Women In Business - Lessons in Leadership, Legacy & Family
Date and Time
Tuesday Aug 25, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MDT
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Rooted in Resilience: Lessons in Leadership, Legacy & Family
11:30 AM – Check-in, Lunch & Networking
12:00 PM – Keynote Speaker, Q&A
1:00 PM – Lunch Concludes
Location
Jordan Education Foundation | 3706 W 9800 S in South Jordan
Fees/Admission
Member $23.00 * Events do fill up fast; please register to ensure your seat!
Non Member $35.00
Monthly WIB sponsorships available.
dana@southvalleychamber.com | 801-566-0344.
Contact Information
Jayme Jensen
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Event Sponsors
Women In Business Presenting Sponsor
Women In Business Supporting Sponsor
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Description
Rooted in Resilience: Lessons in Leadership, Legacy & Family
Success isn't built overnight. It is cultivated through hard work, perseverance, and staying true to the values that matter most.
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.
In 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.
Come connect with us over lunch as we celebrate the power of legacy, community, and the incredible impact of women who lead with courage.
About Our Speaker: Lucy Cardenas, owner of the Red Iguana restaurants
Lucy 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.
In 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.
That 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.
That 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.
In 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.
Lucy’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.
In 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.
In 2009, Red Iguana 2 opened. In 2010, Taste of Red Iguana opened in City Creek Center.
Today, with three restaurants, Red Iguana employs a diverse team of more than 170 employees, whom Lucy proudly calls her “Red Iguana Family.”
Over the years, Red Iguana and Lucy have continued to earn prestigious recognition, including:
- City Weekly Hall of Fame
- Salt Lake Magazine Hall of Fame in 2017
- Business Leadership Award from Sundance Institute in 2018
- Utah SBA Small Business of the Year in 2022
- Utah SBA Small Businesspersons of the Year for Lucy and Bill
- Lucy’s 2023 PATHFINDER Award from the Salt Lake Chamber, recognizing her promotion of development and recognition of women in business
- 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.
The 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.
For 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.
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Printed courtesy of www.southvalleychamber.com/ – Contact the South Valley Chamber for more information.
9800 South Monroe Street, Sandy, Utah 84070 – (801) 566-0344 – admin@southvalleychamber.com