Women Entrepreneurs Take Center Stage as Imperial Valley Celebrates PCEME Graduates and Mujer Resiliente Honorees

What begins as an idea can become a business, a source of financial independence and, eventually, an opportunity that strengthens an entire community.

That spirit of entrepreneurship was celebrated on August 27, 2026, as women from across the Imperial Valley came together for the culmination of the seventh edition of the Programa Consular de Emprendimiento para Mexicanas en el Exterior (PCEME).

The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce was proud to serve as a collaborative partner for the local program alongside the Consulate of Mexico in Calexico and the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center, helping support an initiative centered on entrepreneurship, education and greater access to business resources.

The event marked the conclusion of several months of work for local participants and included an entrepreneurship competition, recognition of participating businesses and the presentation of the Mujer Resiliente Awards to women business owners representing communities across the Imperial Valley.

A Global Program with a Local Impact

PCEME is an initiative of Mexico’s Instituto de Mexicanas y Mexicanos en el Exterior, under the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, created to provide Mexican and Mexican-origin women living outside Mexico with education, information and entrepreneurship training.

The program is designed to help participants analyze and develop a business idea, create or strengthen a business and work toward greater financial and economic autonomy.

The seventh edition ran nationally and internationally from April through August 2026. According to the Instituto de Mexicanas y Mexicanos en el Exterior, more than 3,000 women participated during the program’s first six editions, with graduates going on to own businesses and contribute to the communities where they live. Locally, 2026 marked the fourth year the program has been offered in the Imperial Valley.

Turning Ideas Into Business Plans

PCEME goes well beyond a traditional entrepreneurship workshop.

Participants work through DreamBuilder, an entrepreneurship education program consisting of 13 chapters covering areas including business concepts, marketing, sales, finance and human resources.

The broader PCEME model also incorporates mentorship from individuals with business and industry experience, networking and the development of a formal business plan. Participants who advance through the program prepare to present those plans before a judging panel, putting their knowledge and presentation skills into practice while receiving an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and potential investment.

Here in the Imperial Valley, participants spent several months completing training, receiving individual business guidance and preparing their projects for the final presentation.

Local participants identified in coverage of the program included:

Karla Gallaga — RED Commercial Cleaning Services LLCImelda Anguiano — IMIHELucy Espinoza — Lightbox Treasure Photo and VideoJulia Romero — Green CompostZohe Garcia — Walking TogetherLaura Figueroa — Bake It HappenArlene Palomera — A3VO Youth AtelierSelene Reyes — The Realee Group

Together, the participants represented businesses and entrepreneurial projects from communities throughout Imperial County.

Local Entrepreneurs Earn Top Honors

The August 27 celebration also put the participants' months of preparation to the test as they presented their business projects before a judging panel.

Lucy Espinoza, owner of Lightbox Treasure Photo and Video, earned first place in the entrepreneurship competition and received $3,500 in financial support.

Espinoza brought more than 25 years of photography experience into the program. After moving to the United States, she initially anticipated pursuing traditional employment, but former clients familiar with her photography began reaching out for event services. Those opportunities eventually brought her back into the industry and helped develop what would become her business.

Through PCEME, Espinoza said she was able to take experience she had accumulated over the years and place it into a more intentional business structure.

She plans to use her first-place funding primarily toward marketing and reaching new customers. Her longer-term vision goes beyond growing the company: she hopes to eventually develop a team that can create employment opportunities here in Imperial County.

Laura Figueroa, owner of Bake It Happen, earned second place, receiving $1,700.

Arlene Palomera of A3VO Youth Atelier earned third place, receiving $1,000.

Published coverage of the event reported that the remaining finalists each received $500 in financial support.

Those investments give participants an opportunity to take what they developed through the program and put it to work as they continue building their businesses.

Five Cities, Five Mujer Resiliente Honorees

Entrepreneurship was only one part of the evening.

The program also celebrated the fourth annual Mujer Resiliente recognition, honoring women whose entrepreneurial journeys demonstrate perseverance, leadership, commitment and resilience.

Five women were recognized in 2026, each representing a different Imperial Valley community:

Calipatria — Mariana Ramirez, The Spot

Brawley — Priscilla Sanchez, Elotes y Más

Imperial — Norma Martinez, Prana Yoga Studio

El Centro — Gabriela Rivera, IVG Events

Calexico — Emily Uribe, Petunia’s Sandwiches

Together, the five honorees represent the diversity of small businesses operating throughout our region and the determination required to build, sustain and grow a business.

Their recognition also broadened the evening beyond businesses completing the entrepreneurship program, creating an opportunity to celebrate women who are already contributing to their respective communities through their work.

Building Connections That Continue Beyond the Program

One of the most important aspects of PCEME is what happens after the final presentation.

Consul Titular Rocío Vázquez Álvarez explained during coverage of the event that the program is intended to give entrepreneurs greater structure while connecting them with resources and services that can continue supporting their development.

Participants leave with connections to institutions capable of providing continued education and mentorship in areas ranging from marketing and artificial intelligence to taxes and other essential aspects of operating a business.

That continued connection is particularly important for entrepreneurs who may have the experience, skill or idea necessary to build a business but may not yet know where to find the resources that can help them formalize and expand it.

By combining education, mentorship, professional connections and financial support, PCEME helps bridge that gap.

A Community Effort Supporting Women in Business

Programs like this are strengthened when the broader business community participates.

Local reporting identified support from businesses, institutions and community organizations including Corazón Credit Union, First Foundation Bank, Imperial Valley College, the City of El Centro, United Toyota, Victoria Homes, Sun Community, Seven Roofing, EnergySource Minerals, State Farm by Jasmin Rodriguez, AliPies, Academi Awards and Trophies, and Divinne Designs.

That level of participation demonstrates what regional collaboration can accomplish when organizations, businesses and institutions work together to support entrepreneurship.

For IVRCC, serving as a collaborative partner reflects our broader commitment to connecting businesses throughout the Imperial Valley with resources, relationships and opportunities that can help them move forward.

When a local entrepreneur gains the knowledge to strengthen a business plan, finds a new professional connection, reaches another customer or eventually creates a job, that progress extends beyond one business. It contributes to a stronger regional economy.

Celebrating What Comes Next

The August 27 ceremony represented a conclusion, but for the participating entrepreneurs, it also marked the beginning of what comes next.

The business plans have been presented. New connections have been made. Financial resources have been awarded. And five established women entrepreneurs have been recognized for the resilience they demonstrate in communities across the Valley.

Now comes the work of putting those resources, strategies and relationships into action.

The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce congratulates Lucy Espinoza, Laura Figueroa, Arlene Palomera and all of the 2026 PCEME participants, as well as Mariana Ramirez, Priscilla Sanchez, Norma Martinez, Gabriela Rivera and Emily Uribe, this year’s Mujer Resiliente honorees.

We are proud to collaborate with organizations working to bring business education and resources closer to our community and look forward to seeing how these women continue contributing to the economic future of the Imperial Valley.