Gypsie Soule
Gypsie Soule is the destination for fashionable, fun, unique, boutique women’s clothing in Ruidoso, New Mexico. They take special care in selecting quality clothing and accessories perfect for everyday life, going out or that special occasion. Maryellen Self has worked since she was 15. She always believed that one must do what they can, and she has never been too proud to do what needed to be done. At a very young age, she started working in the oil industry and worked her w
Hair West Salon
A 2010 San Juan College Cosmetology graduate, Jessica, through her hard work and support from WESST, purchased Hair West Salon in Aztec, NM. She began working as a hairstylist at a franchise salon in Farmington immediately after graduation. She began booth rental at the beginning of 2014 which really immersed her in the details of small business ownership duties. With several years of experience under her belt, a strong service ethic, a loyal customer base and a mind for mark
The Happy Place
Claudia Contreras’ passion for child care started years ago when she first launched her home daycare business, The Happy Place. After working relentlessly to provide high-quality care, Claudia earned a five-star rating for her home childcare program through the State of New Mexico’s focus program. For years, she envisioned expanding her business. Life’s circumstances didn’t quite line up, and the timing never seemed right, until it all fell into place at the end of 2024. She
Healing Voices
JoAnne grew up in Pittsburgh and was always interested in the arts, especially dance. When she was 15 she saw an ad in Dance Magazine for Perry-Mansfield, a performing arts camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where Helen Tamaris, a pioneer modern dancer and Broadway choreographer, would be teaching. She wanted to go and her parents said they would cover the tuition if she could pay for the transportation. So she started teaching dance classes in her basement to earn her trave
Heritage Tapestries
Elizabeth produces one-of-a-kind original handwoven tapestries for interiors, in addition to teaching classes to weavers on the art of handwoven tapestry and design. Elizabeth is a second-generation tapestry artist of over fifty years. Elizabeth first wove tapestry based on the Mexican and Rio Grande techniques, and then expanded into those of the French tapestry tradition, studying with master weavers in Aubusson, France. With her weaving background and her degree in art, El
Hobbs Hotspots
Ke’Oanna Espinoza is a young entrepreneur who had a passion project that became a reality. She came to WESST in October 2024 after researching for local help to start her business, Hobbs Hotspots. “A lot comes with starting a business, and because I work full-time, I needed support to help me,” says Ke’Oanna. She needed support to learn the business vocabulary to gain a deeper understanding. She wanted help to learn the steps to launch her own business and how to properly
In the Middle
Jessica Lucero came to WESST with a background in media marketing and experience in starting and managing an organization. She already had a strong draft of a business plan and a clear vision for her non-traditional thrift shop, In The Middle. However, like many aspiring business owners, her greatest challenge was access to funding. She had heard of WESST through her business mentor, her very own stepdad. He suggested working with WESST because he knew we helped women start
Inspiring Bead Designs
Kim became familiar with WESST after attending the first annual WE Mean Business: Unstoppable Summit in December 2024, co-hosted by WESST and NMSU’s Arrowhead Center. “From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and supported. I saw how committed WESST was to helping business owners like me, and that experience made me want to learn more and build a relationship,” says Kim. After 20 years in real estate, Kim decided to start over and launch her own jewelry business from sc