Party in the Pines: Celebrating Prescott’s Public Schools

Sometimes, the stars align to create a perfect event for a perfect cause, and on Saturday, June 3rd, downtown Prescott is set to witness such a celestial event. The eagerly anticipated Party in the Pines is returning, and I have to hand it to the Prescott Area Young Professionals; they know how to raise money for a good cause. Their premise is simple yet devastatingly effective. Put massive amounts of local craft beer, local food vendors, and local bands inside a fence and require financial support for our local public schools to enter. Make it an event so integral to the fabric of our community that missing it should land you on some sort of anti-Prescottonian no-fly list. Well, maybe that's a bit extreme, but you get the idea. I had the pleasure and privilege to speak with Stephanie Miller and Bree Fitzgerald of the PAYP and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce about the upcoming event and how their vision has motivated the Prescott business community to invest in our public schools.

Stephanie Miller, president of Prescott Young Professionals and head of business development for the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, explained that the Party in the Pines event originally began in the parking lot of Park Plaza, but as the festival grew in size, it had to move to the Prescott Mile High Middle School field, just a few blocks from the historic courthouse square. However, that is just the physical location. The Party in the Pines is a community gathering that resonates with Stephanie in a very spiritual way.

“As a military veteran and former law enforcement officer, I am naturally drawn to the camaraderie, community, and hometown spirit that define Prescott. Encountering the ugly aspects of our world has heightened my appreciation for its beauty. This perspective aligns with my role in orchestrating a large-scale event like Party in the Pines. It's incredibly rewarding to witness my community reveling in their freedom on a Saturday evening, all while contributing to a cause as important as furthering children's education. That's the beauty of our collective effort, and I feel immensely fortunate to be part of it.”

Prescott is clearly going through a time of transition, and Stephanie is uniquely qualified to navigate Prescott’s business community through these uncertain times. Prescott is growing, with young families arriving and new businesses opening weekly. This new wave of residents and entrepreneurs is injecting new life into the community, creating a positive feedback loop that makes events like Party in the Pines not only possible but also successful in their stated goal of helping the local public school system. Which in turn helps the community of young families... and on and on...

Stephanie stepped into the leadership role at PAYP in January and brought with her two specific short-term goals.

“Upon taking up the presidency of PAYP in January, I set forth with two primary objectives. The first was a dual-purpose goal: to rejuvenate our group's active and professional stature within the community while concurrently seeking mentorship opportunities and establishing connections with our community leaders. I'm delighted to report that we've made significant strides in this direction! Our presence in the community has been reinvigorated, our activities and events have expanded in scale, and we've successfully created impactful relationships with local leaders who are guiding us to step into their roles one day. My second objective was the revival of the Party in the Pines event, a goal I'm thrilled to share is being realized on June 3rd!”

In my conversation with Stephanie, I was struck by a parallel with a sentiment expressed by Navy Seal turned author, Jocko Willink. In his book Extreme Ownership he says, 'Leaders must always operate with the understanding that they are part of something greater than themselves and their own personal interests.' Stephanie's approach to her new role appears to echo this very ethos, embodying the spirit of effective team leadership. I can't help but feel that Jocko himself would give a nod of approval to Stephanie's leadership style.

Staying true to that leadership style, Stephanie is quick to credit her team for the resounding success of the much-anticipated return of Party in the Pines. She emphasizes the collective effort and the community's overwhelming support in reviving the beloved event after a Covid-induced hiatus.

"Our team has worked so hard and has put forth so much effort into resurrecting this event. We initially aimed for a turnout half the size of what we saw in 2019. Yet, the level of support we've received from the community has been absolutely astounding! We're backed by wonderful sponsors who are helping finance the event, we've rallied a large number of volunteers; and we've already surpassed our goal for beer vendors. It's clear to see, we're making a strong comeback post-COVID. It's hard to put into words the amount of effort that this team of volunteers has put into bringing the party back. Each one of them has a heart dedicated to service, and I couldn't have asked for a more amazing group to plan this event with. Our team includes Vice President Fatima Avila and Finance Chair Clay Turpin. San Martin Rodriguez is in charge of music and food, while Bree Fitzgerald is the alcohol vendor chair, with Bailie Sanders as co-chair. Carlos Ramirez oversees volunteers and security, and Marie Simpson is our sponsorship chair. Matt Parsons manages the website, and Mercedes Telles-Bray takes care of marketing. Alicia Malouf is the VIP chair and handles rentals, while Makayla Chadwick is in charge of sales and ticketing.

The successful revival of the Party in the Pines has been due to the service-oriented spirit of the team over at PAYP. Not only have they managed to raise funds for a worthy cause, but they've also catalyzed the secondary effect of bolstering Prescott's community spirit.

It’s not all work for Stephanie; when she has a rare day off, she's likely to be found outdoors, hiking with her boys and soaking in the natural beauty that we all love about Prescott.

“I absolutely adore spending time with my two boys in the great outdoors, especially hiking around the Dells—it's one of our favorite spots! We're also huge fans of the Prescott Public Library, with its fantastic kids' area and wonderful staff. And when it comes to unwinding in the evening, a date night at El Gato Azul is always my top pick. And I must say, I have a particular fondness for the Superstition Meadery, definitely one of my top favorites!”

They say our children are our future, and as the news seems to suggest, our children as well as our public schools need as much support as our local community can manage. Being a parent with children in the Prescott Unified School District (Go Abia Judd Jaguars!), I can tell you that PUSD is full of miracle workers who do so much with so little. Needless to say, any assistance goes a long way and is truly appreciated. The teachers and administrators do a heck of a job nurturing our children through the most formative years and deserve our community's support. So, clear your calendar, put your beer-drinking boots on, and join us in celebrating local beer, food, and music while supporting our public schools. All details for the when, where, and how can be found HERE!