Leading with Intention: Valeria Olave on Her Leadership NM Experience
By WESST | January 23, 2026 With nearly a decade of experience in the banking industry, Valeria Olave joined WESST in 2023 as Program Director of our Albuquerque Women’s Business Center (WBC). Under her leadership, WESST’s Albuquerque WBC earned the 2025 National Certificate of Excellence from the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) and was featured in the first ever AWBC Media Spotlight tour in August 2025. Valeria recently gradu ated from Le adership New Mexic
Sandia Pet Products
Albuquerque, NM When Veronica Fuller’s former boss was selling her wholesale product business, Sandia Pet Products, she came to WESST after a referral from a friend to explore her options. At the time, she didn’t have the funds to purchase the business, but through consulting and training, WESST and Veronica worked together to realize her path to entrepreneurship. Veronica’s main challenge was accessing the capital she needed to purchase the purchase. Through WESST, she rec
RubyMac Coffee
Santa Fe, NM Joanna Becker was unsure about how to take her business to the next step, until her cousin, who launched her own business through WESST, recommended she reach out to our team. Joanna became involved with WESST in the winter of 2024, and says, “it has far exceeded my expectations – guiding, supporting, and helping me grow into the entrepreneur I’ve always wanted to be!” RubyMac Coffee, named after Joanna’s material grandparents, Ruby and Ranald “Mac” MacDonald, i
Tacos Pita 2
Dexter, NM Pedro Gallardo Garcia and Maria Dolores Dominguez-Tenorio are the passionate owners behind Tacos Pita 2, a thriving food truck business. In 2022, they walked into the WESST offices to formally establish their business through the creation of an LLC. When Dolores’ family embarked on their culinary adventure, they began selling delicious, traditional Mexican cuisine, but they neglected to properly register their business. Pedro wanted to preserve the family legacy a
Pro Homemaking Services
Farmington, NM In April 2024, Renee Johns moved Pro Homemaking Services into their new office space at the Enterprise Center at San Juan College Quality Center for Business (QCB) in preparation for their expansion. WESST’s Farmington Women’s Business Center is an economic development partner also housed at the QCB. The support from WESST to strategically plan has been crucial for Renee, as she was able to effectively prepare for expansion, develop cash flow knowledge and mak
Ebenezer Hats
Alamogordo, NM Chelsea Hayes, founder and owner of Ebenezer Hats, was working with Trish Livingston, Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at New Mexico State University Alamogordo on her business when Trish recommended connecting with WESST. Chelsea began collaborating with Humberto on her business venture, and this recommendation opened up valuable opportunities for guidance and support. " WESST helped me refine my approach and take the next steps in grow
Happy Kids Early Learning Center
Albuquerque, NM Daniela Reyes and Flor Guaderrama participated in THE (Training Home Educators) Accelerator, a collaborative child care business accelerator between WESST, Growing Up New Mexico, and Partnership for Community Action, and learned about WESST. As they were starting their child care business, they were exploring lending opportunities and came in for a consultation. The biggest challenge Daniela and Flor faced has been the high cost of starting a child care busin
Surprise Balloons
Hobbs, NM In 2023, Elia Gonzalez learned about WESST through Sergio Polanco, the President of the Hobbs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She became familiar with WESST’s services and how they could potentially help promote what was, at the time, her project. She attended a WESST training, decided to start her small business, and that ‘project’ became Surprise Balloons. One of the main obstacles Elia faced was how to get started. She had the knowledge and skills but did not kn