Cheryl Laflen: Mesa's Woman of the Year 2022

By Skye Riss, Communications Manager & Ranchers’ RoundUp Editor

Cheryl Laflen, a past Dobson Ranch Board Director and former President of Mesa Sister Cities, has been named Woman of the Year for 2022 in Mesa. This well-deserved recognition comes after years of tireless service to the community, during which Cheryl has been an active member of many organizations.

Cheryl's involvement with Dobson Ranch began when she and her husband moved to the neighborhood in 1974. She quickly became an advocate for the community, getting elected in 1981 to serve on the Dobson Ranch Board of Directors as Treasurer in her second year and President in her third year. During her tenure the Board focused on building the relationship between Dobson Ranch the City of Mesa by starting the Breakfast with the City of Mesa, regularly attending City Council, Planning & Zoning and School Board meetings, the development of new parks and green spaces and the Dobson Ranch Library.

In addition to her work with Dobson Ranch, Cheryl has been a passionate supporter of Mesa Sister Cities, an organization that was founded in 1956 by Dwight Eisenhower dedicated to promoting international understanding and friendship through cultural exchange. In her 20+ years of service, including three terms as President, she has traveled to Mexico, Canada, Peru, New Zealand, Egypt and South Africa supporting and promoting student exchange and other programs of the organization as well as hosting the 40th anniversary celebration of Sister Cities in Mesa last year.

Cheryl's involvement with Sister Cities expanded to serving for the past eight years on the State Board which works to strengthen and develop Sister Cities organizations in Arizona. “This program is more important in today’s world than ever before. We desperately need all the friendship and connection that Sister Cities builds around the world”, she commented.

Cheryl reminisced, “We went to Peru on a medical mission to this small community up in the Andes for ten days. We brought all our supplies with us from the U.S. including bed sheets, medications, and instruments. Our team performed about one thousand surgeries, and I was the supplies organizer. By the end of the trip, the President of Peru invited us to the presidential palace to express his gratitude and it was an awesome experience!”

“Another moment that really touched my heart was when our team was leaving Peru, and I was saying goodbye. There was a woman and her little boy who recently had surgery. His mom was walking him down the hall with his I.V. pole.

When I went to say goodbye, he kissed his hand, and he touched my cheek. It still chokes me up to this day,” Cheryl said smiling with tears in her eyes.

Cheryl's commitment to service extends beyond her work with Dobson Ranch and Mesa Sister Cities. She has also been involved with several other organizations, including the City’s Library Advisory Board and Traffic Safety Committee, A 2nd Act (women who are cancer survivors), Soroptimist and P.E.O. Her dedication and hard work have earned her the respect and admiration of many in the community, and her positive impact will be felt for years to come.

Cheryl feels so honored to be recognized as Mesa’s 2022 Woman of the Year and received her award at the annual Citizens of the Year dinner, which was held at the Mesa Hilton Doubletree. This is a well-deserved honor for a woman who has dedicated so much of her life to making Mesa and Dobson Ranch a better place to live.

Lastly, Cheryl shared her 50th Anniversary congratulatory message with Dobson Ranch. “I am just thrilled to see Dobson Ranch is still a beautiful community that continues to flourish. I think it's just a wonderful place to live, so congratulations to Dobson Ranch!”

Congratulations, Cheryl, on being named Mesa's Woman of the Year 2022!