Sen. Luz Escamilla

Senator Luz Escamilla (UT-1) holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.

On November 4, 2008, she was elected to the Utah State Senate representing Senate District 1, becoming the first Latina elected to the Utah State Senate and the first immigrant elected to the Utah State Legislature. She is serving her fourth term in the Utah State Senate after being reelected in 2012 and 2016. Senator Escamilla serves in the Senate leadership team as the Senate Minority Whip. She has served as Chair of NHCSL's Banking, Affordable Housing and Credit Task Force since 2018.

In 2005 she was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman as the first Director for the State Office of Ethnic Affairs. In this position, she oversaw the Directors of Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino and Pacific Islander Affairs. She worked as Vice President for Zions Bank in the Community Development Group representing Zions Bank in community and business relationships across the state of Utah and Idaho.   At Zions Bank she worked as Director for the Business Resource Center, as well as the Hispanic/Latino Market Manager.

Luz was the Chief Operations Officer at MiCARE Network, a Utah-based healthcare startup focused on innovative solutions to care management.

As the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ESCATEC Solutions Luz is focusing on CX Solutions and improving customer experiences for different organizations and entities.

Senator Escamilla has a vast experience as business and political consultant focusing on strategy and government relations for business and nonprofits.

She has served in many capacities in different boards of nonprofit organizations and other agencies. She currently serves on the boards of Primary Children’s Hospital, Days of ’47 Rodeo, Hale Centre Theater, The Huntsman Cancer Institute Advisory Board as well as Co-chair of the  Women in the Economy Commission.

Senator Escamilla has been honored with different recognitions including:

• Utah Infertility Resource Center – Board Choice Award 2020
• Utah Medical Association – Distinguished Legislative Service 2019
• Utah Children’s Service Society – Child Advocate of the Year 2019
• Suazo Business Center – Legislator of the Year 2018
• The University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Science – Distinguished Alumni 2018
• Nurse-Family Partnership – Force For Good Public Policy Award 2018
• Utah Council on Victims of Crime – Legislator of the Year Award 2018
• Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce – New Pioneers – American Dream Award 2018
• Utah Early Intervention – Champion For Children 2017
• Mexican Government SRE – Ohtli Award 2017
• Harvard Business School – Member of the Young American Leaders Program 2017
• UCLR – Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Award 2017
• Utah Business Magazine – 2017 Forty Under 40 Award
• Utah After School Network – 2016 Utah After School Legislative Advocate
• International Interior Design Association (IIDA) – 2016 Legislator of the Year Award
• Boys Scouts of America – 2015 Vale la Pena Service Award
• Utah Health Care Association – 2015 Legislative Champion of the Year
• OCA – Utah Asian American (UOCA) – 2013 Humanitarian Award
• Enlisted Association of the National Guard Utah – 2013 Legislator of the Year Award
• LULAC – 2013 National Legislator Service Award
• The University of Utah Alumni Association - The 2011 Par Excellence Award
• 10 Who Made a Difference in 2010 – Deseret News
• Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce – Pathfinder Recipient 2010
• U.S. Small Business Administration – Minority Small Business Champion of the Year 2010

She lives with her husband Juan Carlos and their children in Salt Lake City , UT.