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.

Andino Mini Market

Santa Fe, NM Gina Auz needed assistance with a start-up business and learned about WESST from the City of Santa Fe Economic Department. She has always considered herself an entrepreneur, but because she is a mother of five who also worked full time, she wasn’t able to dedicate the time she initially wanted or needed to follow her dream. This changed when she was encouraged to reach out to WESST. When she was told about WESST, Gina learned we had bilingual staff who would be

RETAIL

Alma's Restaurant

Artesia, NM Before coming to WESST, Alma Martinez was already the owner of multiple businesses in Artesia. Her journey has not been easy, but it has been gratifying. She was a young widow raising two young children when she began working as a restaurant server in Artesia. Her strong leadership did not go unnoticed, and she climbed the ranks, becoming assistant manager. The restaurant unfortunately closed as the owners choose to pursue different opportunities, leaving Alma une

FOOD & BEVERAGE

De La Rose Flowers

Hobbs, NM In 2023, Marisol Chaves Salcido was working as a server at a restaurant in Jal, New Mexico, spending her evenings and weekends on floral designs. Despite having no formal training, Marisol, a self-taught floral artist, developed her skills working alongside her mother. It was clear she had a unique talent for creating beautiful and heartfelt floral arrangements. Her former employer suggested she meet with WESST, and she soon began discussing her dreams of starting

RETAIL

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

3 46 7