Success Stories

Tommy Padilla does not have a lot of time on his hands. He works full time for the state Livestock Board and owns a 2,000-acre cattle ranch near Quemado (population 781). But he saw an opportunity to provide a needed service to the traveling public. Quemado is on Route 60

600 N. HudsonSilver City NM   88061 575-534-9172 www.milliescenter.com 84-year-old Margaret “Peg” Aker was in difficult straits after her husband died in 2004: grieving and coping with diabetes, she was increasingly unable to take care of herself, had no children, and her only nearby relatives were an older sister and a

PO Box 25181Albuquerque, NM 87125505-764-0359 www.sawmillclt.org Josie and Charlie Pflieger raised their three grandchildren here. Retiree Judy Gallegos found an active, involved community here. “Here” is the Sawmill neighborhood, a former industrial area north of Albuquerque’s Old Town. Under the leadership of executive director Debbie O’Malley, and her successor, former

Three Catholic nuns working in southern New Mexico envisioned building a community with affordable, environmentally sustainable housing for low-income people. When Sisters Joan Brown, Jean Miller and Jean Durel founded Tierra Madre Land Trust in Sunland Park with 18 local families in 1995, they translated this vision into reality and

318 Isleta Blvd. SWAlbuquerque, NM 87105505.217.2473 www.rgcdc.org Based in Bernalillo County’s unincorporated South Valley, the nonprofit Rio Grande CDC was created in 1986 to articulate community concerns about the neglect of the area’s infrastructure, environment, and economic development. Under the leadership of its present and former executive directors, Tony Gallegos

Founder: Nan Elsasser212 Gold Ave. NWAlbuquerque, NM (505) 242-9267www.workingclassroom.org  Working Classroom provides academic and artistic education to talented young artists and actors from historically ignored communities. “The arts both mirror who we are as a nation and help us interpret where we are headed and what we want to become,” says Nan

Owner: Susan Matteucci1308 Fourth St. NWAlbuquerque, NM (505) 247-8559 www.southwestcreations.com  Women who have children and those who do not speak English face unique challenges when looking for work in the United States. To address these obstacles, Susan Matteucci founded Southwest Creations Collaborative (SCC) in 1994. SCC is a nonprofit that helps Spanish-speaking

Director: Dr. Linda Son-Stone5608 Zuni Rd. NEAlbuquerque, NM(505) 262-2481 www.fnch.org  First Nations Community Healthsource (FNCH) was founded in 1972 to provide healthcare to under-represented populations of Albuquerque. Serving primarily Native American, low-income, and uninsured patients, FNCH provides a range of services including primary care, dental, behavioral health, pediatrics, traditional health, social

Owner: Raul Aboytes (505) 983-8431 Santa Fe, NM  As a boy, Raul Aboytes helped his mother Lucia feed hungry customers in her late-night, one-room restaurant in Querétaro, México. Little did her realize he would carry Mama Lucia’s legacy to New Mexico. Leaving home at age 18, Raul worked in a variety

Sal and Lydia Lozano are the perfect team. In life, they’re a happily married couple. In business, they own Enchantment Cabinetry and Design, which installs custom-made cabinetry and sells fine cabinetry products for all kitchen and bathroom remodeling needs. With 17 years of combined experience in the cabinetry business, the Lozanos

Sandra Monica has a passion for working with children. That’s why after 15 years as a childcare employee, Monica decided it was time to start a daycare center of her own. With her husband’s support and financing from The Loan Fund, Monica founded Kid’s Castle Child Development Center, which provides early

Ron and Anna Morse came from behind to build a successful, award-winning business. When Ron had a serious auto accident, he was unable to work for several years. With Anna’s help, he fully recovered and together they planned Fine Line Design, a custom manufacturer and installer of everything from crown

In 2003, Erwin & Marilynn Holtsoi were ready to start their own trucking business on the Navajo Nation. They qualified for the Navajo preference list and knew there was a lot of opportunity for independent contractors to haul hay, corn, and potatoes for the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry. All they

It was a desire to have their own private practice and bring much-needed collaborative services to Belen, a small town of 7,400 about 30 miles south of Albuquerque. Jennifer Tafoya-Trujillo, M.S., PA-C, who grew up in Belen, and Cassandra Otero, PA-C, who grew up in Los Lunas, both were in

Kayla & Misty Vallejos Kayla Vallejos has been cooking since she was 13 so it was only a matter of time when she would own her food operation. Vallejos, proud owner of Albuquerque-based Taste of Love food truck that started business this spring, got her start working at Burger King and then