Susana Salcido State Farm
Lovington, NM: Susana Salcido Susana Salcido is a State Farm agent and small business owner serving Lovington and the surrounding community. Susana first became familiar with WESST around 2017–2018, when she participated in the early market research WESST conducted while exploring their programmatic expansion into Hobbs and Lea County. This gave her an opportunity to learn about WESST and its mission before services were fully established in the area. Susana's early introduct
Mi Casita Home Decor
Albuquerque, NM: Gloria Rodriguez Gloria worked with WESST at the start of her entrepreneurial journey in 2021 when she started her own consulting firm. She learned about our organization through word of mouth, and we supported her through the business registration process. Over time she realized that she wanted to build something more closely connected to her passion, heritage, and desire to educate others. Gloria is passionate about bringing pieces of Mexican heritage and c
Ay Mí México Grill & Seafood Restaurant
Albuquerque, NM: Tatiana and Martin Cera Marquez Tatiana Cera Marquez, with support from her husband, Martin, opened Ay Mí México Grill & Seafood Restaurant in Albuquerque in July 2022. They worked to establish the restaurant as a destination for authentic Mexican food and hospitality, building an established customer base and presence in the Albuquerque community. The restaurant offers a broad menu that includes traditional Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes, from tacos to m
Highway 28 Farmers & Artisans Market
Anthony, NM: Patsy Villalobos Patsy Villalobos was familiar with WESST for some time through her work with the community as she began developing the idea of starting a business with her cousin, Grace. Patsy had previously collaborated with Candle Baca, and when she learned Candle joined WESST in April 2026, the timing was perfect to reconnect and learn how WESST could help turn her idea into a reality. One of the biggest challenges Patsy faced is common for so many new entrep
Little Gigglers Learning Center
Tatum, NM: Denise Null, Lisa Bell, and Tina Jackson Family-owned and operated, Little Gigglers Learning Center is the first child care center in Tatum, NM. Denise Null and her daughters, Lisa Bell and Tina Jackson, opened their center on June 1, 2026. The Little Gigglers team learned about WESST through another client, Susana Salcido, earlier in 2026, and shortly after became connected with our team in Hobbs, participating in our Lea County Child Care Accelerator. As new chil
Remnant Design Co.
Albuquerque, NM: Jakia Fuller Jakia Fuller is a full-time multidisciplinary creative artist, but back in 2020, she was looking for resources to simply get started. She wanted to know what a creative business looked like, and she realized that starting a business, in any industry, was the same for many. She learned about WESST through an online search and that it was a resource for women entrepreneurs. “One of the first obstacles I faced was the fear of not knowing what to do
Stitched
At its heart, Stitched is truly a family business. Owners, Gena and Gerardo (Gery) Bermudez, have built their embroidery and trophy business to reflect the community of Las Cruces. Gena’s family plays active roles, with her aunts, parents, and other family members creating a warm and welcoming environment. Las Cruces, NM: Gena and Gery Bermudez Gena, Gery, and their team, are deeply committed to Las Cruces, donating their time, energy, and resources to school programs and co
Redhorse Engineering
Santa Fe, NM: Teena Redhorse Teena Redhorse first became involved with WESST in 2023, before she officially launched Redhorse Engineering, an engineering and expert project management business. At the time, she knew she had the technical experience to start a business, but she also knew there was a lot she didn't yet know about running a business. Teena started taking business trainings at WESST, learning the fundamentals to develop a business plan, and continued with additio