Chelsea Hayes

I attribute my success to my faith in God and the people who have spoken life into me along the way. I truly believe it's about walking by faith and surrounding myself with folks who encourage me to keep going, especially during difficult times. When I came to New Mexico and went through my divorce, my church family at the Joy Center didn't make me feel broken or tainted. Instead, they reminded me that there's still more to my story and encouraged me to keep showing up and walking in faith. That support was life-changing for me because it reminded me that we all come from somewhere and we all go through hard stuff, but at the end of the day, it doesn't define us. I've learned that even when the path ahead seems uncertain or crazy, I just need to keep going and trust that God will open the doors. As long as I have breath in my lungs, I'm going to keep moving forward in faith, and that's what has carried me through everything I've accomplished.

The best career advice I’ve received has come from mentors, professors, and community leaders who encouraged me to pursue my ideas and embrace opportunities. A college professor once urged me to accept recognition and “keep going,” while a church speaker inspired me to act on a long-held idea. These moments reinforced the value of mentorship, support, and taking initiative in shaping my career.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to pay attention to the small numbers and relationships early on, because those connections often become the foundation for long-term success. Don’t wait for perfect conditions to pursue your ideas—trust your instincts, step out in faith, and keep building even when the path seems uncertain. Keep showing up, be willing to promote your accomplishments, and focus on the connections you make and the impact you create, not just monetary outcomes.

I believe one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses today is marketing visibility. When I first arrived in Alamogordo, I saw that there are great businesses out here, but they may not know how to market themselves properly. Some of them don't show up properly on Google, or they may only show up on certain social media channels. Many business owners don't have the tools or knowledge to present themselves effectively online, and that's a real gap. But I also see tremendous opportunity in this challenge. With the right guidance and strategy, even small businesses can reach thousands of people, and I want to help entrepreneurs understand that marketing doesn't need to feel like this bottleneck or something intimidating. It can actually be fun and exciting to share what makes your business unique. I also think it's important to remember that even if 10 people or a thousand people see your content, that's huge because imagine a thousand people in a room. Those little numbers matter because you're nurturing those relationships, and that's where real connection happens.

Faith, connection, and service are the values that matter most to me in both my work and personal life. I'm a woman of God, and my faith guides everything I do. I truly believe that success isn't just about the money or the numbers, it's about the connections you make and the impact you have on people's lives. Whether I'm helping a small business improve its marketing or creating hats for people with thicker hair who have been overlooked by the retail industry, my goal is always to help people feel seen and supported. I want business owners to feel relief when they find my services, like 'thank goodness there's someone thinking about people like me.' I love hearing people's stories, learning where they started and how they got to where they are, and then finding ways to help them or connect them with opportunities. To me, that's like a beautiful, well-oiled machine. I'm passionate about travel, food, and exploring new places, even just new towns in New Mexico, because there's so much to see and so many people to meet. Every connection matters, and I believe in nurturing those relationships because that's where real meaning comes from.