BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260825T173000Z DTEND:20260825T190000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:Women In Business - Lessons in Leadership\, Legacy & Family DESCRIPTION:Rooted in Resilience: Lessons in Leadership\, Legacy & Family\n\nSuccess isn't built overnight. It is cultivated through hard work\, perseverance\, and staying true to the values that matter most.\n\n Join us for an inspiring Women in Business Luncheon featuring Lucy Cardenas\, owner of Red Iguana\, one of Utah's most iconic family-owned restaurants. Built on the foundation established by her parents\, Lucy has carried forward a remarkable family legacy while growing the business into a beloved community institution. Through every challenge and opportunity\, she has remained grounded in the principles of family\, resilience\, and authentic leadership. Drawing on the legacy her parents began when they brought their Mexican culinary traditions to Utah\, Lucy has continued to expand the business while honoring the values that made it successful.\n\nIn this heartfelt conversation\, Lucy will share the lessons she's learned about leading with purpose\, navigating change\, honoring your roots\, and building something that lasts. Whether you're an entrepreneur\, business leader\, or professional looking for inspiration\, you'll leave encouraged to embrace resilience\, invest in meaningful relationships\, and lead with both strength and heart.\n\nCome connect with us over lunch as we celebrate the power of legacy\, community\, and the incredible impact of women who lead with courage.\n\n \n\n\nAbout Our Speaker: Lucy Cardenas\, owner of the Red Iguana restaurants\n\nLucy Cardenas\, owner of the Red Iguana restaurants\, grew up watching her parents\, Ramon and Maria Cardenas\, create culinary artistry in Mexican restaurants in San Francisco\, where she and her brother\, Ramon Jr.\, were born. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants\, Lucy naturally joined her parents in the family business\, seating guests\, smiling\, and talking with customers by the age of five.\n\nIn 1965\, the Cardenas family moved to Salt Lake City to operate Casa Grande restaurant. It remained a beloved part of the community until it closed in 1985.\n\nThat same year\, a very small Red Iguana opened with no employees\, just Ramon Sr. working alone. As its popularity quickly grew\, Maria and Ramon Jr. joined him. Then catastrophe struck when the entire city block burned down\, forcing the Cardenas family to start over on North Temple.\n\nThat same year\, Lucy moved back to San Francisco to spread her wings and expand her knowledge of the hospitality industry. She trained and managed staff in nationally recognized restaurants across seven metropolitan cities\, eventually settling in Portland\, Oregon\, where she and Bill were married and planned to open their own Mexican restaurant.\n\nIn 2002\, Lucy's mother\, Maria\, passed away. In 2004\, Ramon Jr.\, the legendary chef of Red Iguana\, also passed away. Once again\, Ramon Sr. was left to run Red Iguana alone\, and he struggled to keep it going. In 2005\, Lucy returned to Salt Lake City and purchased the now-iconic Red Iguana\, keeping the most awarded Mexican restaurant in Utah history open for the community and allowing her father to retire.\n\n\n\nLucy's goal in life has always been to become a better business owner and a stronger contributor to the community she serves\, just as her parents were. In recognition of that dedication\, she received the Governor's Mansion Foundation Award for Culinary Artistry in 2006.\n\n\n\nIn 2008\, major challenges arrived in the form of three years of TRAX construction on North Temple. At the same time\, Lucy's appearance on Diners\, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network brought one-hour wait times seven days a week. Faced with growing demand\, Lucy made a bold move: she purchased an empty warehouse on South Temple\, just two blocks from Red Iguana\, and transformed it into a second restaurant.\n\n\n\nIn 2009\, Red Iguana 2 opened. In 2010\, Taste of Red Iguana opened in City Creek Center.\n\n\n\nToday\, with three restaurants\, Red Iguana employs a diverse team of more than 170 employees\, whom Lucy proudly calls her "Red Iguana Family."\n\n\n\nOver the years\, Red Iguana and Lucy have continued to earn prestigious recognition\, including:\n\n\n City Weekly Hall of Fame\n Salt Lake Magazine Hall of Fame in 2017\n Business Leadership Award from Sundance Institute in 2018\n Utah SBA Small Business of the Year in 2022\n Utah SBA Small Businesspersons of the Year for Lucy and Bill\n Lucy's 2023 PATHFINDER Award from the Salt Lake Chamber\, recognizing her promotion of development and recognition of women in business\n 2025 Lucy received the Tonahuac Award as a national honor and recognition for being a leader in the latin community that strengthen\, aid\, and make a difference in the local latin community.\n\n Lucy has also served on the boards of Governor Huntsman's Multicultural Commission\, the Tribune Newspaper\, the Suazo Business Center\, Mayor Ralph Becker's Business Advisory Team\, and the River District Business Alliance.\n\n\n\nThe Cardenas family has always actively supported local radio stations\, newspapers\, charities\, and youth sports. Lucy has traveled throughout Europe\, India\, Asia\, Australia\, Tahiti\, Cuba\, Iceland\, Kenya\, and extensively throughout Mexico. Through these experiences\, she has developed a deep understanding of and respect for the value of culture.\n\n\n\nFor more than 40 years\, the Cardenas family honored their traditions and heritage while building a remarkable Mexican culinary legacy in Salt Lake City. Today\, Lucy and the Red Iguana family proudly continue that tradition and cherish the loyal customers who have supported the Cardenas family's dream for more than 60 years. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
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Rooted in Resilience: Lessons in Leadership\, Legacy &\; Family
\nSuccess isn'\;t built overnight. \; It is cultivated through hard work\, perseverance\, and staying true to the values that matter most.
\n \;Join us for an inspiring Women in Business Luncheon featuring Lucy Cardenas\, owner of Red Iguana\, one of Utah'\;s most iconic family-owned restaurants. Built on the foundation established by her parents\, Lucy has carried forward a remarkable family legacy while growing the business into a beloved community institution. Through every challenge and opportunity\, she has remained grounded in the principles of family\, resilience\, and authentic leadership. Drawing on the legacy her parents began when they brought their Mexican culinary traditions to Utah\, Lucy has continued to expand the business while honoring the values that made it successful.
\nIn this heartfelt conversation\, Lucy will share the lessons she'\;s learned about leading with purpose\, navigating change\, honoring your roots\, and building something that lasts. Whether you'\;re an entrepreneur\, business leader\, or professional looking for inspiration\, you'\;ll leave encouraged to embrace resilience\, invest in meaningful relationships\, and lead with both strength and heart.
\nCome connect with us over lunch as we celebrate the power of legacy\, community\, and the incredible impact of women who lead with courage.
\n \;

\n\n\n

About Our Speaker: Lucy Cardenas\, owner of the Red Iguana restaurants
\nLucy Cardenas\, owner of the Red Iguana restaurants\, grew up watching her parents\, Ramon and Maria Cardenas\, create culinary artistry in Mexican restaurants in San Francisco\, where she and her brother\, Ramon Jr.\, were born. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants\, Lucy naturally joined her parents in the family business\, seating guests\, smiling\, and talking with customers by the age of five.
\nIn 1965\, the Cardenas family moved to Salt Lake City to operate Casa Grande restaurant. It remained a beloved part of the community until it closed in 1985.
\nThat same year\, a very small Red Iguana opened with no employees\, just Ramon Sr. working alone. As its popularity quickly grew\, Maria and Ramon Jr. joined him. Then catastrophe struck when the entire city block burned down\, forcing the Cardenas family to start over on North Temple.
\nThat same year\, Lucy moved back to San Francisco to spread her wings and expand her knowledge of the hospitality industry. She trained and managed staff in nationally recognized restaurants across seven metropolitan cities\, eventually settling in Portland\, Oregon\, where she and Bill were married and planned to open their own Mexican restaurant.
\nIn 2002\, Lucy&rsquo\;s mother\, Maria\, passed away. In 2004\, Ramon Jr.\, the legendary chef of Red Iguana\, also passed away. Once again\, Ramon Sr. was left to run Red Iguana alone\, and he struggled to keep it going. In 2005\, Lucy returned to Salt Lake City and purchased the now-iconic Red Iguana\, keeping the most awarded Mexican restaurant in Utah history open for the community and allowing her father to retire.

\n\n

\nLucy&rsquo\;s goal in life has always been to become a better business owner and a stronger contributor to the community she serves\, just as her parents were. In recognition of that dedication\, she received the Governor&rsquo\;s Mansion Foundation Award for Culinary Artistry in 2006.
\n
\nIn 2008\, major challenges arrived in the form of three years of TRAX construction on North Temple. At the same time\, Lucy&rsquo\;s appearance on Diners\, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network brought one-hour wait times seven days a week. Faced with growing demand\, Lucy made a bold move: she purchased an empty warehouse on South Temple\, just two blocks from Red Iguana\, and transformed it into a second restaurant.
\n\n

\nIn 2009\, Red Iguana 2 opened. In 2010\, Taste of Red Iguana opened in City Creek Center.
\n\n

\nToday\, with three restaurants\, Red Iguana employs a diverse team of more than 170 employees\, whom Lucy proudly calls her &ldquo\;Red Iguana Family.&rdquo\;
\n\n

\nOver the years\, Red Iguana and Lucy have continued to earn prestigious recognition\, including:
\n\n\n​\;Lucy has also served on the boards of Governor Huntsman&rsquo\;s Multicultural Commission\, the Tribune Newspaper\, the Suazo Business Center\, Mayor Ralph Becker&rsquo\;s Business Advisory Team\, and the River District Business Alliance.\n\n

\nThe Cardenas family has always actively supported local radio stations\, newspapers\, charities\, and youth sports. Lucy has traveled throughout Europe\, India\, Asia\, Australia\, Tahiti\, Cuba\, Iceland\, Kenya\, and extensively throughout Mexico. Through these experiences\, she has developed a deep understanding of and respect for the value of culture.
\n\n

\nFor more than 40 years\, the Cardenas family honored their traditions and heritage while building a remarkable Mexican culinary legacy in Salt Lake City. Today\, Lucy and the Red Iguana family proudly continue that tradition and cherish the loyal customers who have supported the Cardenas family&rsquo\;s dream for more than 60 years.
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\n LOCATION:Jordan Education Foundation | 3706 W 9800 S in South Jordan UID:e.1263.19159 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260729T195909Z URL:http://business.southvalleychamber.com/events/details/women-in-business-lessons-in-leadership-legacy-family-19159 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR