Justin and Mikquel Matherson, English '06 and Psychology '09

Justin and Mikquel Matherson (English '06 and Psychology '09) met at Fort Lewis College in 2005. Ten years later, the alumni couple began Rez Meetz Urban Salsa, selling in local stores. The salsa is also used by Fresh Ideas, FLC's campus dining partner. 

Justin was born and raised in inner city Denver, while Mikquel is from New Mexico and Arizona and is of Navajo and Hopi descent. Hence the Rez who met Urban! Mikquel’s roots in the Southwest played a huge role in her love for delicious salsa and chili. When she was a freshman in college, she missed the NM green and red chili and salsas so much that she decided to learn how to make it herself. When she and Justin got married in 2009, he fell in love with her salsa and in 2015, he convinced her that the salsa was good enough to sell.

They ventured out to turn their family recipe into an enterprise. They got into their first store in November 2015, and today they are in 15 different locations in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico. They also have a handful of stores in the Colodrado Springs area. “Our aim is to always serve fresh, authentic salsa, using quality ingredients which produce rich & savory flavors. And as alumni, we’re honored to be able to serve the entire FLC community," the Mathersons said.