Managing Staff
Agnes Noonan, Executive Director
Prior to joining WESST in 1991, Agnes served as a small business consultant in the United States Peace Corp in Costa Rica and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. She holds a BA in Political Science from Berea College and a MA in International Affairs from The George Washington University. She has received several honors, including being an inaugural inductee into the New Mexico Business Hall of Fame, (2005) one of Ten Women of Influence, New Mexico Business Weekly, (2005); and New Mexico’s Small Business Advocate of the Year, United Stated Small Business Administration, (1995). Agnes is particularly passionate about personal and business financial literacy. She loves to read and fantasizes about becoming a beach bum.
Kim Blueher, Director of Lending
Kim received her MBA in Finance from the UNM Anderson School of Management in 1982 and spent the next 8 years in banking as a commercial loan officer in Arizona and New Mexico. When WESST was started in 1990, she joined to set up the micro-loan program, which she currently manages. She also teaches some of the training classes in Albuquerque on business planning and financial projections. Kim is passionate about the outdoors, and spends as much time as she can running, hiking, snow skiing and fly fishing while attempting to manage her three teenagers and their father.
Deborah Baca, Director of Finance
Prior to coming to WESST in 1995, Deborah owned a nationally recognized business for more than 25 years. In addition to her current position at WESST, Deborah’s other roles have included Loan Fund Administrator, Albuquerque Regional Manager and Director of Data Management. Her educational background is in Financial Management/Business Administration. As WESST Regional Manager, Deborah particularly enjoyed working with start-up business owners. She is an enthusiastic hiker and upon retirement, hopes to start a small business as a guide for novice trekkers.
Wally Drangmeister, Director of Client Services
Wally Drangmeister is a native New Mexican with a broad background in business and entrepreneurial ventures. He has experience with technology start-up businesses, venture capital investing, and strategic and financial planning. He has worked for companies in extractive industries, water, natural gas and electric utilities, and financial services. Wally has a Bachelor of Accountancy Degree from New Mexico State University, although he refers to himself as a recovering CPA. Wally loves to fish the small streams of New Mexico for brown trout using catch and release techniques, or fashionable fish lip piercing as he refers to it. Wally is married and has five daughters.
Doug Lee, Managing Director, WESST Enterprise Center
Doug has comprehensive experience in incubator management having developed and directed a successful technology incubator program prior to joining WESST. He also has years of business leadership experience as former President of a Washington, D.C. advertising and direct-marketing firm. His goal for the WESST Enterprise Center is to create a world-class learning and business environment supporting entrepreneurs. Doug’s passion is mentoring early-stage businesses. He’s an avid hiker, biker (with bruises) and skier. He has traveled extensively throughout the U.K., Europe and parts of Turkey.
Clare Zurawski, Albuquerque Regional Manager
Clare joined WESST in 1997 while completing her MBA at the University of New Mexico. She spent six years supporting rural entrepreneurs in the Taos office, many of them artisan businesses, and returned to Albuquerque in 2004 as Regional Manager. In 2006, she received the "40 Under Forty" award from New Mexico Business Weekly, and currently directs WESST’s "ezSEO" internet marketing program statewide. Clare has a long list of favorite hiking and cross country trails in northern New Mexico, and almost didn’t return from a recent adventure in Nepal and Thailand.
Bette Bradbury, Santa Fe Regional Manager
Before coming to WESST in 1992, Bette spent over 18 years in advertising and marketing with national companies, including Kay Jewelers, B Dalton Booksellers and Henry Birks Jewelers. She holds a BA in Secondary Education and a MA in Mass Communication. The winner of numerous CLIOS, ADDYs, and Printing Industry of America awards, Bette is also the author of WESST’s award-winning Perfect Pitch™ curriculum. Bette boasts particular pride in transitioning professional skills from the for-profit world to the non-profit world. A healthy and active wife, mother and grandmother, Bette loves to read, run, garden, travel and golf. She is a serial entrepreneur to boot!
Jennifer Craig, Las Cruces Regional Manager
Jennifer has over 30 years combined experience in human resources, training and development, organizational development, and entertainment. She has worked with numerous national and regional companies including the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, NMSU, and Universal Studios before joining WESST in 1995. Her BA is in Journalism and Mass Communications, and her graduate work is in Training and Development. She has illustrated two books and enjoys writing and painting.
Anthony Urquidez, Roswell Regional Manager
Anthony is a tax professional and serial entrepreneur, operating several enterprises in the Roswell community. He particularly enjoys helping WESST clients improve their tax and bookkeeping systems. Anthony also contributes board leadership to agencies dedicated to special life skills needs within the community.