Who We Are
At the heart of our organization lies a deep-seated commitment to serving and empowering our community.
Our History
Pete Suazo's Legacy
Suazo Business Center was founded in 2002 in memory of Pete Suazo, Utah’s first Latino state senator and a fierce advocate for civic and community engagement.
In 1997, Pete Suazo helped Gladys Gonzalez obtain a loan by assisting her with a business plan for her first business, Mundo Hispano newspaper. That experience inspired Gladys to provide the same type of support to others in her community.
After Pete passed away, Gladys felt called to honor his legacy by creating a center that would help other entrepreneurs access the guidance and resources he had provided to her. With support from the local business and civic communities, including Senator Bob Bennett, the Pete Suazo Business Center opened its doors to the community in 2003.
Following Gladys Gonzalez’s passing, Suazo Business Center continues to honor her vision and the legacy she built alongside the inspiration of Pete Suazo.
Today, the Center carries their work forward by helping low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs and small business owners access the education, technical assistance, financial capability resources, and capital they need to build successful businesses and strengthen their financial futures.
About Us
Mission
Utah’s most culturally responsive business development center, empowering individuals and entrepreneurs to build generational wealth by expanding access to business ownership, capital, and financial education.
Vision
A future where Latino and all communities thrive through business ownership, economic mobility, and generational wealth.
Values
Trust
We build relationships rooted in dignity, authenticity, reliability, and cultural understanding.
Opportunity
We recognize systemic barriers and work to remove them.
Empowerment
We believe in the potential of every client.
Innovation
We adapt and grow to meet the needs of a changing world.
Our Team
Suazo is dedicated to providing the best business services and mentorship of the economically disadvantaged communities. For this reason, we are proud to have the amazing community leaders that we have on our team and board of directors.
