by SER National | Nov 26, 2025 | News & Updates
Nation’s Service-Employment-Redevelopment Network Invites Us To Express Gratitude
“One of life’s greatest joys is to see a child’s curiosity in action and how they use it to transform the ordinary into a magical experience they call play,” says Ignacio Salazar, SER National President & CEO. “No matter how small or seemingly insignificant the object, place, or setting may be, children possess the innate gift of seeing that moment through their lens of imagination and discovery. As we grow up, the child in us gives way to the adult reality of constantly dealing with challenges, pressures, and expectations. Yet, Thanksgiving allows us to reflect, reset, and really ask ourselves, what are the things in my life that make me the happiest?” he adds.
“Americans often associate happiness with big, expensive material things. Yet the truth is that when we stop to remember the experiences that made us happiest growing up, those moments were not about money. They were times with family, good and not-so-good, but together, hopeful and striving to make life better. We yearn for those feelings, and Thanksgiving gives us a chance to reclaim that simplicity of gratitude and the expressions of love and appreciation for one another,” adds Salazar.
We are grateful to live in a bountiful nation, strengthened by the confluence of our gifts, skills, and experiences. We are also abundantly blessed because our founders foresaw times of trials and tribulations and created the framework for us to endure and prevail. At SER National and our SER Network of Affiliates, we wish to express gratitude this Thanksgiving for the privilege of serving the millions and millions of men and women over our 62 years. They have affirmed the spiritual truth that there is more joy in giving than receiving.
“May we each seek to rediscover thankfulness for the simple and those gifts money cannot buy in life. We send our warmest regards and wishes for a safe, happy Thanksgiving; your hearts full of a child’s joy, and your homes filled with the laughter and love of friends and family. May God bless you,” Ignacio Salazar, SER National President & CEO
by SER National | Nov 10, 2025 | News & Updates
Nation’s Service-Employment-Redevelopment Network Urges All Americans to Renew Our Pledge to Veterans
Veterans rise at the passing of the red, white, and blue, their eyes glistening as they remember what they experienced and survived. They slowly bring their hands to their foreheads as they salute, and at that moment, time disappears.
“SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates have witnessed these brave, former service men and women in our midst throughout America and Puerto Rico,” says Ignacio Salazar, SER National President and Chief Executive Officer. “Now, it is our turn to acknowledge and embrace our nation’s veterans. We can take action by ensuring veterans have access to civilian training and jobs that tap into their skills and experience,” adds Salazar.
Veterans bring unique experiences and perspectives to the workforce, which enrich our nation’s business landscape. Their ability to collaborate effectively, adapt to changing situations, and perform under pressure is invaluable in various industries. At SER National, we are dedicated to training, hiring, and partnering with veteran-owned firms to harness these strengths and provide veterans with opportunities to succeed in their post-military careers.
This Veterans Day, let us unite as a nation to recognize the vital skills and talents veterans bring to America’s workforce. SER stands ready to continue supporting our veterans, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in their post-military careers. Through this shared commitment, we honor the promise we’ve made to our veterans and their families and acknowledge their invaluable contributions to our country’s economic vitality.
“Our combined centers across the country adapt to the needs of veterans in their local communities. Our goal is to align with other service providers to create a combined safety net that equips these men and women, who are often very motivated and ready to move forward into a productive civilian job, trade, or profession. On this Veterans Day, our entire team is proud and honored to work with and serve America’s former service members,” says Salazar.
by Raul Santa | Aug 31, 2025 | News & Updates
“The demand for a trained workforce to fill vacant jobs is a positive sign for the unemployed,” says Ignacio Salazar, SER National President & Chief Executive Officer. This level of job opportunities compels us at SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates to do everything we can daily and add even greater numbers of trained, skilled individuals into the pipeline. Human capital is at a premium right now, a challenge we have undertaken to help solve. “We are especially excited to see the opportunities in areas that address our healthcare needs, leverage technology advances, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and provide training for eco-sustainable and eco-regeneration positions,” adds Salazar.
Labor Day is an opportunity for our country to adopt a newer and more accurate meaning of American individualism in the 21st Century. The term has historically been used when revering great champions who achieved unimaginable victory against all odds, explorers who intrepidly ventured into the most foreboding wildernesses on earth, or the captains of business who forged new industries that transformed our society. Indeed, each and all are worthy of the accolades and honor.
SER National celebrates the American worker in our labor force. This is at the heart of our enduring strength as a country founded on the ideals that every person has worth and value before God and our society. These are unprecedented times, and we can help ensure every worker is empowered and productive.
“As Americans, we can be proud on this Labor Day that we live in a country that offers an abundance of choices in career paths, including certificated positions, specialized trades, and professions that reward those with advanced degrees,” says Salazar. “Every generation aspires to mentor the next and hopes those who follow will raise the bar higher, advance farther, dream, and do greater. This ideal is the spirit of Labor Day, that our work is a blessing, and our purpose is not simply to do for ourselves but for others, including family, community, and our nation. Let us encourage one another to work to meet our nation’s needs. This Labor Day, may we each champion our resolve as a country to achieve our greatest potential in unity and goodwill for the common good,” added Salazar.
by Ileana Martinez | Jul 3, 2025 | News & Updates
As our nation gathers to celebrate Independence Day, SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates join millions of Americans in honoring the ideals of freedom, unity, and shared prosperity that define our republic. This national holiday is more than a celebration of history; it is a powerful reaffirmation of the values that continue to shape our economic and social fabric.
“We mark this Fourth of July not only with fireworks but with pride in a country that empowers millions through workforce training and career pathways,” said Ignacio Salazar, President & CEO of SER National. “The freedom to build a better life through professions, entrepreneurship, and trades is the truest expression of the American patriotic spirit. Together, we rise when every person has meaningful work and the support to succeed.”
SER National understands that our economy’s strength depends on our people’s strength. Our mission, advancing economic mobility through job training and career services, aligns perfectly with the founding promise of the United States: that we are all created equal and endowed with the right to pursue our path. Today, we see that vision alive in millions of workers who fuel innovation, build industries, and help America lead on the world stage.
“SER National believes that the Fourth of July is a time for reflection and a call to action. It is an opportunity to reach across every aisle, industry, neighborhood, and institution, and see one another not as strangers or competitors, but as fellow Americans committed to a shared mission,” says Salazar. “From our churches and community centers to our job sites and boardrooms, we must unite to support one another’s success. That is the true essence of freedom: standing shoulder to shoulder, building a better future for the next generation,” he adds.
As we look to the second half of 2025 and beyond, SER National encourages every American to embrace the power of community and the promise of our country. Let this Fourth of July not simply mark a moment in history but spark a renewed dedication to what we can accomplish together through hard work, compassion, and a strong belief in one another. May this Independence Day be a celebration of what we have achieved and the enduring spirit that will guide us forward.
“On this Independence Day, let us recommit to unity in action,” added Salazar. “From coast to coast, let us join our neighbors, coworkers, faith communities, and allies in building an economy where innovation thrives, opportunity abounds, and every American has a chance to contribute to our nation’s success.”
by Ileana Martinez | May 5, 2025 | News & Updates
This Memorial Day, SER Jobs for Progress National salutes the courageous men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States of America. Their sacrifice endures as a profound reminder that freedom is never free—it is earned, protected, and passed forward by generations of Americans who believe in the promise of liberty, equality, and opportunity for all.
Memorial Day is more than a holiday—it is a sacred occasion to reflect on the extraordinary price paid by those in uniform. It is also a call for all of us, as citizens, to honor their legacy through remembrance and action by building a nation that uplifts every American and prepares us for the challenges ahead.
“As we remember our fallen heroes, we honor them by the way we live through courage in our convictions and dedication to building an America worthy of their sacrifice,” said Ignacio Salazar, President and CEO of SER Jobs for Progress National. “Memorial Day reminds us that service to country comes in many forms—including preparing our workforce for the future with purpose and pride.”
At SER National, our answer to this transformation is clear: equip America’s workforce with the tools of tomorrow, today. With a legacy of over six decades, SER’s 200+ locations across the United States and Puerto Rico serve more than 1,000,000 individuals annually. From veterans transitioning to civilian life, to young adults entering new career pathways, to older Americans reskilling for emerging industries, our programs provide cutting-edge training in technology, energy, healthcare, transportation, and more.
“Memorial Day challenges us to do more than honor the past. It calls us to build the future,” added Salazar. “Let us rise to that challenge by investing in every American’s ability to learn, lead, and labor with dignity. Innovation is not only about technology, but also about people, vision, and the will to imagine a better tomorrow.”
In communities large and small, SER’s mission is a tribute to the enduring spirit of those who served—resilient, bold, and forward-moving. Their legacy lives on in every learner who discovers a new skill, every job earned through determination, and every family whose future is changed through opportunity.
As we gather on this Memorial Day, let us bow our heads in gratitude, lift our voices in unity, and commit ourselves to a future that honors the fallen by building a more just and equitable nation. In their memory, we serve. In their spirit, we rise.
by Ileana Martinez | Mar 6, 2025 | News & Updates
SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates join the nation in mourning the passing of Lincoln Díaz-Balart, a leader whose lifelong commitment to public service helped shape modern policy in ways that advanced the economic vibrancy and quality of life for all Americans. His legacy as a statesman, advocate, and champion of workforce development reflects the highest ideals of American leadership—one rooted in the belief that opportunity and prosperity should be within reach for all who strive for a better future.
“Lincoln Díaz-Balart stood among America’s great leaders who saw beyond party lines and recognized that economic opportunity was the foundation of a thriving democracy,” said Ignacio Salazar, President and CEO of SER National. “His commitment to workforce development and job training helped shape policies that opened doors for countless individuals, allowing them to build successful careers and contribute to America’s economic prosperity.”
Díaz-Balart’s life was a testament to service and an enduring faith in the promise of the United States. Born in Havana, Cuba, into a prominent political family, he was forced to flee with his parents following the Cuban Revolution. The United States became his home, and in return, he dedicated his career to strengthening the fabric of the country that had embraced him. His leadership in Congress spanned nearly two decades, during which he became a respected voice on critical issues ranging from workforce development to immigration policy, always seeking common ground in pursuit of national progress.
“Lincoln Díaz-Balart exemplified the courage and integrity of true leadership,” added Salazar. “His work ensured that America remained a shining example of opportunity—not just in words, but in action. He understood that a strong workforce was essential to the nation’s success, and he fought tirelessly to ensure that every individual had the chance to contribute to the country’s economic growth.”
His service in the Florida State Legislature paved the way for his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, where he represented South Florida’s 21st District for 18 years. Throughout his tenure, Díaz-Balart strongly advocated for policies that empowered working families and expanded opportunities for economic self-sufficiency. He was instrumental in supporting initiatives that strengthened workforce training programs, ensuring that individuals—particularly those from underserved communities—had the skills needed to compete in an evolving economy.
Salazar concludes, “Díaz-Balart’s passing marks the loss of a remarkable leader whose vision and contributions will continue to inspire future generations. As the nation reflects on his legacy, SER National encourages all Americans to honor his memory by embracing the values he championed—a commitment to workforce opportunity, economic empowerment, and the belief that by working together, we can build a stronger future for all.”
