STORIES OF IMPACT

At WESST, we believe the heart of our mission is best told through the journeys of the entrepreneurs we serve. In our Client Stories section, you’ll find inspiring accounts of New Mexican business owners—at every stage of their ventures—who have been transformed through WESST’s consulting, training, lending, and incubation support. These stories highlight how we partner with clients to turn ideas into thriving, sustainable businesses, showing the real impact of guidance, financial tools, and persistence.

From wellness centers, retail brands, and service businesses to manufacturing and tech enterprises, each narrative underscores how tailored resources, mentorship, and belief in their vision helped these founders overcome obstacles, build confidence, and grow with purpose.

Stay connected with the latest stories, announcements, and opportunities shaping WESST’s mission to support entrepreneurs across New Mexico. Here, you’ll find updates on upcoming workshops and training programs, success stories from the small businesses we serve, funding opportunities, community events, and insights from our team of business development experts.

WESST Named 2025 SBA New Mexico Microlender of the Year

By WESST | July 2, 2025 We are thrilled to announce that WESST was named the winner of the SBA New Mexico Microlender of the Year award for the second year in a row! Our Lending Team includes Sandro Tonini (VP of Lending), Melissa Williams (Loan Operations Officer), Teresa Rodriguez (Bilingual Loan Assistant), Humberto Hijar (Financial Capability Consultant), Angelica Ortiz (Loan Analyst), and Marcela Mendoza-Palacios (Program Coordinator). Their passion for service and tire

WESST NEWS & UPDATES

Summer Enrichment Program at The Studio at WESST

By Tom Ragan | May 12, 2025 One of the most rewarding experiences for me since I’ve been at WESST happened this last summer with the New Mexico Public Education Department’s Summer Enrichment Program. The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) launched the Summer Enrichment Program in 2021 with federal pandemic relief funding. The Summer Enrichment Program provided high school students with paid internships in government agencies and community organizations. I saw th

WESST NEWS & UPDATES

WESST Visionary Leads “Homeownership for Entrepreneurs” Training

By Katie Knipe | May 9, 2025 At WESST, we champion New Mexico’s entrepreneurs with consulting, training, and lending to build thriving businesses. Yet, for many, the path to homeownership—a key to financial stability—can be complex, especially when transitioning from traditional W-2 employment to 1099 self-employment. Self-employed individuals often face stricter scrutiny from mortgage lenders due to variable income and business-related tax deductions that can reduce their qu

WESST NEWS & UPDATES

Giving Back at WESST

By Jennifer Lim | January 14, 2025 The WESST team at Paws & Stripes. During WESST’s annual December Statewide Staff Meeting, the WESST team split up to engage in volunteer activities to support two amazing local nonprofit organizations: Paws & Stripes and Free Flow New Mexico . Paws and Stripes’ mission is to provide animal-assisted therapy and other mental health services to military veterans and their loved ones living with service-connected trauma. Paws and Stripes offe

WESST NEWS & UPDATES