Director Lisa Sahady, upon accepting the 2025 Prescott-Area ATHENA Organization Leadership Award. “It was tough competition, and we are just so excited and thrilled and grateful for the support!”
The ACF of Yavapai County facilitates philanthropy and has provided support to donors, residents, nonprofit organizations and students within the region since 1993. With 20 years of experience in mission-driven work, stakeholder collaboration and organizational leadership, Sahady leads the ACF of Yavapai County as the nonprofit continues its efforts to develop sustainable outcomes throughout the community.
She believes the organization was recognized because of the impact it makes on the community with ACF donors. “We are able to grant out hundreds of thousands of dollars through our grant cycle and so much more through our donor-advised fund holders, who direct support, any time of the year, to where there is a great need in our community – from Meals on Wheels to the Prescott Community Hospital Association.”
Sahady called the ATHENA celebration inspirational and memorable. “The nominees we had this year were just incredible. It was an honor being nominated alongside the World’s Oldest Rodeo and Horses with Heart. Those are just outstanding organizations.”
The sixth annual Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards was sponsored by Quad Cities Business News. “We are so proud to be able to continue to bring this prestigious international awards recognition to the region,” said QCBN Publisher Troy Bix. “We appreciate the sponsors who helped make it happen and the volunteers who donated hours of their time and expertise to create this afternoon of celebration, honoring our community’s extraordinary women leaders.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Photo courtesy of Ashley Darling: Thirteen women were honored at the sixth annual Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards celebration including Allison Lenocker, Sarah Martin, Breeanya Hinkel, Fatima Fernandez, Cheryl Rolland, Lisa Rhine, Meredith Dunlap-Sterrett, Kayce Peters, Mary Ann Suttles, Karen Davis and Leslie Horton. Not pictured are Joy Goff and Kris Venhaus.