Peter Guzman believes leadership begins with action.

As President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, he has spent the last decade helping small businesses grow while expanding the chamber into one of Nevada's most influential business organizations. Under his leadership, the chamber has strengthened its voice in public policy, workforce development, education, and international business, always with a focus on creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.

Peter's story began long before he became a business leader.

His father escaped communist Cuba and moved the family to Las Vegas when Peter was two years old. Growing up on the east side of Las Vegas, Peter attended local public schools and learned the value of hard work from his parents. He often describes his father as his greatest hero and credits him for shaping his character and work ethic.

One of the defining moments of Peter's life happened when he was a freshman in high school. At a football game, he met Mercy, who would later become his wife. More than forty years later, Peter still talks about her with gratitude, describing her as his biggest supporter through every stage of his career.

His first job was parking cars at the Sahara Hotel. After getting married, Peter and Mercy lived in his father's garage while saving money for their first home. One day, Peter met someone who was about to lose his house. Curious about real estate, he went to the library, checked out a book on buying property, and taught himself how the business worked. He purchased his first home for $76,500, later sold it for nearly double, and discovered the career that would shape the next chapter of his life. Over the years, he built a successful real estate business, completing more than $700 million in sales.

His path to the Latin Chamber of Commerce happened almost by accident.

Years earlier, his future wife had worked at the chamber as a summer employee, where Peter first met Otto Merida, the organization's longtime president. After Peter became successful in real estate, Otto reached out with a simple message: young Hispanic entrepreneurs needed to see people who looked like them succeeding in business. Peter joined as a volunteer, later became a board member, and eventually succeeded Otto as President after years of mentorship.

Peter still speaks about Otto with deep respect.

He believes every generation benefits from leaders who came before them. Otto opened doors that many Hispanic business leaders now walk through, and Peter sees it as his responsibility to open doors for the next generation.

When Peter became President of the Latin Chamber, he believed the organization needed to return to its core mission. He shifted its focus toward helping small businesses succeed, advocating for sound public policy, and becoming a stronger voice for entrepreneurs throughout Nevada. Today, the chamber works with businesses of every size while remaining committed to serving small business owners who are building companies, creating jobs, and investing in their communities.

One phrase came up several times during our conversation:

"Policy over personality."

For Peter, leadership is not about political parties or personalities. It is about whether a policy helps businesses grow, creates jobs, and strengthens the economy. He believes leaders should focus on solving problems instead of becoming distracted by politics. That approach has allowed him to work with people across different backgrounds while keeping the chamber focused on its mission.

Peter also believes business and education cannot be separated.

As a board member of Workforce Connections and former chair of the Public Education Foundation, he has supported programs that connect education with employment opportunities. He often talks about giving young people more pathways to success, whether through college, technical training, apprenticeships, or industry certifications. His goal is simple: help people build meaningful careers while giving employers the skilled workforce they need.

When asked about collaboration, Peter's answer reflected his personality.

He believes partnerships are essential, but they must lead to action.

"I love collaborating," he said. "But let's go."

For Peter, meetings alone do not create change. Progress happens when people are willing to move ideas forward and work together to make them happen.

Despite leading one of Nevada's busiest business organizations, Peter says his greatest joy is spending time with his family. Whether traveling with Mercy, celebrating his children's accomplishments, or remembering lessons from his father, family remains at the center of his life.

When young entrepreneurs ask for advice, Peter encourages them to learn as much as they can, surround themselves with people who believe in them, and then take the risk.

At some point, he says, you have to roll the dice.

Looking back on Peter Guzman's career, it becomes clear that his work has never been only about business. It has been about creating opportunities. Through entrepreneurship, mentorship, public policy, education, and community partnerships, he continues to help build an environment where small businesses and future leaders can succeed.