Over the past five years, Executive Director Jacqueline Gomez has led HACIA through a period of strategic growth, expanding programs, strengthening partnerships, and increasing the organization’s impact across the construction industry. Her leadership has focused on creating access, building capacity, and ensuring that HACIA continues to be a strong advocate for its members and the communities it serves.
Expanding Opportunity: Programs and Graduates
HACIA’s programs have grown in both scale and impact, serving contractors, small businesses, and individuals seeking to enter or advance in the construction industry. Through initiatives like the General Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program and the CEJA Contractor Incubator Program, participants gain hands on training, industry insight, and connections to real opportunities.
Impact Highlights:
- Over 10 Programs Provided Per Year (Yearly Average)
- Over 2000 program participants
- Over 2200 Industry Recognized Certifications Provided
These programs are designed to go beyond education, helping participants build sustainable careers and positioning businesses to compete for larger and more complex projects.
Connecting the Industry: Events
HACIA’s events have become key touchpoints for connection, visibility, and collaboration across the industry. From the Annual Banquet to targeted workshops and networking events, these gatherings bring together contractors, agencies, and industry leaders in meaningful ways.
Event Highlights:
- Over 60 events hosted since 2021
- Over 15,000 total attendees since 2021
Under Jacqueline’s leadership, these events have continued to grow, creating more opportunities for members to build relationships, share knowledge, and celebrate success.
Investing in the Future: Scholarships
Supporting the next generation remains a core part of HACIA’s mission. Through its scholarship program, HACIA provides financial support to students pursuing careers in construction and related fields, helping reduce barriers and open doors to opportunity.
Scholarship Impact:
- 51 scholarships awarded
- $255,000 scholarship funds awarded
These investments reflect HACIA’s long term commitment to building a stronger and more diverse workforce for the future.
Driving Change: Advocacy
Advocacy continues to be a cornerstone of HACIA’s work. Over the past five years, the organization has strengthened its presence with public agencies and elected officials, advancing policies and initiatives that support equitable access to contracts and resources.
Through these efforts, HACIA ensures that its members have a voice in the decisions that shape the construction industry.
Building Team Growth
As HACIA’s programs and initiatives have expanded, so has its internal team. Strategic growth in staffing has allowed the organization to better serve its members, strengthen operations, and deliver high quality programming.
This investment in people has been key to sustaining HACIA’s growth and impact. As the team reflects on the past five years, Jacqueline’s leadership stands out as a key driver of that success.
“Congratulations, Jackie, on five incredible years at HACIA. Your leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing opportunity in our industry have made a lasting impact on both our organization and the community we serve. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and excited for what’s ahead.”
— Director of Strategic Partnerships & Membership Engagement | Ivette Treviño
“Having been with HACIA for nearly three years, I’ve experienced Jacqueline’s leadership firsthand. She has been a strong mentor who challenges me to grow professionally while always supporting my development. I’ve seen meaningful progress across the organization and have full confidence in her vision for HACIA’s future.”
— Marketing Manager | Jose Escobedo
Looking Ahead
As HACIA looks to the future, the focus remains on building access, expanding opportunity, and strengthening the construction industry through its members. With a strong foundation in place, the organization is well positioned to continue growing its impact in the years ahead. But at the center of HACIA’s growth is a team committed to its mission. As Jacqueline Gomez puts it:
“The incredible impact we’ve made over the last five years is a reflection of a team that believes in our mission and shows up every day to get it done. Together, we are creating opportunities, strengthening our industry, and building a more inclusive community. I am excited to continue building on this momentum in the years ahead.”