Our event brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and local policymakers to highlight how federal investment in WBCs is paying dividends. The stories shared demonstrated, in no uncertain terms, that these funds are not just numbers on a balance sheet; they are the foundation for job creation, economic growth, and strengthened communities.

A highlight of the day was hearing from Christina Starr, owner of Boujee on a Budget, a successful WESST client. Christina’s journey is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with the right support. She spoke with passion about how WESST helped her turn her vision of an affordable, luxury bridal shop into a thriving business, providing a unique and empowering experience for brides across New Mexico. Her story is a testament to the power of a woman-owned business to not only succeed financially but also to create a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of others.

We were also incredibly grateful to have Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, Javier Martínez, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez join us to make remarks. Their presence and words of support underscored the critical importance of continued investment in programs like the WBCs. It was a powerful reminder that our elected officials see the value of what we do and understand the direct connection between empowering women entrepreneurs and building a stronger, more prosperous New Mexico for everyone.

The AWBC’s tour is a timely and critical call to action. The data from their recent report speaks for itself: in 2024 alone, WBCs nationwide supported 340,000 jobs, contributed $16 billion in wages, and generated an impressive $6 in new business revenue for every federal dollar invested. These aren’t just statistics—they’re the stories of countless women who are building their dreams and shaping the future of our economy.

We at WESST are proud to be a part of this national effort and to represent the entrepreneurial spirit of New Mexico on a national stage. We extend our sincerest thanks to AWBC for choosing to highlight WESST, to our elected officials for their unwavering support, and to the incredible entrepreneurs like Christina who inspire us every day.

The future of women’s entrepreneurship is bright, and with continued support, we can continue to build on this success and ensure that every woman with a business idea has the resources and mentorship she needs to succeed.

We appreciate our media partners who joined us on August 21 and published pieces about WESST!

• WESST event highlights woman-led businesses, calls for continued support following federal funding cuts, Albuquerque Journal
• WESST, other small business centers navigate era of austerity, uncertainty, KUNM

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We are proud to share that WESST is the first Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and the first organization from New Mexico to be invited to join the American Bankers Association’s (ABA) Commercial Lending School Advisory Board.

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Roberta Easter and Chrystal Trykosko of Enchanting Soap Collections, Juperi Johnson of Kena Wrap, and Kristin Worthington of Worthington Pecan Farm pitched their visions to a panel of community leaders and Sunport staff. They were then selected, along with six other businesses, for the entrepreneur bootcamp.  Roberta, Chrystal, Juperi, and Kristin are now a part of the inaugural cohort of Ascend ABQ. The graduates will begin selling their items at kiosks throughout the Sunport beginning in late September.

Director of Ascend ABQ, Ebony Gaynor Barbour, said, “They showed up to boot camp every single day, they absorbed every piece of knowledge, and they turned ideas into action.”  Ascend ABQ provides business owners like Roberta, Chrystal, Juperi, and Kristin the opportunity to connect travelers with their local products. They will be a wonderful representation of the Land of Enchantment!

• Roberta Easter and Chrystal Trykosko, Enchanting Soap Collections

• Juperi Johnson, Kena Wrap

• Kristin Worthington, Worthington Pecan Farm

Congratulations to Roberta & Chrystal, Juperi, and Kristin for all their hard work and commitment. We cannot wait to visit your kiosks the next time we take off from the Sunport

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The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) launched the Summer Enrichment Program in 2021 with federal pandemic relief funding.  The Summer Enrichment Program provided high school students with paid internships in government agencies and community organizations. With the purpose to create a program to empower student filmmakers, I saw this as an excellent opportunity to help provide both real world experience to students and provide WESST clients with necessary video content for their small businesses.

Student and WESST Client Pairs:

• Ryan G. and Santo Samurai
• Kay R. and Amy Lynn Couch/Altar Consciousness
• Destiney M. and Amanda Powers/Enchanted Farms Mushrooms
• William M. and Rose Velasquez/Hiring Hub
• Hannah C. and Marsha Souers/Fire of Sandia
• Voida C. and Roe LiBretto/Allegorical Art

The inaugural cohort of interns consisted of three soon-to-be high school juniors and three soon-to-be college freshmen.  The majority of students were from the New Mexico Academy of Media Arts. Additionally two were from the Career Enrichment Center and the Digital Arts & Technology Academy.  A wonderful hodgepodge of eclectic teenagers, these students proved to be a tremendous group of individuals, full of potential in video production and storytelling.

I have directed and produced videos for a long time now, but teaching young aspiring filmmakers was a new challenge. They had to learn the intricacies of producing content for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs who are looking to WESST as the expertise. As I said at the screening finale at The Studio, “I’m not used to working with high school students on this extensive of a program; and beyond repeating myself over and over again, this was a wonderful experience for me.”

The small business clients were quite eclectic as well. We had a candlemaker, a muralist, a woodcarver, a mushroom farmer, an employment agency, and a fine artist. They all had different needs and purposes for their videos.

My mission for the beginning of the program was to prepare the interns to be to handle their own meetings, plans, shoots, and editing.  Each student would direct their own videos, working directly with their client, and crew up for each other on those shoots as well.  I wished I had this coming out of film school: a real-world experience of working with actual clients who needed a video.

At the end of the eight weeks, I was so proud of how hard these young people worked and how well they all worked together. The WESST clients were so happy with their videos and felt honored to be a part of this experience. The students were thrilled about what they had done over the summer. They had a new passion for pursuing film and video production as a career. Destiney, one of the interns, said, “This was definitely a new experience for me. I never really thought of film exactly, but now I really do.”

This program truly was an enriching summer, not only for these students and clients, but for me as well. I cannot wait until next summer to get a new crop of aspiring young filmmakers in The Studio at WESST.

Watch The Studio’s Summer Enrichment Program’s Final Screening here.

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Self-employed individuals often face stricter scrutiny from mortgage lenders due to variable income and business-related tax deductions that can reduce their qualifying income. This makes specialized guidance essential.

We were thrilled to have Jennifer Wilson, WESST Visionary + Associate Broker with RE/MAX SELECT, and Jeree Hindi Tomasi, Senior Loan Officer with New Mexico Mortgage Advisors, design and deliver the Homeownership for Entrepreneurs training on 3/26.

Jennifer and Jeree expertly covered:

• How lenders view self-employed income and credit
• Essential financial documentation
• Navigating the W-2 to 1099 shift for mortgage applications
• Balancing business finances with home buying goals
• Understanding the difference between loans

This training provided a vital roadmap for entrepreneurs, demystifying the journey to owning a home. Thank you for supporting WESST as both a Visionary and an educator, Jennifer! Your expertise empowers our clients to confidently pursue their homeownership dreams alongside their entrepreneurial ambitions.

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WESST is grateful to partner with BMO through their Zero Barriers to Business program. Through BMO Zero Barriers to Business, BMO is committed to helping business owners gain better access to capital, educational resources, and partnerships. Given the significant barriers and challenges that many entrepreneurs experience when trying to access capital to start and grow their businesses, it’s crucial for Entrepreneurial Development Organizations/Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like WESST to partner with traditional lenders like BMO so we can work together to create a more inclusive business ecosystem.

In 2024, BMO gave WESST a generous $15,000 grant to support our entrepreneurial development services that help individuals improve their financial capability, access small business loans, and create new businesses in New Mexico. In addition to their generous philanthropic support, BMO’s own Letticia Flores-Poole, Senior Regional Manager – Zero Barriers to Business, offered to share her financial experience and expertise on behalf of BMO by volunteering to present four total trainings in both English and Spanish.

Utilizing the BMO curriculum, Letticia has already hosted one set of trainings on 1/7, covering the topic “Banking Basics for Entrepreneurs: Unlocking Financial Success,” which was attended by 29 total participants. We’re looking forward to her next set of trainings coming up on 2/4, “Capital Quest: Funding Options for Your Small Business.” Sign up for the English version from noon-1 here, y en Español y de 6-7 aquí.

BMO also supports entrepreneurs through Zero Barriers to Business by sending referrals to partners like WESST. Entrepreneurs seeking small business capital often do not qualify for loans from traditional lenders, at first. By connecting aspiring entrepreneurs to WESST, rather than simply stating that they’re not qualified to work with a bank, BMO is helping business owners access financial and small business coaching and resources that can help them eventually grow to a place where they’re qualified to work with traditional lenders. Zero Barriers to Business also features several valuable small business resources, such as business plan templates, tax preparedness checklists, cashflow forecasting tools, and more.

We appreciate Twyla McComb, Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager based in Albuquerque, who has been highly supportive of our new partnership with BMO locally. We look forward to continuing to partner with Letticia, Twyla, and BMO through their amazing Zero Barriers to Business initiative so we can continue impacting the lives of New Mexico’s entrepreneurs together.

We are deeply grateful to Letticia for providing her time and expertise to benefit WESST’s small business clients! Letticia Flores Poole is a Senior, Regional Manager, U.S. Zero Barriers to Business program, where she is responsible for supporting the bank’s strategy to assist Latino and Hispanic business owners with access to capital, educational resources and meaningful networking opportunities across BMO Bank, N.A. U.S. footprint and specifically within its Chicago North and Arizona regions. Letticia possesses 25+ years of banking leadership and management experience homed in the personal and business banking industry. In her prior role, as Regional Manager, Bank at Work, Letticia consistently ranked as one of the top performers and displayed a real passion for supporting small businesses, which led to the work that she does today. Letticia is an ignitor, but she is also part therapist, part advisor, part mentor, and part motivational speaker to her colleagues and clients. Letticia serves as the Illinois Chapter Chair of BMO Latino Alliance employee resource group and regularly volunteers in local community to support organizations such as Supporting Professionals Network Association, Latinas in Childcare, Northside Latinos Progress to name a few. Proud board member for International Minority Bankers Alliance, National Association Women Business Owners Commerce and Teatro Vista. When Letticia is not busting barriers for small businesses, this proud Cubana Latina born and raised in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood loves to spend quality time riding her bike and discovering new bike paths with her husband or running behind her three grandkids’ precious gifts courtesy of her son and bonus daughter.

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Paws and Stripes’ mission is to provide animal-assisted therapy and other mental health services to military veterans and their loved ones living with service-connected trauma. Paws and Stripes offers unique and extensive approaches that set their organization apart from others who also focus on the same or similar populations. WESST’s team helped make “snuffle mats,” which are enrichment toys which provide exercise and mental stimulation and help dogs channel their natural foraging instincts.

We also had the opportunity learn from Paws and Stripes’ Team Training Manager, Aliah Clever, and her sweet dog Wolfram. Aliah taught us a great deal about how service dogs can be trained to support humans. There are hundreds of types of service dogs, and Paws and Stripes focuses specifically on needs of veterans who come back from service with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and/or mobility challenges. Aliah and her team train dogs to complete psychiatric assistance tasks, provide light mobility assistance, and respond to anxiety behaviors. Paws and Stripes matches dogs from local shelters and rescues with veterans who go through their training journey together, which can take between 1 year and 18 months. Services dogs and their humans grow and heal together. Aliah said, “we’re saving two lives at a time.”

Visit Paws and Stripes website to learn all about their mission and impact: https://www.pawsandstripes.org/

Fun Fact: Paws and Stripes was established in 2010 by WESST’s new President, Lindsey Kay!

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Free Flow New Mexico is dedicated to combating period poverty and menstruation stigma through six key programs focused on distribution and education. Beliving  period products should be as accessible as toilet paper, and no one should miss school, work, or daily activities due to lack of access, Free Flow NM serves a wide range of individuals, including students of all ages, people experiencing homelessness, and working and non-working individuals who cannot afford menstrual products.

Our team heard from Laurie Merrill, Executive Director and Founder, and Keely Lundy, and compiled 150 period kits, filled with period products like tampons and menstrual pads.  The period kits were distributed at a Community Day in Santa Fe, serving hourly-wage workers, and distributed throughout our regional offices.  We learned about the impact and cost of period poverty – Free Flow NM works to bridge this gap, enabling individuals to remain engaged in their lives.

Learn more about Free Flow New Mexico and ways to end period poverty: https://freeflownm.com/

Fun Fact: Free Flow NM celebrated their four year anniversary last year, distributing over half a million period products!

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Raised in Albuquerque, Debbie, alongside her late husband Rick, steered the helm of the region’s largest ad agency, Rick Johnson & Co., for an impressive 33 years. Their entrepreneurial journey was characterized by a series of ventures, each a testament to their strategic vision and dedication to excellence. Debbie shared that only one of the eight businesses she and Rick started together failed, but she said, “That was the best teacher!” I’m sure many fellow entrepreneurs will relate to this.

In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Debbie’s ascent to becoming the first Chairwoman of Affiliated Advertising Agencies International (AAAI), a global advertising entity, underscored her exceptional leadership and expertise. When I asked what it was like to be one of the only women in this space at the time, she said that something she realized as a young kid, as a self-identified “tomboy,” “I could always compete with the boys!”

When Debbie’s journey with Rick Johnson & Co. concluded, Debbie’s friend + friend/fellow supporter of WESST, Kathie Winograd, invited Debbie to become CNM’s inaugural Director of the Office of Entrepreneurial and Economic Development, a role that allowed her to mentor and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs. Debbie shared, “I love entrepreneurs and being around them!” So, this role was a perfect fit.

As we delved deeper into the intricacies of entrepreneurship, Debbie shared some advice that might help anyone who is struggling or is considering becoming an entrepreneur. She spoke of the four essential qualities every entrepreneur must possess: resourcefulness, resilience, responsiveness, and risk tolerance. Drawing from her own experiences, she emphasized the importance of adaptability and the ability to thrive in the face of adversity.

What struck me the most was Debbie’s unwavering belief in the power of women in entrepreneurship. “Women are particularly resourceful,” Debbie said. “We see obstacles as opportunities, and we’re willing to mentor and bring other women up. She spoke passionately about the women she had encountered throughout her journey, each one a beacon of resilience and determination. For her, WESST embodies this spirit of empowerment, a place where women can come together to support and uplift one another.

Thank you, Debbie, for generously supporting WESST over the years, and for taking the time to share your passion and experiences with me. I know your legacy will continue to inspire generations of entrepreneurs yet to come!

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During her time with NMEDD, Kathy managed a loan program funded by the state that lent to local rural governments who were operating economic development programs. Through her experiences, Kathy became an expert on alternative financing – a perfect fit for the WESST Loan Fund Committee! Kathy was invited to serve on the WESST Loan Fund Committee and has been involved for the past 20 years. Kathy shared that at first, she was a little bit nervous because she was used to dealing with local government lending, but once she decided to take it on, she fell in love! She even served as the Chair of our Loan Committee for several years. “WESST has such a great reputation, and I was excited to be involved,” Kathy said.

Kathy shared a few stories about WESST loan clients who stood out in her memory. The first was a young single mother from the Espanola Sikh community. She raised goats and provided goat milk to high-end restaurants in Santa Fe to create goat cheese. “She was so lovely and creative; it was so cool!” The second loan client she remembers well was a tattoo artist in Las Cruces. He was tattooing clients from his home where his kids lived, and he wanted to get his own studio space. He brought his portfolio of tattoos for the committee to review as part of his loan application process. Kathy said that at the time, it was difficult to give loans to tattoo parlors because there was not a regulatory state agency. She shared that one of her fellow committee members knew someone who knew someone who got a tattoo from him and vouched for his professionalism, and WESST was able to approve his loan.

Kathy loved meeting WESST loan candidates over the years. “These were the little guys. Many were not bankable.” She shared how hard it was to reach a decision sometimes. The Loan Fund Committee is conscientious about not lending funds to people who didn’t demonstrate their capability to repay the loan. Kathy shared that sometimes their minds were made up based on the business plan alone, but the powerful client presentations could change their minds.

When asked what she’d like for people to know about WESST, Kathy shared, “WESST is an organization that can’t be duplicated. The staff is caring, the programs are excellent. There are classes, consultations and resources that WESST provides for clients to be ready to come to the Loan Fund, where we truly did care about those businesses. We worked hard to make the right decision, and we did. We were prepared, we asked questions, we did research. We truly wanted to make the right decision for businesses and for WESST!”

Kathy, thank you for your dedication to WESST and our small business clients through your 20 years of leadership and service on the Loan Fund Committee. Your commitment to helping the “little guys” has resulted in hundreds of loans to small businesses across the state through your time as a volunteer. We are so grateful that you’re part of the WESST family!

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