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.

The Movement Temple LLC

Founded in March of 2021, The Movement Temple is a Pilates and Gyrotonic studio based in the North Valley of Albuquerque, NM. With the focus of “movement as medicine,” Amanda aims to spread the joy of proficiency of movement by equipping clients with the knowledge of greater kinesthetic awareness in every step of their daily routine. From injury rehabilitation to high-intensity training, sessions are tailored to assist clients in obtaining a stronger, leaner, and pain-free bo

HEALTH, WELLNESS, & BEAUTY

Mrs. Bee's Children's Books, LLC

Diana Henson resides in the rural area of Dexter, NM, and has managed her farm for many years. She had heard of WESST through a friend and knew they provided business support. Diana had just started thinking about writing children’s books, and she reached out to WESST Roswell in August 2022. She wanted to pursue her love for writing, particularly children’s stories, and incorporate her experience of living on a farm and taking care of animals. At the time, Diana was also co

RETAIL

Nifty 50’s Gift Shop & Cool Classics For You

Growing up in Roswell, Melissa and Orlando loved their community and always wanted to be a big part of it. Opening their own business had been a lifelong dream. When Orlando, who is an award winning classic car restorer, saw an old building become available, their wheels started turning! With Orlando’s classic car restoration experience and Melissa’s love of the 50’s style clothing and elegance of the era, they knew it was a perfect match for a new business. The local market

RETAIL

Nini's Produce, Foods, and Crafts LLC

Jeannie Benally, owner of Nini’s Produce, Foods, and Crafts LLC, is a farmer living in the rural community of Fruitland, NM. Through training and consulting with our WESST Farmington WBC, she has learned how to profit from her produce by diversifying and expanding her products and actively participating in local markets. Jeannie sells traditional vegetables and crafts from her produce to sell during the off-season. Roasting and selling local pumpkin seeds has proven to be a f

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Oku Advantage

Mary and Frank Valencia, owners of Oku Advantage, learned about WESST through a fellow Rio Rancho entrepreneur. Oku is a new start-up business, and Mary says “we had no idea where to begin” and were looking for a resource like WESST to provide training and consultation. They knew what kind of work they wanted Oku to pursue, but had no idea how to find the opportunities to move it forward. In late 2024, they signed up for WESST’s free three-part Government Contacting training

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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