Diversity & Innovation
A series highlighting Diversity and Inclusion in Innovation and Design Thinking
Linda Alvarado
March 15th, 2021
Linda Alvarado founded Alvarado Construction in 1976, a commercial general contractor, construction management and design/build firm located in Denver, Colorado. She grew up poor and worked her way through college as a landscaper before beginning as a contract administrator on a construction project, leading to her decision to start her own company. As there were no loan programs in place to help women or minority small business owners at the time, her parents mortgaged their family home in order to provide her loan of $2,500 to start what became an incredibly successful construction company. Alvarado Construction has opened doors for more women to enter the typically male-dominated construction industry. She also made history as the first Latino owner of a Major League Baseball team, the Colorado Rockies in 1992. Additionally, Linda and her husband founded Palo Alto Inc. which operates approximately 150 franchise restaurants. She has been widely recognized for her successes, including her nomination as one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics in America” by Hispanic Business Magazine and the induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.