Meet Tricia Lynn Navarro | Business Owner, Baker & Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tricia Lynn Navarro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tricia Lynn, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was raised in Phoenix, Arizona by both parents. The oldest of four; 3 daughters and one son. Raised in a Mexican family restaurant setting with my entire family, aunts, uncles, and cousins from both parents’ side’s of the family. My grandparents were our rock and foundation. I came from a time where I saw my 60-70 family members every day or at least all within that week. Our restaurant was open for over 20 years in the valley. We all celebrated every holiday together and our family was very close, something you don’t find too much of today because everyone is always busy. When the restaurant closed in the early 90s it was devastating for our family. Then when our Nana Bertha passed, nothing was ever the same again. Our family lost that closeness. I’m hoping to one day open my own restaurant and bring back that closeness to our family tree and to leave a continued legacy for my grandparents, Robert & Bertha Navarro.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As you have read by this article I currently own my own food catering business, but I consider myself a Jackie of all trades because I have done a lot of things and done them well. Well first of all I am a non-practicing brown belt of Kenpo karate. From age 5-16 years old I studied along with my father who is a black belt, my brother, one of my sisters and my cousin. I went to UofA after high school but decided college wasn’t for me at the time. I jumped into the working sector and ventured out. It wasn’t until I was already over 35, driving a city bus for the city of Phoenix that I became pregnant with my second daughter after 14 years (yes 14 years apart) that I decided to go back to college. I said well if I can start over as a mom again then I could go back to school. So when my youngest was about one I started online school and gave myself til she was 5 to get my bachelors in criminal justice. In February of 2012, just 3 months before she turned 5 we flew to Miami for graduation. I then re-enrolled and obtained my master’s degree just 15 months later.
I’ve worked for the maricopa county sheriffs office, the county courts and the state of Arizona as an investigator for Child Services. I retired from the state in 2018 and covid forced me to Buckeye Arizona with my oldest and her family. While the world was in a pandemic I learned to bake from scratch and started selling baked goods and food from home. I’m now a licensed business owner a second time. I forgot to mention that while working in transit my ex-husband and I owned our own trucking business with two semi trucks. I drove one. He went to jail and I continued a year alone hiring drivers for the other truck until I sold the business. So I still currently have my class A CDL license for back up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Arizona is beautiful! There’s so many places we could go. I would probably try and add a few days in Sedona so they can see the forest parts. Everyone always thinks that Arizona is just this hot 🥵 ugly state lol. I would hang out by the cardinals stadium at Westgate. So many dining restaurants and family fun. Also next to a casino and AMC theater. I most definitely would take them to Lo Lo’s Chicken & Waffles it’s my spot!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am a spiritual person so I thank all my ancestors before that walked this earth. I thank my grandparents on both sides for their amazing strength and love. My parents for continuing with all of the above and their guidance. My daughters for giving me something to live for and my grandchildren for allowing me to be the NANA now.

Website: https://nachomamazcookn.ueniweb.com/

Facebook: @nachomamaz

Other: Accredited recently in the BBB