Peter Guzman Appointed Chairman of the Public Education Foundation Board, Succeeding Jan Jones Blackhurst

Peter Guzman Appointed Chairman of the Public Education Foundation Board, Succeeding Jan Jones Blackhurst; Tony Sanchez Named Vice Chair

The Public Education Foundation’s (PEF) Board of Directors has announced that Peter Guzman, President and CEO of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, has succeeded Jan Jones Blackhurst as the Foundation’s Board Chairperson. Ms. Jones Blackhurst will now serve as the Immediate Past Chair. Tony Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Business Development and External Relations at NV Energy, has been named Vice Chair.

“As I step into the role of Chairman of the Board at PEF, I am deeply committed to advancing our mission of ensuring that every K-12 student in Las Vegas has an equitable opportunity to succeed,” Guzman said. “Together with our dedicated team and community partners, as well as our educators, families, and other community partners, we strive to unite our resources to support our public schools and meet the critical education needs of students, families, and educators. I am honored to serve in this capacity and look forward to following Jan Jones Blackhurst’s example to make a meaningful difference for our students.”

Last year, Guzman co-chaired the inaugural Hispanic and Latino Legacy Dinner (HLLD) with Vice Chair Tony Sanchez, raising scholarship funds for four deserving Hispanic/Latino students. Each recipient received a $20,000 scholarship to support their educational and career aspirations. The HLLD initiative is part of PEF’s Scholarships Plus program, which will award more than $6.3 million in scholarships in 2024.

As an accomplished Real Estate Investor, Developer, and Broker, Peter Guzman achieved over $700 million in sales as the Founding Principal of The Opa Group for over two decades. His achievements reflect his dedication and expertise in his field. Beyond business, Guzman’s leadership as President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce (LCC) has empowered the Hispanic community, providing essential services for Hispanic and Latino people across the Las Vegas Valley. Guzman’s philanthropic efforts include supporting victims of tragedy through the October 1st LV Victims Fund and advocating for environmental conservation through The Nature Conservancy. He holds positions in many organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Economic Advisory Council, The Mob Museum, Nevada State University, the Nevada Governor’s appointed Judicial Selection Committee, and Workforce Connections, demonstrating his commitment to a brighter future for all.

After 32 years as a dedicated member of the PEF Board of Directors, Jan Jones Blackhurst will remain involved with PEF. During her tenure as Chairwoman, the organization expanded its programming and strengthened its commitment to uniting the community in support of Clark County School District students, families, and educators. Under her leadership, the Scholarships Plus program grew from awarding less than $1 million annually to more than $6.3 million annually. PEF also partnered with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to help school paraprofessionals obtain teaching licenses and address the teacher shortage in Clark County. This partnership included the sale of PEF’s building on Maryland Parkway to UNLV, which facilitated the opening of a new PEF Teacher Superstore, providing millions of dollars in free and low-cost school supplies to teachers and students.

Ms. Jones Blackhurst has been an influential figure in the community for many years. She played a key role in innovating responsible gaming programs and corporate social responsibility policies at Caesars Entertainment. As the first female Mayor of Las Vegas, she advocated for homeless students and has been an inspiring speaker throughout CCSD schools. Her commitment to inclusive education is also evident through her namesake school, Jan Jones Blackhurst Elementary School. As a senior executive and board member at Caesars Entertainment, she directed over $2 million from the Caesars Foundation to support the Teacher Superstore.

Reflecting on her departure, Blackhurst said, “It has been an honor to serve alongside the dedicated individuals at PEF and our community’s educators to work collaboratively toward our shared vision of providing quality education for every student. I am confident that the timing is right to transition PEF board leadership, and I will continue to support PEF’s mission in my role as Immediate Past Chairperson.”

About the Public Education Foundation

The Public Education Foundation (PEF) unites the community to inspire support of our public schools. In partnership with the Clark County School District (CCSD), PEF helps guide effective investments in education to meet the critical needs of our students, families, and educators. For more information about PEF, please visit thepef.org. Follow us on Facebook @ThePublicEducationFoundation, Instagram @thepeftoday, and X (formerly Twitter) @ThePEFtoday.