by SER National | Dec 30, 2025 | News & Updates
Nation’s Service-Employment-Redevelopment Network Expands and Prevails Across the U.S. and Puerto Rico
“On behalf of SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates, we salute the more than 1 million program participants we have reached and served this year. They entered our doors at more than 200 locations across the country and in Puerto Rico, with high hopes and expectations of being uplifted and transformed. I proudly announce that we met their needs through our numerous training, education, and assistance services,” said Ignacio Salazar, President & Chief Executive Officer.
“The reports show that our program graduates are more robust, better equipped, and eager to progress or return to our nation’s workforce to sustain themselves and their families. From the country’s eastern shores to the Pacific, we have witnessed the most incredible reward people can experience: self-esteem. Their dignity and self-confidence soared when they received their certificate, diploma, or license and were recognized by family, friends, and employers. This experience was priceless,” adds Salazar.
“SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates will continue to remain focused on the mission of service within America’s local communities in 2026. We pledge to keep venturing out into neighborhood centers, churches, and civic associations to share our passion for reaching the historically underserved. Count on us to be on watch with our one-on-one attentiveness and caring for every individual we meet. These principles have set us apart for over 60 years, and with God’s blessing, we will prevail with servant hearts even in challenging times. May 2026 bring peace and prosperity to you, and may God continue to bless this great nation we call our home,” said Salazar.
by SER National | Dec 23, 2025 | News & Updates
Nation’s Service-Employment-Redevelopment Network Invites All Its Program Participants, Sponsors, and Network of Affiliates to Pause for Peace and Goodwill
“SER National respects that this is the time of year when we each observe the profound beauty of our individual faith and freedoms,” said Ignacio Salazar, President & Chief Executive Officer. “Yet, in our hurried modern lives, pausing to gift ourselves the time to reflect is challenging. There are many meaningful truths worthy of our time this holiday season. Among them are our individual God-given talents and how we can share these with others,” says Salazar.
Across the United States, trends show distinct regional differences in aptitudes and skill sets. For over 60 years, SER National and the SER Network of Affiliates have celebrated the uniqueness of America’s workforce and tailored its programs to meet participants where they are.
“Today, America invites all persons to partake in the opportunity of self-improvement through education and training, not simply a privileged few,” says Salazar. Therefore, while some metrics may show other countries leading in digital performance, supply chain systems, or mobile development, the USA is the one place on earth where we each contribute to the larger whole without losing our individuality or the rewards of our personal striving. “I am honored to collaborate with a network of community-based organizations, the SER Network of Affiliates, dedicated and devoted to the power of life-changing transformation through training and workforce development. This is our greatest gift to share this holiday season, and we are blessed to do so with the full knowledge that our most significant rewards are still ahead,” says Salazar.
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.”
