Funding business dreams, vitalizing communities.
29 years of growing together
DreamSpring is an award-winning nonprofit organization that increases access to credit, makes loans, and provides a community of support to help entrepreneurs realize their dreams.
WHAT WE OFFER
Loans up to $2 million
Affordable fixed rates
Flexible credit requirements
Client Dreams Come True
Beckie Clarke and Kyla Hemelt
Owners of Colorado Drifters Coffee and Fly Shop in New Castle, Colorado
Penny Clark
Owner of Penelope’s Permanent Cosmetics & Salon Boutique in Prescott, Arizona
Dr. Janiece Mackey, Ph.D.
Founder of Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA) in Aurora, Colorado
Jo Ann Franko and Sean Hayes
Owners of Tucked Away Craft Kitchen & Bar and Tipsy Cactus TapRoom & Bottle Shop in Mesa, Arizona
Owner of Little Giants Daycare in Phoenix, Arizona
Owner of Heidi Wagner Photography in Boulder, Colorado
Owner of Victory Taekwondo Center in Parker, Colorado
Over the course of five years and four DreamSpring loans, the business has taken root and is thriving. For Ramil, the most important part of teaching Taekwondo is instilling a sense of confidence and responsibility in his students. He looks forward to positively impacting the lives of even more students and to one day owning the business’ property. Ramil says, “Having DreamSpring on our side, we are highly confident we will be successful in the future.”
Owners of Colorado Drifters Coffee and Fly Shop in New Castle, Colorado
Owners of PhotoFunBooth in Tucsun, Arizona
“Jeff is the muscle of PhotoFunBooth and is usually transporting photo booths and other equipment,” says Jackie, who manages the administrative front and helps clients reserve their rentals.
The couple came to DreamSpring for funding to support their growth into Phoenix and an ongoing need for staff, equipment, and transportation to events. While PhotoFunBooth has been around since 2005, Jackie and Jeff are celebrating their fifth anniversary as entrepreneurs this year, and business is booming! During one weekend in April, the couple had a dozen photo booth events, and they continue to grow.
Owner of Native Realities in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Owner of I Knead Sugar in Gallup, New Mexico
Although fed by a dream, business ownership is about reality, and I Knead Sugar nearly closed before it even opened. After spending hard-earned personal resources on renovations and build-out, Jacqueline realized they didn’t have enough money for the ingredients that would make the bakery thrive.
Capital isn’t the only support Jacqueline has received from DreamSpring. As a Native small business owner, Jaqueline says, "I feel more connected to the Native women entrepreneurial community as a result of my relationship with DreamSpring."
Owner of Moonstone Baking Company in Austin, Texas
With her recipes perfected and her logo drawn up, Kelsie was ready to take on Austin’s culinary scene — except for one key aspect: funding. She quickly learned traditional lenders were reluctant to take a chance on a woman under 25 with a limited credit history.
Revenue isn't the only important thing at Moonstone Baking Company. Kelsie is passionate about supporting her community. Not only does she buy all her ingredients from local vendors, but she also donates her baked goods to local schools. Her current goal is to make the Austin Texas Farmers’ Market the absolute best that it can be.
Kelsie reflects that while owning a small business can be hard work, the joy it brings is invaluable. “It almost makes me tear up every time someone says, ‘Oh that was so delicious.’ It’s a very personal thing.”
Owner of Simply Scuba in Las Vegas, Nevada
After connecting with a DreamSpring loan officer, Martin was able to access the capital he needed to purchase his initial inventory and an industrial air compressor for scuba tanks, a truly vital piece of equipment. Without it, he says, “you’re not considered a dive store.”
Indigenous-Led Nonprofit
Owner of True Grit Tattoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Today, more than a decade later, Johnny Mac’s shop, True Grit Tattoo, is thriving. “I just really appreciate that DreamSpring took me on as one of their clients. It’s made my lifetime dream come true: being able to provide for my son,” he says.
Owner of Generation Tech Support in Phoenix, Arizona
Owners of B&B Café in Castle Rock, Colorado
Owner of True Love Honey in Marana, Arizona
Anthony Tubbiolo was looking for a change when opportunity came knocking. While working at a stand at a farmers market — one of three part-time jobs he held — a beekeeper’s son approached, announcing his father had a two-year supply of honey to sell. With only $212 dollars to his name, Anthony decided to take a risk and purchase a case of honey. Later, sitting on the side of the road with a handwritten sign, Anthony sold the entire case. The next day, he purchased two more cases, and the following day, a few more, and True Love Honey was born.
Six years later, True Love Honey has its own shop in Marana, and its honey can be found on the shelves of a growing base of Arizona retailers, as well as at farmers markets like the one where the business got its start. Anthony shares that growing his enterprise was no easy feat for someone without a formal education or corporate business experience.
Even with a profitable business, Anthony couldn’t find working capital to expand his operations — until Anthony’s wife learned about DreamSpring. With the entire family helping run the business, Anthony loves that his children are able to see the positive outcomes of hard work and develop a mindset that anything is possible.
Speaking of his four-year-old daughter, Anthony says, “We know her future is going to be different than ours. She’s going to grow up learning how to operate and run a real business, and that’s an amazing head start.” Each month, True Love Honey donates a portion of its proceeds to three organizations that support childhood development.
Anthony’s vision to pay it forward and interrupt the cycles of need in his community is already coming to life. “Looking at the trajectory of our lives before this business, we had very limited prospects," he says, "and now it’s unlimited.”
Owner of Turkish Chef in Centennial, Colorado
Owners of Telesto Coffee in Dallas, Texas
Owner of Let It Be YOGA in ALbuquerque, New Mexico
Owner of Fusion Tacos in Santa Fe, New Mexico
True to its name, Fusion Tacos boasts an eclectic menu. Mexican specialties include birria tacos — a flavorful stew that's stuffed into a griddled corn tortilla – along with authentic carne asada, al pastor, carnitas and chorizo tacos. A "fit menu" of keto bowls, protein waffles, and fruit parfaits appeals to health-conscious diners. The Ramon family plans to continue expanding their unique offerings at their new locations.
“My husband said 'tacos,'” says Perla of Fusion’s eclectic origins. “I wanted to do exclusively protein shakes. He said, ‘You have to do tacos.’ I hate to say this, but he was right!”
At any of their locations, however, there is one consistency: a long line of New Mexicans from all walks of life gathered for the Ramon family's deliciously satisfying food.
Founder of Chicks with Class in Houston, Texas
Owner of Bodies By Perseverance in Denver, Colorado
A self-proclaimed “late bloomer,” Courtney first discovered athletics on the track and football fields in high school. He went on to get a four-year college scholarship for football, and then spent a year in the NFL. Courtney is no stranger to pushing his physical and mental limits. But he learned that helping others achieve their fitness goals is what inspires him to be at the top of his game every day. So in 2003, Courtney launched what would become Bodies By Perseverance.
Courtney first turned to DreamSpring in 2015 for a $40,000 small business loan, enabling him to upgrade and expand his business. Five years later, the pandemic forced fitness centers across the U.S. to close their doors to in-person clients. Courtney returned to DreamSpring for two SBA loans, which helped him support his family and his staff through months of uncertainty.
A quick-footed boxer, Courtney bobbed and weaved to adapt his business to meet the demands of both his clients and the CDC’s pandemic regulations. He came back to DreamSpring for a fourth round in 2022, this time opening a Power Line of Credit. With more than $30,000 to tap into at Courtney’s convenience, Bodies By Perseverance has the capital to be an agile powerhouse — just like its owner.
Today, Courtney leads a team of 10 highly rated trainers from Bodies By Perseverance headquarters in the greater Downtown area, dishing out personal training and group workouts seven days a week. The gym specializes in weightlifting, functional exercise, high intensity interval training (HIIT), boxing, and athletics. Courtney even leads off-season programs for high school athletes who want to stay active over summer break.
Courtney considers himself blessed to have built a successful career around helping others achieve their goals. It’s not a job to him. “This is my passion,” he says, “and that’s why I don’t call it work.”
Owner of Pint’s Peak Ice Cream in Denver, Colorado
Surprisingly, Caitlin came to Colorado, and to ice cream, only a few years ago. Originally from Maryland, the trained pastry chef fell in love with Colorado after a solo trip to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. In August 2019, she packed her dog and possessions into her car and drove west, taking a sales position with an upscale events company in the Mile High City. COVID-19 hit a few months later. High-end catering vanished, and Caitlin was laid off.
But Caitlin didn't sit on her hands. Rather, she used her downtime and extensive culinary experience to experiment with a borrowed ice cream maker, tapping into ice cream ideas she had spent years dreaming up while working in the fine dining pastry industry. Within weeks, Caitlin had crafted ice creams that she felt were truly elevated, and Pint’s Peak was up and running.
Caitlin’s first orders were home deliveries and pints sold from a cooler at Cheesman Park. Today, she focuses on wholesale contracts with high-end markets, hotels, and eateries in the Denver area. Caitlin even snagged a spot at the vaunted Aspen Food & Wine festival, where she handed out thousands of gourmet ice cream cones to delighted attendees.
“We help people reach the summit of ice cream satisfaction,” Caitlin says, “expanding their palates with creative flavor combinations they never knew they needed.” And Pint’s Peak doesn’t stop there. The company is committed to a mission of equality and community engagement. Pint’s Peak promotes small businesses at every turn, while also empowering other female entrepreneurs and supporting inclusivity for all people.
A Power Line of Credit loan from DreamSpring puts more than $30,000 at Caitlin’s fingertips whenever her business needs working capital, whether it’s for locally sourced inventory, payroll for a pop-up event, or a delivery vehicle. (No matter how good it is, ice cream can’t get to Aspen by itself.) Boosted by her flexible line of credit from DreamSpring, Caitlin has grown Pint’s Peak into a landmark ice cream brand for Coloradans seeking a thrilling flavor adventure. Talk about a cool business model.
Owner of Ametrine Collective in Denver, Colorado
Owner of Exenel 2.0 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Founder of Houses for Warriors in Evergreen, Colorado
“DreamSpring gave me a seed loan of $10,000, which helped us launch the organization. I had poor credit, and DreamSpring was the only lender that would support me and understood and empathized with what I was trying to do,” says Andrew.
Owners of SnoGlow Shaved Ice in Las Vegas, Nevada
Owner of Royale Ballet Dance Academy in Dallas, Texas
From her studio in Dallas, Angela and her team teach ballet, modern jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and contemporary dance to students as young as age 3 and continuing well into adulthood. A 78-year-old ballerina who dances with Angela was recently featured in the Washington Post for her continued practice, and that is the exact mentality Angela seeks to inspire in her students.
She also works to prepare her students to enter the world of professional dance and inspire them to use the techniques and discipline from ballet in other aspects of their lives.
When Angela and her family needed capital to continue growing the studio, they came to DreamSpring.Founder of Life Recovery Centers in Denver, Colorado
“Being an immigrant, LGBTQ, bilingual, bicultural and educated, I have many gifts to offer and feel called to do this,” Alex says.
Come 2020, Alex had moved the business from a shared workspace to his own 1,300-square-foot office. Five full-time employees and 12 trauma-trained contract clinicians were serving about 350 clients weekly. But the waiting list was growing, as economically vulnerable families — particularly families of color — were disproportionately affected by the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, dramatically increasing need.
Throughout the pandemic-related challenges of the last few years, Alex credits his success and survival to DreamSpring and the two $23,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans it provided. The funding helped Alex retain employees, hire additional contractors for the increased caseload, pay for a telehealth portal for virtual treatment, and become credentialed to accept all major insurance companies and Medicaid.
Owner of Escalade Cleaners and Laundry in Phoenix, Arizona
Dry cleaning has been in Melissa Coborubio’s family for several generations. Even though Melissa started working with her mother in the business at a young age, she says her focus isn’t necessarily on the work itself, but on her community.
“I’m running this business because my passions are in serving customers, seeing my employees grow and develop, and being a part of my community,” she says. “It feeds my soul.”
Melissa opened Escalade Cleaners and Laundry in Phoenix in 2015. When she was ready to open a second location, she faced financial barriers despite a strong business track record.
Melissa tried unsuccessfully to obtain financing from more than five banks before one recommended DreamSpring. She received funding from DreamSpring to open the second location and has since received additional loans to help grow her business.
Since inception, donating to local charities has been a cornerstone of Melissa’s business practices. “I recognize that without my community and my customers, I wouldn’t be able to open the doors every day,” she says. Escalade Cleaners and Laundry has participated in back-to-school and clothing drives, and it offers discounts to churches and schools. The business also donates to a music scholarship fund for students at the local community college.
Today, Melissa proudly employs 25 people from her neighborhood. Many of her employees have faced difficulties finding employment because they are refugees or formerly incarcerated individuals. Melissa prides herself on giving them a chance to develop critical workplace skills.
“Seeing an employee bloom and transform into a completely different person since they were first hired is amazing. It reminds me why I do this work.”
Owner of Jay FabWerks in Kansas City, Missouri
Owners of Tahoe Nevada Love in Reno, Nevada
“We were just two young local kids with a dream and just went for it,” Adam reflects. “DreamSpring has been the fuel we needed to keep on going."
Founder of Indie Is The New Major in Kansas City, Kansas
Talena is back to dreaming big, expanding her music business into publishing and film production. She also returned to DreamSpring for a flexible line of credit to fund her new ventures.
She hopes her entrepreneurial success will inspire others, sparking “impact growth and empowerment in urban networks.”
Owner of The Bearded Baking Company in Austin, Texas
Owner of Gallery Hózhó in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Navajo artist Rhett Lynch knows precisely when inspiration struck him to become a painter. He was 5, holding a blanket over himself and a TV in his parents’ basement in Texas, secretly watching midnight broadcasts of his favorite event — Mexico City bullfights. The station broke from the program to air a brief segment about Pablo Picasso, painting bulls and bullfights in his studio. “And in that moment, I remember so vividly thinking to myself, ‘I’m going to be that guy,’ Rhett says. “I didn’t even know who he was.”
Now 60, Rhett has been nationally recognized as a professional artist for more than four decades. After drawing obsessively as a child, he began making paintings for sale under a mentor at age 15. By age 20, he was well on his way to establishing himself as an artist worthy of commissions. His subject matter, and even his medium, varies — from paintings in oil and acrylic to hand-woven tapestries, sculpture, drawings, and film production.
“The common denominator for my work has been my use of color, with painting as the bedrock of what I do.” Working from his home studio in Alameda, N.M., he says, “I never considered opening an art gallery.”
But that’s what happened in 2016, when a new luxury hotel opened in Albuquerque’s Sawmill District. Rhett had been offered a chance to locate his studio in the hotel’s retail space, but when he found himself too busy with commission work to make the move, he pivoted to using the location as a pop-up gallery for other indigenous artists. It wasn’t long before Rhett established it as a permanent gallery with help from DreamSpring that same year.
Rhett received a DreamSpring loan to help pay for a build-out of the raw space and hire two employees. Long term, he said, the loan achieved so much more.
“It wasn’t just the gallery being able to keep the doors open or me being successful with the endeavor; that was just Step 1,” he says. “Now, artists have an outlet for their work. They have income.”
“That loan is one of the main reasons that the gallery is what it is now,” Rhett says, “representing about 20 indigenous, non-indigenous and Latinx artists, and employing four people.”
In March 2020, the gallery got a new name to reflect the artistic and economic harmony that Rhett’s business holds space for — Gallery Hózhó, which comes from the Diné Navajo word for balance and beauty.
Owner of Beyond Transport Services in Phoenix, Arizona
Owners of Santa Fe Doors in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Project-based contractors like Shannon and Jerry need access to capital for equipment, hiring, inventory, and transportation costs associated with each project. At DreamSpring, we believe that accessing capital is key to growing a small business. We’re here to make sure that contractors can complete projects on time and on budget.
Owner of Frank's Famous Chicken and Waffles in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Owner of Sea Song Designs in Tampa Bay, Florida
Owner of Roberts Freight Dispatching Services in Houston, Texas
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey demolished the home Tajuana Roberts and her husband had worked so hard to build just months before. With waters rising, the couple and their young child had to be rescued by boat. Soon after, Tajuana was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and lost her job.
Instead of drowning in the tragedies, Tajuana strapped on her mental life jacket and implemented her Plan B. With 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, she launched Roberts Freight Dispatching Services in Houston in 2018, with a mission of helping the incarcerated, disenfranchised, or displaced find opportunity.
A #TrueGrit loan from DreamSpring helped her business navigate the pandemic with funds for payroll and working capital.
In just two years, Tajuana had grown from one carrier with five trucks to five carriers with 62 trucks. She parlayed her robust online presence to market a self-authored 160-page online freight dispatching training manual so that women interested in the male-dominated industry could create their own freight dispatching business from their homes. And when demand came for one-on-one instruction, Tajuana developed a training academy, Roberts Transportation and Logistics Academy, taught by her to both men and women online and in person. Her business impact is tremendous, helping thousands of students nationwide access logistics careers.
“I applied for the DreamSpring loan because I was looking to build business credit, but it turned out to be such a bigger blessing. Money does not make you successful; it’s about how many lives you’ve been able to impact.”
Owner of Penelope’s Permanent Cosmetics & Salon Boutique in Prescott, Arizona
Facebook.com/outthedoorbeautiful
“I really love what I do, and the stylists I get to do it with. It is so wonderful to share this passion with professional women," says Penny. "I am so blessed!”
Owner of Siarza Social Digital in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kristelle Siarza has owned Siarza Social Digital, a thriving integrated marketing business in Albuquerque, New Mexico, since 2014. She has never missed a payroll date for her seven-employee team. She is also the sole breadwinner for a child in middle school and her significant other, a U.S. military veteran with a disability. Many of her clients are in the service industry, which reduced expenses or closed during the 2020 pandemic. This resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of dollars in work for her business, and she quickly became deeply worried, for the first time, about making payroll. Kristelle reached out to DreamSpring for support.
As an approved lender under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, DreamSpring guided Kristelle through the process and with their help, she was able to receive relief funding that enabled her to retain all of her employees.
"I had many sleepless nights, vulnerable moments and emotional phone calls. I'm thankful that the DreamSpring community gave me the glimmer of hope I needed to keep our staff stable for the next few months."
Owner of El Bohio Criollo Cuban Cuisine in Lakewood, Colorado
When native Cubans Yuneisi Oliva and husband Greico Herrada moved to Colorado from Florida, they longed for Cuban food but couldn’t find any. Inspired to fill the void, Yuneisi and her mother began selling homemade Cuban food at local festivals. It was a hit, leading Yuneisi to seek capital for a food truck.
When a traditional lender turned her down due to insufficient income, she approached DreamSpring, which quickly approved her for a small loan. Not only did the food truck succeed, but also Yuneisi paid off her loan within a year and began saving to open a restaurant.
With the help of another small loan from DreamSpring, Yuneisi opened El Bohio Criollo Cuban Cuisine restaurant in Lakewood, Colorado, employing several new staff members including her mother, younger sister, husband and three sons.
Owner of RedWing Collections in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico
A member of Santa Ana Pueblo, Shirley grew up making her own clothes and was often asked by others where she had bought them. She realized she could use her gift to make clothes inspired by Native American culture as a way to preserve her family’s heritage. Shirley named her business RedWing Collections after the name her grandfather gave her: RedWing.
To get her company off the ground, Shirley needed new sewing equipment and capital to purchase supplies. A friend referred her to DreamSpring for a start-up loan.
Since then, Shirley has received additional loans from DreamSpring and continues to grow her business.
Owner of Cucuru Gallery Café in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Guillermo Alvarado always wanted to be his own boss. So, in 2005, when the opportunity arose to buy property in the historic district of Colorado Springs, he jumped at the chance to start his own business. The Cucuru Gallery Café initially opened as an art gallery and coffee shop, but Guillermo was eventually able to expand into a full restaurant focused on using fresh, regional ingredients to create Mediterranean and Latin American fare. The café also displays and sells paintings by local artists and regularly hosts live music, firmly cementing its reputation as a hub for culture and community in Colorado Springs.
Before COVID-19, Guillermo succeeded as a sole proprietor, supported when needed by family members who helped him part-time. When the pandemic threatened his ability to remain open in 2020, he applied for and received two Paycheck Protection Program loans from DreamSpring.
The funding helped him survive, and he is now turning his business into a limited liability corporation and planning to hire permanent, full-time staff to support its continued growth.
Owner of Simple Coffee Co. in Fraser, Colorado
People describe Fraser, Colorado, as a rural mountain town. Until Simple Coffee Co. came along, the 1,400-person municipality was arguably more mountain, less town. Entrepreneur Olivia Youngs sought to change that.
With a love for coffee, a dedication to ethical practices, some global influences, and a splash of her minimalist stylistic sense, Olivia launched a first-of-its-kind venture for Fraser in 2019. She opened Simple Coffee Co. with the help of a $10,000 small business loan from DreamSpring.
Much of her approach for this environmentally friendly boutique coffee shop, which also doubles as a community watering hole, was influenced by Olivia’s desire to address problems she witnessed in the fashion industry, such as waste and inequality. Olivia buys her coffee from a roaster that is known for transparency and sustainable practices. Instead of serving drinks in paper cups, she uses glass jars that patrons can either return or reuse. Simple Coffee is also a family endeavor, with Olivia’s husband occasionally manning the register and her three young daughters observing the inner-workings of an emerging and successful small business. Today, each cup of joe sold is helping to fuel the local mountain-town economy — and beyond.
“I was super appreciative of the loan. It was an easy process, and it was half of my startup costs, so it was very, very helpful.”
Owner of Sanders Academy for Excellence (SAFE) in Waco, Texas
After 15 years as an elementary school teacher, Deidre Sanders followed a dream of establishing an educational space where instructors could have the freedom to teach creatively and adjust their approaches to suit the unique needs of each student. Deidre originally struggled to secure a loan to help her launch this new child care business. When she applied for funding through DreamSpring, she was approved for a $20,000 small business loan to get her venture started.
In 2019, the Sanders Academy for Excellence (SAFE) in Waco, Texas, opened its doors and began to support children from infants to 12 years of age.
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, Deidre was forced to close temporarily. DreamSpring decreased her loan payment amount and deferred payments for several months — relief options that DreamSpring offered to clients to help them navigate the pandemic’s economic toll.
Today, her academy is back open and is at maximum enrollment. Deidre now supports more than 10 full-time employees and she is considering expanding to open a charter school.
“I believe DreamSpring is the reason we are where we are now. They gave me a break. They trusted me and gave me the confidence to get up and running.”
Owner of AA Printing Services in Las Vegas, Nevada
Several years ago in Las Vegas, John Pinnington found himself in search of a printer who could print his items the very next day. Unable to find a printer who could do so, John was inspired to open AA Printing Service to fulfill next-day business needs. Since 2011, AA Printing has provided this niche service and supported hundreds of fellow small businesses.
John learned about DreamSpring at an Urban Chamber of Commerce meeting and immediately sought a new business loan.
DreamSpring helped John refinance and consolidate his other loans, building his credit so he could access efficient capital. He truly sees DreamSpring as a partner to his success.
Owner of Industrial Solutions Company in Arlington, Texas
In 2011, Barbara Oldums was a single mom who wanted more than anything to have time to support her daughters in track and drill team while they were still young. She also wanted a paycheck that paid what she knew she was worth. To achieve both, she left her media and communications career to start a janitorial supply business, which became Industrial Solutions Company in Arlington, Texas. The woman-owned, Black-owned business took off so quickly that Barbara needed injections of working capital to help her scale, but her loan needs were smaller than mainstream loan products would accommodate. DreamSpring was able to address her needs and provided four loans between 2017 and 2020, helping Barbara take advantage of growth opportunities she otherwise would have had to bypass.
When the pandemic hit, she approached DreamSpring for two Paycheck Protection Program loans. Thanks to that support and the funding throughout her journey, Barbara and her now-husband, Bishop L.C. Oldums, who is vice president and CFO, hired their first two employees. Industrial Solutions Company’s clients now include the Texas Rangers, Trinity Metro Transit, and Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport.
With capital to grow and the confidence to bring her business ideas to scale, Barbara is expanding into construction services. She now provides commercial dumpsters, construction site supplies, and portable toilets, making her business the perfect candidate for DreamSpring's new Fast Forward loan.
“If it were not for DreamSpring, we would not have been able to take advantage of some new customer business opportunities. It was a life-saving opportunity for our business.”
Owner of ShanLee Fit in Scottsdale, Arizona
Founder of Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA) in Aurora, Colorado
As a student who experienced the public school system from Kindergarten through Ph.D., Dr. Janiece Mackey often felt like she was slipping through the cracks. During her undergraduate through doctoral studies in higher education, she discovered that the same academic barriers she encountered as a student were systematically impacting generations of local Black youth. Policy efforts to address these challenges created career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but little was being done to create similar opportunities in the public sector or social sciences.
“I was seeing the same cycle over and over again," Dr. Mackey says, "so I decided to create an organization, at 25 years old, to reclaim academic, career, and civic spaces on our terms."
The nonprofit organization Dr. Mackey founded in 2010, Young Aspiring Americans for Social and Political Activism (YAASPA), cultivates young adult leaders and redefines opportunity so students become advocates for themselves and their communities. With programs that encourage civic engagement, racial identity development, and career self-efficacy, YAASPA prepares youth to “redefine standards and pull down barriers.”
YAASPA’s innovative approach created high demand for programs, and the organization was rushing toward maximum capacity when the pandemic and the deepened racial reckoning of 2020 pushed Dr. Mackey and her team to grow their impact even more. The organization proved critical in meeting the basic needs of community members, helping with food deliveries and health access, while also creating collaborative healing spaces so youth could talk, process, and heal.
YAASPA is continuing its growth trajectory, with a slate of new staff hires, an expanded internship program, a coalition of Black community leaders, and the addition of new career pathways programming in public health and public administration. Empowered with DreamSpring funds and capacity to magnify its impact, YAASPA can continue to foster the next generation of civic leaders.
Owners of Kochi Café in Denver, Colorado
Owners of Tucked Away Craft Kitchen & Bar and Tipsy Cactus TapRoom & Bottle Shop in Mesa, Arizona
Jo Ann Franko never had thought of trying anything unusual or risky for a career. She was happy being a pharmacist, making more than a solid income. Her husband, Sean Hayes, however, had an ambitious dream.
Sean had been in the restaurant business since he was a child growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. “So, he always wanted to open his own place,” Jo says of Sean, who eventually left New Mexico to attend culinary school in Scottsdale, Arizona. “I’d watch my husband go from job to job," she says, where he would turn other people's restaurant businesses around "and not get anything out of it. So, we decided we’d save money and try to open our own place. I never really had a dream, so I thought I’d help my husband reach his.”
When the couple got close to their savings goal in 2016, DreamSpring filled in the rest with a $35,000 loan to help open Tipsy Cactus TapRoom & Bottle Shop in Mesa, Arizona. The bar serves craft beer from all over the country.
“There was nothing in this area of Mesa — no taprooms of any kind. But the beer-drinking community is huge,” Jo says. “We were the nobodies on the block when we opened. Distributors said we would fail because we didn’t have a kitchen and because of the location in a strip mall.”
On November 1, 2019, Jo and Sean threw a three-year business anniversary party. It attracted more than 500 customers — so many that Jo sold out of the T-shirts she had printed for the occasion. “The anniversary was the most financially profitable night we’ve ever had,” Jo says. “The outpouring of support from that community was humbling. It was indescribable. My husband built a sense of community that wasn’t there before. Friendships were born in that building. People who had never met before are friends. They do things with each other; they go to each other’s homes."
“It would not have been possible for us to open without the help of DreamSpring," Jo says, adding that they had initially approached a national bank but were turned down. "DreamSpring took a chance on people who had never owned a business.” And DreamSpring helped again in 2019, when Jo and Sean decided to open a restaurant.
“We weren’t as prepared financially; this venue was a lot bigger than Tipsy because this was a full restaurant,” Jo says. “I had to learn everything from how to build a kitchen, to plumbing — you name it, I had to figure out how to do this from the ground up.”
This time, DreamSpring provided $50,000 to help them build out the kitchen of Tucked Away Craft Kitchen & Bar, a few miles from Tipsy and within walking distance of their home.
Owner of Touch-N-Skin in Dallas, Texas
Taylor Symoné was determined to turn her personal battles into victories when she opened Touch-N-Skin. Frustrated with quick fixes and temporary beauty solutions, Taylor wanted to encourage men and women to find inner peace while “redefining outer beauty.” Her full-service spa promotes care and self-love as core components of living well.
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Taylor was inspired to run her own business. Becoming a mother fueled her entrepreneurial passion further as she sought flexibility and freedom to balance her home and professional lives.
Taylor launched Touch-N-Skin day spa shortly before the pandemic. By innovating her business model, Taylor was not only able to survive, but thrive. “I just wanted to grow and do more,” she says.
With a young family at home and a DreamSpring loan in hand, Taylor tripled her monthly revenue. Today, Taylor employees nine people to “spoil” Touch-N-Skin clients.
“I take pride in what I do and in my employees,” Taylor says. “I have fun being an entrepreneur. It gives me the freedom to be a mom.”
Since evolving from humble beginnings operating inside a hair salon, her current location boasts three full suites and redefines the spa experience in Dallas. Taylor’s trademark customer service draws celebrity clientele, and her therapeutic approach even earned her Best Esthetician of 2020 and Best Massage Therapist of 2020 awards.
Owner of The Goodness Truck in Fort Collins, Colorado
Her entrepreneurial journey started small; Michelle began as a caterer, operating a small food cart at festivals and events. Eventually, hauling her supplies back and forth became arduous and she decided to venture into the food truck business. Her specialties focus on smoking meat, cooking with a unique grill called “The Big Green Egg.” Serving fresh and local ingredients purchased from fellow small business owners and local farmers, Michelle’s truck earned a cult following for “the Hogfather,” a pork loin stuffed with Italian sausage.
Even when she was burned while cooking in 2018 and spent weeks in the hospital, Michelle knew she would return to The Goodness Truck and the kitchen. “I think people love the food and I like making it for them. I like the work,” says Michelle.
DreamSpring gave Michelle a small loan to get started; then as she built her credit, she was able to take out a larger pool of funds. “Everyone at DreamSpring is very patient and helpful,” says Michelle of her experience.