I'm on location with State Senator Teresa Guevarra, a leader in our region who is doing great things for business, innovation, mental health, manufacturing, education.

And we're about to hear much more.

Teresa Guevara, thanks so much, Senator, for being with us today on Business Life 360.

Theresa Gavarone Thank you so much for having me.

Kristi: It is enjoyable to hear all about your long career as a senator, and we want to hear some details.

How did you start?

Theresa Gavarone: Well, politics was not something I ever envisioned growing up.

I went to college for business.

I studied here, Bgsu, and got my degree in business and marketing.

I wanted to be a better business person.

So I went to law school to be a business person.

When I got there, I found out I loved the law and really enjoyed working on cases.

I saw my role as an attorney as one who was helping people, helping people through the legal process.

And so when I had an opportunity to serve in public office, I kind of took that same philosophy.

If someone's having an issue, we could work on solving that.

So I started in city council at right here in Bowling Green, and, I really, really enjoyed public service and working with the publi and trying to make improvements.

My state representative, left for another job and I was urged to run for a seat.

I went for the appointmen and was appointed to that seat, and then ran for my first term shortly after there in 2016.

And you got to work right away to be able to go to Columbus and then change the laws.

I, I love it.

I mean, it's been really exciting.

Kristi: Talk to us a little more about some of your priorities this year in 2025 and going forward.

And some of the things that have really been important to you.

Theresa Gavarone: Oh, again, the menta health aspect has been something that's been very near and dear to my heart because I still see the impact every day and people are becoming more and more aware.

So really excited that, last year, right after the election in Lame Duck, we were able to take a plea.

One of my my priorities.

And that was, creating a new licensed mental health professional, a certified mental health assistant.

Seeing the state we are a leader in the nation.

Kristi: You have been such a leader in this region, and you have funde many organizations and projects.

Give us some examples of some of those projects that you've been able to fin funding for and really impact.

Theresa Gavarone: Just the last year with the capital budget and the one time strategic community Investment funds was able to bring back $47.7 millio to the second Senate district.

The Innovation Center in Toledo, you got universities teaming up with businesses and working togethe to make sure we have curriculum, and we're training our students for jobs that are in demand.

We're all going to win.

Kristi: You've also worked with, funding for the YWCA domestic violence shelter.

Theresa Gavarone: It's so important.

It is.

Yeah, unfortunately, that's something, you know, that is in demand.

Kristi: Tell us more about the small business impact.

And is it the fact that you're an entrepreneur that really kind of shed light on your interests there?

Theresa Gavarone: Absolutely.

You definitely have a very different perspective when you sign the front of a paycheck.

You you do things a little differently.

And it's an important perspective to have when you're down in the General Assembly.

It's important to, to understand the impact you're going to have on our business community, because our small businesses are employers.

Kristi: We're sitting in Bowling Green, Ohio, looking at Mister Spots.

That is your restaurant, Mister Spot.

So tell us more about that specifically and how you got started.

Theresa Gavarone: That's it's very interesting story.

So, my husband was recruited from, from Philadelphia to come to Bowling Green State University, to play hockey back in the day.

And, you know, he was a poly history major and of getting injured and playing lacrosse instead.

But, was wondering what he was going to do with his degree.

And he missed the food back home in Philadelphia.

So having never worked in a restaurant, he opened a restaurant and Philadelphia cheesesteaks, chicken wings waffle fries in a college town.

And the rolls are even shipped in from Philadelphia to make sure they are truly authentic.

In just, a few days will have been be celebrating 39 years in business.

Kristi: Congratulations.

That is impressive.

Theresa Gavarone: Thank you.

Kristi: So, Senator, how do you balance being an entrepreneur and a small business owner with being our state senator?

Theresa Gavarone: As a smal business owner, you learn that you need to roll up your sleeves and do what needs to be done.

I mean, you know, we w own a restaurant, Mister Spots.

And when when they are short, sometimes I fill in, I've even delivered food at times when when we've been short staffed and that's what you do as a business owner.

When you go to Columbus, you're you're continually you do what needs to be done.

Kristi: You went to school here, and now here you are.

You have a business.

You are state senator.

Your family is here.

What a great kind of hub of action for your family.

And then really where you gre up to raise your family, then.

Theresa Gavarone: That's right.

And when you think abou the education, our institutions, the education they put out, they attract people from all over the country and, and the world actually, you think about all the peopl who attended our universities, gotten that education and then stayed.

My husband came here from Philadelphia and stayed and I came from the Dayton area.

And today and together we, we have a business.

We employ a lot of people.

We raised our three children here in the community and have become really entrenched in this community.

And when we have top notc universities across our state, I just think of the people we were going to bring here.

Kristi: Keeping them here not having them go out of state.

Theresa Gavarone: That's exactly right.

Be the draw.

So the students will come here to attend our universities and stay and raise their families.

Kristi: Will you truly have a gift?

And we're so grateful that we have you as our state senator.

So thank you for being with us today at Business Life 360.

Theresa Gavarone Thank you so much for having me.

This has been a lot of fun.

Kristi: Thank you.