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.

Boujee on a Budget Bridal

Christina Starr founded Boujee on a Budget Bridal to offer high quality, affordable options for budget-conscious brides. Based in Albuquerque, they also have an online store and ship to all 50 states. Seeking to expand into a larger location in January 2024, she approached WESST for loan assistance. Initial consultations highlighted that Christina needed to focus on bookkeeping before she could access a loan. WESST helped her address her financial statements and connected h

RETAIL

#bowbymom

Sara LaMontine comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Sara watched her dad start a restaurant over 20 years ago and role model the examples of hard work and determination. In December of 2016, Sara began making bows for her daughter. Soon, people began commenting on how much they liked her bows and asked her to make bows for them. When she realized there was such a market, she began to formulate her business idea. On January 1, 2018 Sara started #bowbymom, which creates one of

RETAIL

Bubble Dreams Learning Center Environment LLC

Maria Granados’ journey from Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico to Chaparral, New Mexico, is a story of resilience, transformation, and deep-rooted purpose. As a single mother, Maria was driven by the need to both be present in her children’s lives and provide for their essential needs. This personal connection led her to open a licensed home-based child care center, but what began as necessity, soon became a calling. “When the children arrived smiling and didn’t want to leave,

CHILDCARE, EDUCATION, & OUTREACH

Cacho's Bistro, LLC

Ronsuelvic Cavalieri has always had an entrepreneurship spirit. She came to WESST in March of 2017 with the idea to start her company based on a popular Venezuelan pastry called cachos. She knew she had to learn the basics of forming a business, design her business plan, learn about the food industry regulations, save some money to pay for the startup costs and get proper advice and mentorship. She worked for about 9 months on developing her plan, attending training and consu

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Casa Fine Mexican Cuisine

Josefina Verduzco is the passionate owner of Casa Fina Mexican Cuisine. She is focused on bringing authentic flavors to the community through high-quality dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Josefina first met with WESST in June 2023 seeking funding for her business. She met with our Lending team and was able to complete a Nano Loan application to purchase a laptop for her business – a small loan with a big impact, helping her streamline and enhance her bus

FOOD & BEVERAGE

7 810 11