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.

Main Street Arts

Main Street Arts is a creative and exciting art space providing an outlet for artists in a prime location in the heart of downtown Roswell. Peggy decided to give herself a gift – to learn how to draw. She found it to be a passion and as it developed she began dreaming on a bigger scale. It was then she knew she wanted to have her very own art gallery. Purchasing an older building downtown, which needed renovations, proved to be quite costly. Owning an art gallery would mean w

CREATIVE ARTS

Maman Atelier

Maman Atelier manufactures and sells lingerie using environmentally friendly fabrics. Kai Lani Mayer, owner, believes that garments should be made to endure years of well-loved wear and, with proper care, can become more beautiful with time. She sells online and attends pop-up shops and events around the state to promote and sell her lingerie. Kai Lani has been a WESST client since 2019. Her first class was Power Tools for Your Business. She decided to take that class to help

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Maxim

After marrying her husband, Rafael, Teresita (Tere) moved to the United States from Chihuahua, Mexico. During the next 23 years, she and Rafael raised their two children while he built his trucking business and she pursued a dream of becoming a cosmetologist. In 2008, Tere purchased Christina’s beauty salon in Las Cruces, where initially she was the only hair stylist. In the following year, she added two other stylists and later a nail technician. The building she was renting

HEALTH, WELLNESS, & BEAUTY

Medical Practice Solutions

Tina Cleveland and Marie Lapina launched Medical Practice Solutions on January 1st, 2010. Despite the fact that they were starting a business during tough economic times, both women committed themselves to their challenge. Since then, they have leveraged their own industry experience as well as financing and technical assistance from WESST to build a solid enterprise. Medical Practice Solutions offers medical billing and credentialing services to health care providers. The fi

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Mi Casita Home Decor

Gloria Rodriguez comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her father was a panadero, a baker of Mexican pan dulce, for 50 years. Her mother, a caterer of Mexican delicacies, and her brother and sister-in-law continue the bakery legacy, running a tortilla factory. After a successful career in bilingual education, Gloria transitioned to pursuing her passion for artesania. She learned about WESST through a family friend and fellow WESST client, Paul Gallegos, owner of Cutbow Coffe

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