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.

EMTeas

Cuba, NM Ben Yeargin, a former wildland firefighter and current EMT, had been thinking about EMTeas for a few months before reaching out to WESST. His wife is a small business owner and has "been singing WESST's praises for years." Ben had also recently attended a workshop for Cuba-area business owners hosted by a WESST team member. When he became more serious about his idea of starting EMTeas, he reached out for assistance. Ben didn’t know exactly where to start, but he had

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Charmed

Kirtland, NM Hailey embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at a young age, focused on crafting and selling exquisite stone and crystal jewelry, alongside other distinctive handmade items. Constrained by health challenges, she found herself unable to thrive in a conventional education environment, but she resolved to dedicate her time to the creation of artisan products. The opportunity for Hailey to manage her own business has provided with a valuable outlet, enabling her to

CREATIVE ARTS

La Ruta de Anotjitos Mix

Albuquerque, NM Patricia learned about WESST through word of mouth and visited our WESST Enterprise Center in June 2024. During that initial visit, she learned about our services and originally had been planning to operate a fresh fruit cocktail cart. Patricia eventually scrapped that idea due to stricter health inspection requirements that the cart could not meet, but came back to WESST in November 2024 to explore the possibility of securing a loan to purchase a food truck.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Movement Temple LLC

Albuquerque, NM Founded in March of 2021, The Movement Temple is a Pilates and Gyrotonic studio that began in the North Valley of Albuquerque, NM. With the focus of “movement as medicine,” Amanda Tay, owner and founder, 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 o

HEALTH, WELLNESS, & BEAUTY

Accent Flowers

Roswell, NM Suzie Fresquez has never shied away from hard work! Suzie originally was hired to do a job at a floral shop; however, as she worked to gain experience, she honed her skills and realized she had a real talent and a passion for floral design and the floral business. Suzie worked for the business owners for four years. Recognizing she was more than just an employee, and it was her true calling, the owners offered their business to Suzie when it was their time to move

RETAIL

3 46 7