The Loan Fund
Cambri Gardner had spent much of her professional career in sales until a career change to the medical spa industry gave her a new sense of purpose. “Sales was not fun for me. Although I had been in sales most of my life, I really didn’t feel like I was …
When the owner of 5 Star Burgers in Taos began talking about retiring and selling the business, employees worried whether Bob Gontram could find a buyer. The restaurant that creates a burger with organic beef has been a staple in this Northern New Mexico town for nearly 16 years. Though …
She began her career as a realtor and ran a cleaning business. She later transitioned into banking, helping clients with credit cards and managing customer accounts. After a decade in personal banking, Justa Chaz shifted into insurance, becoming an agent with Farmers. After working with Farmers for two years, she …
When Las Cruces resident Silvia Terrazas looked for videos to rent in Spanish, she found none so she created a store to fill that need. In 2000, she obtained financing from other sources to open Video Exitos and also placed a freezer in the store, which was filled with ice …
For the past five decades, the Dominguez family in Las Vegas, N.M., has been operating one of Northern New Mexico’s most reliable heating and cooling companies. The company started in 1973 under Frank Dominguez, who created Shillinglaw, LLC. The company worked on housing developments in Santa Fe and other similar …
He started growing in his garage about 12 years ago. It was an interest he developed in high school after he went vegan and he was trying to get more protein in his diet without eating so many beans. “Beans get old really fast,” said Estevan Hernandez, owner of New Mexico …
The Chaco Trade Center is a small convenience store that has provided some necessities for the Navajo people living in the Pueblo Pintado community. The store has a coin-operated laundromat, mailboxes, propane sales, and a gas station. It is the only commerce that provides gas and propane in about a 70-plus-mile …
After nearly three decades in business, the owners of Santa Fe-based Reflective Jewelry have endured the many challenges of entrepreneurship, including three recessions, but the biggest challenge of all was theft. But Helen Chantler and Marc Choyt are thriving and recently had their best year in 10 years after an employee …
Although Juan Zambrano opened his auto repair shop in Santa Fe more than six years ago, his entrepreneurial story actually begins nearly two decades ago as he continues to grow his business and other skills. Mr. Zambrano was servicing mostly non-commercial vehicles for individuals before the 2008 recession when the …
Chris and Krystal Chavez always wanted to own a business but weren’t sure what to go into. Chris, a former truck driver, wanted to work for himself but wanted to have flexible hours. During the pandemic, the couple started candle making and thought that might be a new venue to …
It was a desire to pull a camper that sleeps four with a Fiat that led a Santa Fe couple to an idea to create a super lightweight trailer. Angel Irlanda and Laura Esteves have created the Earth Traveler teardrop trailer, a 300-pound towable camper with different options, including a …
Holly Chavez created H2 Academic Solutions, a K-12th grade tutoring center, six years ago with a vision of helping Valencia County youth attain academic success. The Belen-based academic center also offers camps and intensive reading programs. While there is a cost for tutoring, Ms. Chavez, a former teacher, also created …
The print and graphic design shop grew out of a home-based business created in 2010 after Evelyn Reyes quit her job at Savers and wanted to use her graphic design skills. When Reyes left Mexico to move to Las Cruces with her husband, Agustin, she put her career aside but …
Apprenticeships for Leaders in Mosaic Arts Albuquerque Founded in 1999 on the idea that the mind should be used to promote the arts among youth and adults, the Apprenticeships for Leaders in Mosaic Arts or ALMA was born. The program provides paid training for youth using the mosaic arts. Youth …
Dub-L-EE LLC & Exotic Blooms LLC It was nearly 10 years ago when Edward Saiz and his son, Eddie J. Saiz, created DUB-L-EE LLC, an Albuquerque general company that has been doubling revenue yearly. Eddie, a certified plumber, and his father who has 40 years experience in plumbing decided to …
(505) 877-8871 Isleta, NM Eleven years ago, while working as a housekeeper for a large Albuquerque hotel, Delia Gallegos dreamed of owning her own restaurant. But she soon realized she needed more than passion to make her dream a reality-she needed to learn about business. So, Delia went to WESST …
2125 Broadway Blvd SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 247-2979 “GOOD! GOOD! and more GOOD!” exults an online review from a satisfied customer of Albuquerque’s El Dorado Bakery. “This little gem of a bakery is probably one of the finest things in Albuquerque’s South East ‘San Jose’ neighborhood .. . . …
Rio Grande Educational Collaborative www.atriscoheritagefoundation.org Albuquerque, NM When the Atrisco Heritage Foundation lost a significant annual contribution to its Legacy Fund in the 2008 recession, CEO Peter Sanchez was thankful his foundation had an existing relationship with the state’s oldest and largest nonprofit community lending organization. “We …
(David and Juliana Garcia, owners of Pet Planet Hotel & Day Camp)Las Cruces, NM After adopting seven dogs from friends and neighbors, David and Juliana Garcia concluded that Las Cruces sorely needed a business that served animals and the people who love them. The couple bought a van with their savings …
Christina Montoya, Montoya Transportation owner, and former loan officer Cathy Sorenson Silver City, NM The Silver City economy was thriving in 1996 when Christina Montoya bought her family’s bus company from her parents and continued its contract with the Cobre Consolidated School District to transport students. In 2001, Montoya approached …
