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.

Sage Valley Pottery

Jessi Penrod discovered a passion for pottery during college and honed her skills post-graduation at Hanselmann Pottery in Corrales. After that studio closed, Jessi wanted to know what her options were to turn her experience into a vision for a new business.” She had an idea for her business values and goals, from product creation to the team she wanted to hire and the community she wanted to serve, but didn’t have the experience of running a start-up. “I had the creative par

CREATIVE ARTS

Sandia Sunrise Therapy, LLC

Sandia Sunrise Therapy LLC provides outpatient orthopedic and outpatient developmental pediatric services. Their physical therapist specializes in pediatric pelvic-floor treatment, aquatic therapy, provides services to the orthopedic population, is a CureDuchenne certified therapist, and is Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Their occupational therapists specialize in regulation and sensory processing, trauma-informed care, and aquatic therapy.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

The Santa Fe Sewing Studio

Susan has been creating fleece hats and accessories for many years. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she and her family now call Santa Fe home. Susan was four years old when she began to sew, and at the age of 19 received her AAS degree in Fashion Design from FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York). She went on to work on Seventh Ave in the garment district for several years as a designer and pattern maker. Susan started with fleece ha

RETAIL

Sarah Newberry Ceramics

In 2010 Sarah moved to Taos from Michigan after graduating with a degree in fine arts and an appreciation of the open skies of New Mexico. She began an artist-in-residence position at Taos Clay. This residency gave her the opportunity to explore her artistic direction in clay. Now Sarah lives and works in Taos, NM as a full-time studio potter. In October 2015, she began a prestigious residency program with New York Artists Collaboration Gallery. Sarah contacted WESST-Santa Fe

CREATIVE ARTS

Seré Consulting

When Rosario Rubio was opening her business in 2022, she reached out to WESST to find support and resources. Rosy is a native of New Mexico and the daughter of immigrant parents from Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. After spending the better part of the past four decades in the non-profit sector focused on development disabilities, she established her consulting business, Seré Consulting, LLC. Rosy has specialty training in topics like Effective Communications: DISC and Purposes

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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