Our Story

Mission
To positively impact the American workplace by cultivating the pipeline of Latino talent and providing Latino professionals the insight, access, and support to be successful in their careers.

Core Values

Achievement

Inclusion

Accessibility

Excellence

Leadership

Prepare pre-career Latinos for the professional workplace

The majority of young Latinos in high schools and colleges throughout the U.S. are pioneers in that they are the first in their family to complete high school, enter college and begin their careers in a professional role.  It is important for these young people to begin building their professional networks from an early age in order to be exposed to all the opportunities an education will afford them.  To support student achievement in this area, we

• Maintain partnerships with high schools, colleges and universities to deliver career skills programming for pre-career Latinos
• Provide career coaching services to Latinos seeking to enter the professional workplace
• Connect students to a network of professionals that will serve as mentors and sources
  

Support Latino professionals in achieving their career goals

Despite great strides, Latinos are still under represented in management and professional roles in most major corporations and institutions.  Through skill enhancement, network building and direct referrals, HACE connects Latinos to exciting career development opportunities.

• Provide professional development programming to enhance the skill sets of Latino professionals
• Create opportunities for professionals to connect with people and resources that can serve to advance their careers
• Serve as a source for jobs and career and leadership opportunities to professionals seeking to enhance their careers

Make a positive impact to the American workplace through inclusion and diversity initiatives

While most employers have come to greatly value the benefits that a diverse workforce can yield, the practice of workplace inclusion has yet to reach maturity.  Many companies are in the early stages of figuring out how to integrate a global workforce into high achieving teams.  There is much opportunity for growth and development in the field.  Our focus is on helping committed employers recruit, retain and develop Latinos into professional roles.

• Help companies recruit Latino talent through events, postings and candidate sourcing
• Educate companies about Latino professionals to prepare them to properly include them in the workforce
• Provide companies access to the Latino talent through branding and outreach opportunities
  

History

Human Resources professionals at the 1981 National Symposium on Hispanic Business and Economy Conference claim that there are “not enough qualified Hispanics” in Chicago.  HACE's co-founders organize a group of people interested in disproving this claim.  The group sets out to create a list of 1,000 qualified Latinos in the Chicago area and gain support for the creation of an organization to help Latino professionals.  Three networking meetings are held with HR recruiters in 1982.  Large turn-out at each event confirms that there are many qualified Latinos, and Fortune 500 companies and government agencies need an organization to help them identify these candidates.  As a result of these meetings, HACE is born.

In 1986, participants in a summer retreat hosted by the Latino Institute in Chicago decide to launch a three-day conference focused on Latinos in professional occupations.  The very first HACE Career Conference is held in Chicago, the first of its kind.  The Latino Institute gives HACE a desk and a phone, which serves as the first HACE office before the organization secures a rent-free suite at The First National Bank of Chicago (now JPMorgan Chase) for five years.  Grants provided by Tribune and Allstate fund the salaries of the director and small staff.

Shortly thereafter, a Career Resource Center is established to serve professionals and college graduates seeking employment, career counseling, networking contacts and information.  The College Relations committee establishes working relationships at twelve colleges and universities.  Amoco (now BP) donates $250,000 worth of computer hardware and programming hours to HACE, and helps computerize HACE’s résumé bank.  HACE’s computerized talent bank quickly reaches the 1,000-résumé mark. HACE’s Student Development Program begins to train and develop Hispanic college students to help them set the course for their future. Amoco Corporation, Kraft, General Foods, Nalco and United Way contribute to expand HACE’s programs.

By 2002, demand for HACE's programs outside the mid-west grows.  The Morgan Stanley Foundation and Caterpillar Foundation generously support HACE’s plan to expand into Texas, New York, Florida and California.  National expansion begins with HACE Career Conference in Houston.  HACE is honored by NSHMBA with the Brillante Award, recognizing HACE as the Best Non-Profit of the Year.  National expansion continues with a New York Career Conference.  The first “Latino Professional Pulse” Survey is conducted and inspires the “Understanding Latinos in America” seminar that becomes of the cornerstones of HACE’s corporate membership program. National expansion continues with a Career Conference and other programming in Miami. By 2007, HACE's national expansion plan is nearly complete with a Los Angeles conference.  The Latino Recruitment Series reaches new levels of participation by corporate members and constituents, with series held in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Houston.  HACE launches El Futuro, to serve high school students, Mujeres de HACE to bring together professional Latinos and the Leadership Series to help managers reach their career objectives.  The HACE professional network now numbers nearly 40,000.