HACIA’s Executive Director Jacqueline Gomez sat down with WGN Radio’s Jon Hansen to discuss the Owner-2-CEO Program and how it benefits small, diverse-owned construction businesses looking to grow their companies and remain competitive in the industry. They were joined by former program participant Cindy Alvarez, Vice President of Alvarez, Inc., and Dan Facchini, Managing Director of Innovation DuPage, our program partner.
Building a Toolkit for Success
The Owner-2-CEO Program supplies participants with the skills, strategies, process knowledge, and tools needed to scale operations and take their business to the next level in the construction ecosystem. It also provides access to a vital network of construction professionals who can be industry advocates and provide more opportunities to succeed.
This is the sixth year of collaboration between HACIA and Innovation DuPage through the Owner-2-CEO Program, and it has helped nearly 70 organizations grow and prosper throughout the construction industry. In 2024, Cindy Alvarez joined the program after her and sister, Christina, took over the family’s landscaping business. HACIA helped connect Cindy and Christina with the right network to assist with succession planning, and gave them the tools they needed to grow the business and remain competitive. Alvarez, Inc. currently holds landscaping contracts across various municipalities, O’Hare Airport, and the Red Line Extension project.
Listen to the full interview on WGN Radio.
Apply Today
We are now accepting applicants through January 6, 2026 to join our next Owner-2-CEO cohort beginning on January 20, 2026. Click the link below for more details.