PNM Entrepreneurial
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Entrepreneurial Advocate of the Year Given to an individual who has advocated on behalf of issues impacting women-owned businesses, Rep. Tom Udall has been quick to champion the issues and challenges faced by women and minority small businesses. His commitment to strengthening the economic opportunities for rural communities in New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District is evident in his subcommittee assignment on the House Small Business Committee, where he is a leading voice for rural businesses. Rep. Udall has supported initiatives to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses and examine ways to ease the tax burden on small businesses. He has fought to provide affordable health care relief to small business owners, promote technology programs for entrepreneurs, increase funding for loan and technical assistance programs and expand opportunities for minority businesses. In 1999, Rep. Udall was the House sponsor of the Women's Business Center Sustainability Act, which was passed into law that same year.
For decades, Ms. Lovie McGee has been a champion for the rights of the oppressed. Once a single mother raising twins, Ms. McGee fought her way back from a painful divorce, educated herself and pursued greater opportunities. As former chair of the Martin Luther King State Commission, Ms. McGee has embraced people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds to promote diversity throughout New Mexico. An active community member, Ms. McGee’s present / past activities include: Albuquerque Superintendent’s Council on Equity, the Albuquerque Human Rights Board, Roadrunner Food Bank, Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico, the NAACP and the African-American Cultural Association. Ms. McGee has been a tireless champion for youth and is currently
coordinating a literacy book fair. A licensed broker and owner of
Love Realty, Ms. McGee’s business goals are to help families
overcome financial and other personal obstacles in order to realize
the dream of home ownership. A wonderful role model for young people
everywhere, Ms. McGee’s many community and volunteer activities
have improved the standard of living for minorities, low income
individuals and the disenfranchised throughout New Mexico.
In order to pursue a better life, Antonio and Juan Grijalva moved to the United States in 1979 from Juarez, Mexico, along with their two brothers, mother and father. After graduating from Grants High School, the two brothers decided to use their lifetime of experience in woodworking and opened Grijalva's Custom Woodshop in 1993. With assistance from the Small Business Development Center in Grants,
the Grijalva's obtained an SBA loan guarantee which enabled them
to buy a building for their business. At the time the loan was approved,
the Grijalvas were resident aliens with green cards. Subsequently,
Antonio, Juan and their two brothers have become U.S. citizens.
In addition to running their expanding wood shop that currently
employs two full-time people, the Grijalvas are active participants
in local, school and fundraising activities in the Grants community.
Before opening Betty's Bath and Day Spa in Albuquerque's North Valley, Elissa Breitbard spent seven years researching and developing her spa vision, which culminated in the opening of Betty's in August 2000. A graduate of WESST corp's Project Open Doors' entrepreneurial training program in 1995, Ms. Breitbard today employs 13 full- and part-time employees and contract therapists. Financing for her business was secured through family investors, the Small Business Administration and WESST corp. Despite its short business history, Betty's has already become an active community participant. It has implemented a discount program for support groups from People Living Through Cancer; has donated over 45 services to area non-profit organizations; and has supported local businesses such as Southwest Creations Collaborative and the New Mexico Commission for the Blind for manufacture of its spa robes. Reflective of its future potential, Betty's was this year's winner of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce's New Business Challenge Competition.
Beesley's Services, a commercial building maintenance company specializing in janitorial services, had been in business for nearly three years when the founding partners divorced. At the end of 1998, as the partners began divorce proceedings, Ms. Beesley became aware that the company's financial situation was in total disarray; taxes and payables were in deep arrears. In 1999, the other founding partner left the business, taking with him most of the business assets. Later that year, Ms. Beesley learned that the company bookkeeper had fraudulently covered up non-payment of nearly $30,000 in payroll taxes. Since then, Ms. Beesley has incorporated and restructured the business, brought payables and payroll taxes current, and significantly improved its position on taxes payable. A current tenant of the Santa Fe Business Incubator, Beesley's revenues grew by 25 percent in 2000; the company today employs 35 full-time people and sales are rapidly approaching $1 million. In addition to her entrepreneurial responsibilities, Ms. Beesley also volunteers with the Santa Fe Hospice and the Santa Fe Food Depot.
Solar Electric was started by Mary and her husband Ralph in 1979 to provide electrical contracting services to companies in southern New Mexico. When her husband died suddenly in 1989, Ms. Garza was left with a company employing nine people and numerous business responsibilities. Shortly thereafter, the bonding agency for Solar withdrew their bond, reflecting their lack of confidence in Ms. Garza's management capabilities. Forced to prove herself to her employees, banks that were certain she could not keep the business afloat and other companies like the bonding agency that were waiting to see the fate of Solar Electric. Today, 12 years after Ms. Garza took over the business, Solar Electric is one of the most prosperous contracting companies in southern New Mexico. The company employs 40 people, gross sales are approaching $3 million and the company now has a bonding capacity in excess of $6.6 million. Ms. Garza is an active community volunteer and regularly counsels women and minorities through her work with the Rio Grande Minority Purchasing Council. She takes particular pride in seeing a fellow Hispanic and/or woman-owned business start-up and succeed.
Ms. Annie Furie is the owner of Growing Life, an Albuquerque-based maternity store whose corporate mission is to provide high-quality, professional services and products to breastfeeding families. A registered nurse and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Ms. Furie established Growing Life in 1996 to address problems related to early cessation of breast-feeding, inadequate breast milk supply and return-to-work issues for breast-feeding mothers. Unable to access bank financing, Ms. Furie obtained a microloan from WESST corp and subsequent larger loans from the New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund as well as a family loan to start and grow the business. Today, Growing Life provides lactation consultations, support groups for nursing mothers, maternity and breast-feeding clothes and equipment and educational classes on infant / child CPR, infant massage and the basics of breast-feeding. Products can also be purchased online at www.growinglife.com. With two full-time employees and sales surpassing $300,000 last year, Growing Life has been a critical lifeline for thousands of pregnant and nursing mothers. Ms. Furie's outgoing and caring business style are reflected in her community activism. She serves on the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force, teaches for YWCA's Carino Program and regularly donates maternity, nursing and infant clothing to local non-profit groups. According to those who know her best, Ms. Furie has managed to keep her business success in perspective: "She has never abandoned her philosophy of family or placed home or family in a secondary role to her business activity. She is a remarkable woman who balances life, family, business and success with ease and confidence."
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