Over the past two and a half years, Mytegia Lee has been serving as a tribal liaison for UNM Rainforest Innovation’s New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program (NMTEEP). In this role, Mytegia has engaged in many activities to support and promote small businesses and entrepreneurs in Gallup, New Mexico and surrounding communities in Northwestern New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation.
Throughout her time as a liaison, Mytegia has engaged in one-on-one mentoring, technical assistance, and counseling as part of her duties. One of her key achievements this past year was assisting 22 Navajo entrepreneurs in applying for the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development’s 2024 Artisan and Small Business Grant Program. During the application period, Mytegia sat down with different individuals to walk them through the application process, offering personalized support and helping them overcome challenges and barriers in navigating the grant system on the Navajo Nation.
Out of the 22 businesses Mytegia assisted, all were awarded funding with amounts starting at $5,000. Notably, eight of these businesses received grants of $50,000 or more, including Nizhoni Smiles, Karla Ray Salon, Iron Cowboy Gym, Diamond Cuts Barbershop, Tonya June Rafael Jewelry, and Platero Jewelry.
In addition to assisting with the Navajo Nation Artisan and Small Business Grant, Mytegia also provides mentoring support, resource sharing, and follow-ups to business owners in her region. Her passion and care have made a great impact on those who she has worked with.
Below, Mytegia shares the success stories of individuals and businesses she has supported.
Jacqueline Ahasteen, Owner of I Knead Sugar
One of the most notable success stories this year is Jacqueline Ahasteen, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation residing in Gallup, New Mexico. Jacqueline owns a local pastry shop that goes by the name of I Knead Sugar. She successfully expanded her business through the support of NMTEEP and was awarded a Comcast Rise grant. With my guidance, Jacqueline has scaled her operations to include catering services, baking classes, and partnerships with other local businesses, positioning herself as a rising entrepreneur in her community.
As of May 1, Jaqueline had to close her storefront due to issues stemming from her lease holder. Although over $78,000 worth of modifications and repairs were made, she was expected to vacate her shop. With this unforeseen and sudden change, Jaqueline was very disheartened, stressed, and in a state of shock. She quickly decided to move all her appliances to storage to avoid loss of her property.
After further communication and discovery, we decided the best course of action was for her to continue operating and baking from home. Since she was no longer paying rent for a space, we decided to implement a saving goal to assist her future pursuit of opening a storefront.
With my guidance and help, Jaqueline successfully applied for a State Small Business Credit Initiative grant and was awarded the full $50,000. We still meet regularly for post-grant award technical assistance. She is still working from home and continues to save for when a bakery space becomes available in the Gallup area.
Karla Escoto Lazaro
Karla Escoto Lazaro, a 39-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (3/4 Navajo and 1/4 Laguna), is a married mother of three—two biological children and one stepson. Born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico, Karla began her journey to becoming a hairstylist 13 years ago. In December 2019, she decided to take her passion for hair to the next level by opening her own salon. Below is Karla’s story:
“Owning a business and stepping into entrepreneurship has come with its ups and downs,” said Karla. “In March 2020, when COVID-19 hit, state and tribal mandates enforced mandatory shelter-in-place restrictions, forcing all non-essential businesses, including mine, to shut down for nearly a year. As a hairstylist, my work involves close contact with clients, so reopening at 50% capacity was especially challenging. My small studio suite only allowed for one client at a time, which made it financially unsustainable to cover overhead for both my home and salon. In the summer of 2020, the Navajo Nation announced grant funding for Navajo-owned businesses, so I applied. Unfortunately, my application was denied because I was told, ‘you’re not full-blooded Navajo.’ That rejection was a major setback for me.
“Fast forward to June 2024, I met Mytegia Lee, who was marketing and sharing information about NMTEEP in the professional building where my salon is located. Mytegia has been incredibly helpful to me. Navigating the grant application process and understanding the required documentation was overwhelming, but she guided me through every step. She explained the significance of the grant and how it could help my business recover and grow after the financial strain caused by COVID-19. Without her support, I doubt I would have successfully obtained the grant. I also believe the Navajo Nation should make it easier for members to apply for assistance, regardless of blood quantum. If you’re registered with the Nation, you should be eligible for the same support and opportunities to improve your business and personal life.
“Thanks to Mytegia’s expertise and continued guidance, I was able to secure the grant. She continues to assist me with budgeting, credit repair, and managing my personal and business finances. I look forward to our regular meetings for post-grant support and mentoring.”
Tiffany Robinson
Tiffany Robinson is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, born and raised in Sanders, Arizona, where she still resides. She is a married mother of two. Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of assisting Tiffany as she navigated the often strenuous and confusing path to entrepreneurial success. Her journey has been unique, facing barriers on all levels, with financial struggles being the main obstacle. We’ve met numerous times to address personal financial matters and improve her credit, setting the stage for her business’s success. Below is Tiffany’s story in her own words:
“I am a proud Navajo woman, grateful to be living where my great-grandmother built a life and legacy to pass down to her family. My husband, Chad Robinson, was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Everyone knows the story—bring your white boyfriend to the Rez for a visit, and suddenly, he’s hooked! -laughs. We moved back from Minnesota in the fall of 2019 with our two children, Presley and Aiden, who are both active in our gym.
“The COVID-19 pandemic was tough on us, especially after just relocating. Chad has been in the gym since he was 14 and has worked as a personal trainer for 18 years. I joined him in his passion for personal training. In March 2019, we began commuting daily to Gallup to work as trainers at a local gym. It was during this time that we saw the immense need for physical health and well-being in our community, especially when COVID-19 hit our people hard. With a lot of determination and the little money we had, we pushed forward with a business plan and officially established Cowboy Iron Gym as an LLC.
“Starting up was difficult. As an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, I reached out to my tribe for any kind of assistance but had no luck. We contacted local banks, but all we received was a mountain of paperwork and red tape. Despite the struggle, we kept moving forward and managed to secure some funding. While the traditional lender did provide us with working capital, it was only enough to get us started, not to sustain growth. As we now celebrate our one-year anniversary, there are many things we would have done differently. So much of what we’ve accomplished this past year has been fueled by our passion and deep care for our community and the surrounding areas.
“Recently, I’ve been working with Mytegia to organize our business finances and ensure everything is in order. We are incredibly thankful for her hard work and dedication to our success. Through her guidance, we’ve explored grant funding, taken pro-bono classes, and attended workshops aimed at entrepreneurial empowerment. Mytegia has provided us with invaluable education on business, finance, and credit—critical factors in our growth. We’ve since expanded our gym’s offerings, including supplement sales to increase revenue. Additionally, we’ve opened a warehouse where we assemble and produce MaxPump equipment in the U.S. We are grateful for these growth opportunities and for having Mytegia in our corner, offering her guidance and support. As a business owner, it’s reassuring to know there’s someone you can turn to for answers and encouragement as you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.”
When asked about lessons learned while serving as a liaison and goals for the coming year, Mytegia shared the following:
“Working with tribal entrepreneurs over the past year has underscored the importance of listening to and understanding everyone’s unique needs, meeting folks where they are at. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and tailoring our approach to the specific circumstances of each entrepreneur has been critical to their success. Nurturing relationships, respecting cultural heritage, and taking a holistic approach to business support are vital components of our work.
“In the coming year, I hope to see greater systemic change across the regions I serve. This includes increased entrepreneurial success and growth for tribal businesses, as well as deeper engagement with local and state leadership. We aim to foster an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive and scale their businesses within their communities.”
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Learn more about Mytegia Lee and connect with her here: https://innovations.unm.edu/program-activities/tribal-entrepreneurship/tribal-liaisons/
You can also hear more of Mytegia’s thoughts and experience working with individuals and entrepreneurs in Indian Country on the Indigenous Entrepreneurs Podcast: