gus rezende

Gus Rezende – Short Bio

Gustavo “Gus” Rezende is a Brazilian-born entrepreneur based in Lafayette, Louisiana, and the co-founder of Social Entertainment, a hospitality and events company focused on creating meaningful, community-driven experiences. A former collegiate tennis standout at Georgia Southwestern State University, Gus built his career in hospitality after earning a degree in Marketing and Management and serving as Tennis Professional and Marketing Coordinator at City Club at River Ranch.

Over the past 20+ years, Gus has led the development F&B developments, , and cultural/community projects & initiatives across Acadiana, including CENTRAL Pizza & Bar, multiple Tropical Smoothie Café locations, and community events such as Sugar Jam, Downtown Rising, Acadiana Eats Festival.

In addition, Se is a founding member of Hotel Lafayette development along with Bayou Teche Brewery coming to Downtown in 2026-2027
He is also the founder of Braziliana, an international cultural exchange connecting Louisiana and Brazil through music, food, and storytelling.

Gus has served as chairman of The Current, board member for Downtown Development Authority and is the former founder and president of the Downtown Lafayette Restaurant & Bar Association.
Gus lives in Lafayette with his wife Katherine and their two sons, Luca and Marco, and remains deeply connected to his family and roots in São Paulo, Brazil, which continue to influence both his personal life and creative work.