“To be a strong and supportive backbone to all that you do whether in the workplace or in an organization. Above all, is getting the job done, allowing others to accomplish the same. Being an advocate for my city has always been priority. You will find me cleaning a city park, just because that is who I am. We have to be open minded, sharing, compassionate, at the same time, being bold to advocate in a positive voice.

Leadership has really helped me in growing my business to what it is now, to marketing on Mondays, to meeting face to face with a client. It starts at home, how we raise our children, so then can prosper into adulthood and be advocates for what they believe in and to better themselves and their communities.

As a woman in business, yes, Leadership has grown, As an example: In 2000 , when I decided to create MAS Embroidery, I reached out to other embroidery businesses in the area. I wanted to see how the machines worked, details of running an embroidery business, costs involved and what machines were the best to work with. No one would give me the time of day.

Reached out to a Machine provider and they set me up with a two woman business in Santa Fe that owned an embroidery business. Two days with them was the turning point in my decision to start MAS.

Today, 19 years later, the Embroidery businesses in Santa Fe are still in business and we all work together on a mission to service all with our expertise in Embroidery to clients that brand themselves with logos of their businesses.

3. My career achievements are 1978-79. Working as a cashier for a reputable Grocery Store, Shop Rite also known as Piggly Wiggly. As we were transferred to Roswell, I started working for Safeway as a cashier from 1979 to 1985. Continued working as a cashier when plastic bags were introduced, led to a contest that I lead as to bagging and being very precised on squaring those bags with groceries.

Due to being the lead in this project brought me to being a trainer for the company and trained many baggers on bagging, which was a major obstacle in this process.

Work shedules always vary in the grocery business, but it never kept me from doing the upmost of my work. Transferring to Santa Fe in 1986, Verbally got a transfer to Safeway, but was told in Santa Fe Store that they could hire 3 people with what I was making, (My Salary) A dear friend that worked in Banking in Roswell, told me, “try banking, you might like it.

I applied and got the job as customer service representative. My supervisor was appalled that I was hired. My boss said, “She has a smile”, we can train her in all the other areas… So that was the beginning of a wonderful banking career.

1986-1996-Sunwest Bank of Santa Fe

As an entrepreneur, working from Home, I have been able to become very good at direct sales. I continue to sell Avon Products, Lockets for Origami Owl Company, Sell 18 hour lipstick through Senegence. I also represent Stampin Up, which is a rubber stamp company and also just recently, a company called Chalk Couture, Working with paint and stencils to beautify your home. 

I love that I can accomplish all of this, and It is because of my life experiences, from all my work places, I have gotten stronger and more confident and know that we can do it all.

5. My efforts on behalf of PBW- As I see my life unfold through what means as equality and fair pay, I believe that I have reached and have attained a great understanding on my values and believes.

I have made the decision to apply for Leadership Santa Fe this year. In the past, it was always on my mind, But there was always some reason I didn’t apply. I did it and was accepted. I am honored to be part of Leadership Santa Fe for 2020

I continue to make that special effort to help mi amiga succeed. We do not bring down their feelings that they can’t accomplish anything. I continue to strive to share my achievements with people that I meet and have been told by many that if it wasn’t for me stepping up and helping them or inspiring them, they wouldn’t be where they are at today.

6. My definition of Leadership is to be a strong and supportive backbone to all that you do whether in the workplace or in an organization. Above all, is getting the job done, allowing others to accomplish the same. Being an advocate for my city has always been priority. You will find me cleaning a city park, just because that is who I am. We have to be open minded, sharing, compassionate, at the same time, being bold to advocate in a positive voice.

Leadership has really helped me in growing my business to what it is now, to marketing on Mondays, to meeting face to face with a client. It starts at home, how we raise our children, so then can prosper into adulthood and be advocates for what they believe in and to better themselves and their communities.

As a woman in business, yes, Leadership has grown, As an example: In 2000 , when I decided to create MAS Embroidery, I reached out to other embroidery businesses in the area. I wanted to see how the machines worked, details of running an embroidery business, costs involved and what machines were the best to work with. No one would give me the time of day.

Reached out to a Machine provider and they set me up with a two woman business in Santa Fe that owned an embroidery business. Two days with them was the turning point in my decision to start MAS. Today, 19 years later, the Embroidery businesses in Santa Fe are still in business and we all work together on a mission to service all with our expertise in Embroidery to clients that brand themselves with logos of their businesses.

#7. The biggest lesson I learned was to provide Great quality work, the best in my embroidery, my garments and to be fulfilling and get the work done to perfection and on a timely manner. Solution that came out of it, is still continuing clients, that are still loyal from day one. There are times that I can’t get to their deadlines, but they in turn will tell me, they will wait for me.

Example: 2001- My very first embroidery for Santa Fe Civitans. They hired MAS to create their logo and embroider 40 shirts. Embroidery took like 3 days on a regular home embroidery machine. Even though, they knew I was new to embroidery, they trusted me, accepted the work with a smile. Looking back, they looked, not good.. Since then, I have recreated their logo and still are my clients.

Great Embroidery keeps Clients very happy.

8. Mary Ann Soto, owner of a home business, MAS Embroidery/ Engraving, since 2000. Her business has serviced over 500 clients with beautiful Embroidery and continues to grow. Mary Ann’s focus is on her clients, from the time she meets them, review their needs, such as logo, size of order and meeting their deadline, to delivery. MAS is not a business that just wants to complete the work and get paid. Mary Ann is an artist in the form of Threads, backing and a garment. If it does not meet MAS high quality standards, it is not walking out the door.

Mary Ann also offers classes in her studio in card making, jewelry and crafts.

Obviously, since Mary Anns business is a home business, she uses Mondays as a marketing day to reach out and get clients. Today, these same clients just drop off items to be embroidered. This is where loyalty comes into play. Many of the clients have been the same ones for 19 years.

Clients include urgent care centers, restaurants, cleaners, alterations, churches, state offices, pilots, young moms, all moms, dads, boy scout leaders, The film Industry of NM, utility companies, etc, not only in Santa Fe but in the surrounding areas. MAS (Mary Ann Soto) is the epitome of what a Home business should be. MAS Continues to strive to have the best Woman owned Embroidery Business in Santa Fe NM and thanks all for their business.”