Technology

New Research from HACE with Nearly 1,000 Respondents Reveals the Real Cost of the Latino Leadership Gap — and a Proven Path to Close It

Published

2 months ago

April 28, 2026

Two Spring 2026 research papers reframe senior underrepresentation as a conversion problem, not a pipeline problem — and tie the solution directly to business growth, retention, and market performance

CHICAGO, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) today released findings from two landmark research collaborations that reframe one of corporate America’s most persistent talent challenges: why Latino leaders stall at the director-to-VP transition—and what organizations gain by solving it.

The first report, Breaking Barriers from the Inside Out, authored by Dr. Marlene Graffe-Gonzalez in collaboration with the HACE Leadership Research Institute, draws on a neuroscience-informed study of 518 Latino middle managers and executive interviews to identify where and why advancement momentum breaks down.

The second report, The Growth Case, co-authored by Ana Ceppi of Multicultural Growth Partners and HACE CEO Patricia Mota, combines six years of research with HACE’s proprietary 2025 survey of 394 professionals—demonstrating that closing the leadership gap is not just an equity issue, but a business growth imperative.

Together, the research introduces a powerful dual perspective: one report diagnoses why leaders stall, revealing a critical “conversion gap” where readiness fails to translate into recognized leadership; the other proves why closing that gap matters, highlighting the significant market, workforce, and economic opportunity lost when multicultural talent is not fully activated at scale.

From Barriers to Growth: Converting Leadership into Enterprise Impact

Despite decades of investment, Latinos represent ~20% of the workforce but only ~5% of executive roles. The gap widens at the most critical leadership levels.

“We’ve spent years building the pipeline,” said Patricia Mota, President and CEO of HACE. “What this research makes clear is that the pipeline is not the problem—the transition is. And that is a system design issue, not a talent deficit.”

The research identifies five key patterns driving stalled advancement, including the role of high-pressure moments where leaders must demonstrate visibility, confidence, and executive presence.

Breaking Barriers from the Inside Out identifies five recurring patterns — what the research calls “transition findings” — that explain why proven leaders fail to convert readiness into recognized executive legitimacy, one example includes: Performance Under Pressure: 82% of survey respondents reported confidence in their ability to perform at the next level — yet 68% described hesitation in the exact high-stakes moments where advancement decisions are made.

The Business Case Has Never Been Stronger

The opportunity is significant:

Latino buying power exceeds $3T and is projected to reach $5.1T by 2030U.S. Latino GDP is $4.1T — the world’s fifth-largest economyLatinos are the fastest-growing workforce demographic

Yet, 67% of Latino professionals report never receiving culturally grounded leadership training—despite rating its importance at the highest level.

“The demand exists. The supply does not,” said Ana Ceppi. “The organization that solves this will earn something money alone cannot buy: loyalty.”

HACE’s research introduces a critical new insight—the “Loyalty Bridge”—showing that culturally grounded leadership development directly increases retention, engagement, and organizational commitment

A Framework for Enterprise Action

Together, the reports provide both a diagnostic and a roadmap:

A Leadership Transition Architecture to identify where advancement stallsA Cultural Elasticity™ framework to unlock performance through cultural intelligence

HACE is positioned as the delivery infrastructure for both frameworks. Program outcomes include an average promotion rate of approximately 17% within six months of completion — rising to 80% within two years for participants in advanced leadership programs.

“The organizations that will lead in the next decade will not be those with the broadest pipelines,” Mota said. “They will be the ones that most effectively convert middle-layer capability into recognized executive leadership — and that reflects the markets and communities they serve.”

About HACE
The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement is a national nonprofit dedicated to the employment, development, and advancement of Latino professionals. With a network of over 150,000 and through leadership programs, research, and strategic partnerships, HACE empowers organizations and individuals to build inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

www.HACEonline.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE)
marketing@haceonline.org • (312) 435-0498 • www.HACEonline.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-from-hace-with-nearly-1-000-respondents-reveals-the-real-cost-of-the-latino-leadership-gap–and-a-proven-path-to-close-it-302755689.html

SOURCE Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE)

Technology

Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alcott HR announces Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects. Michael brings over ten years of experience in HR operations and project management.

Before joining Alcott HR, he held senior roles leading technology upgrades and launching new employee benefits programs. This experience supports Alcott’s initiatives, helping the company grow while putting clients first.

As Director, Michael drives operational excellence at Alcott HR by leading strategic projects. He maintains processes to ensure Alcott stays flexible and personalized during growth. Michael focuses on projects that further enhance client support.

Improving Data Accuracy: Michael connects Alcott’s main systems with partners. Automating these connections streamlines onboarding and enrollment, ensuring benefits and payroll are accurate and secure. This gives clients confidence their information is in good hands.

Creating a Seamless Client Experience: Michael is improving how Alcott manages projects and client renewals. With consistency in these processes, Alcott delivers a seamless, dependable experience, especially during year-end reporting and enrollment.

Building for Growth: By replacing manual tasks with digital solutions, Michael helps Alcott grow with its clients. This allows the team to focus on building relationships and offering expert HR guidance to help clients achieve their goals.

“Michael doesn’t just manage projects, he builds systems that help our team excel,” said Kristen Bartolotta, Sr. Director of Operations at Alcott HR. “His ability to transform complex processes into streamlined solutions has improved our efficiency and enhanced our client service.”

“Working with the talented Alcott team has been a great experience,” said Michael Pascucci. “I’m excited to continue working across departments to improve our processes, boost efficiency, and help the company keep growing.”

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

About Alcott HR: Alcott HR is an IRS Certified* and ESAC Accredited, Professional Employer Organization that provides a comprehensive range of human resources solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. With nearly four decades of experience, Alcott HR offers customized services that allow businesses to manage their workforce more effectively while staying compliant with state and federal regulations. Their services include payroll, benefits, risk management, and HR support, designed to help businesses grow and succeed.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com
(716) 241-8893

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alcott-hr-appoints-michael-pascucci-as-director-of-strategic-projects-302805721.html

SOURCE Alcott HR

Technology

Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com
(716) 241-8893

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alcott-hr-appoints-michael-pascucci-as-director-of-strategic-projects-302805721.html

SOURCE Alcott HR

Technology

Vaultzy and Miracle University Pilot Demonstrates AI-Powered Document Management for Students. Expansion Planned for California Foster Youth Programs

Published

4 hours ago

June 19, 2026

A successful student pilot demonstrates how secure digital records and AI guidance can help them access education, employment, housing, and life opportunities

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Vaultzy, an AI-powered document management and life assistant platform, today announced the successful completion of a pilot with Miracle University, demonstrating how secure digital records and intelligent guidance can help students overcome barriers to education, employment, and economic mobility.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, noted, “Never expired. Never lost. Your vital documents, all in one secure place.”

For many students, particularly those facing economic hardship or life disruptions, lost identification, unavailable transcripts, and scattered paperwork can delay enrollment, employment, housing applications, financial aid, and access to public services. Vaultzy was created to address this challenge by providing a secure, user-controlled platform for lifelong document management.

Beyond document storage, Vaultzy recently launched the first version of its AI-powered Life Agent. The platform allows users to interact with their personal records and receive guidance related to major life transitions. By understanding what documents a user has available, the Life Agent can help identify requirements and next steps for education, employment, healthcare, government services, financial planning, and other important milestones.

The pilot was conducted in partnership with Miracle University, a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students who have left the traditional education system earn their high school diplomas and achieve academic and career success. The initiative focused on helping students digitize, organize, and securely manage their most important records while introducing them to emerging technologies that can support their long-term success.

“Our mission is to help students overcome barriers and unlock their full potential,” said Dr. Kadhir Raja, Founder of Miracle University. “Students need access to their documents, confidence in managing important life transitions, and guidance on what comes next. Vaultzy helps bring all of these together, empowering students to navigate education, employment, housing, and other life opportunities with greater confidence and independence.”

The pilot demonstrated the importance of giving individuals lifelong access to trusted records while providing the tools and guidance needed to use them effectively. As California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, noted, “Never expired. Never lost. Your vital documents, all in one secure place.”

Looking ahead, Vaultzy plans to continue expanding its AI-powered capabilities. “We envision a future where every individual has a trusted AI companion that not only safeguards their records but also helps guide them through life’s most important transitions,” said Avanti Ramraj, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Vaultzy.

The success of the Miracle University pilot is helping inform broader discussions with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions, and public-sector leaders interested in modernizing how individuals manage and access trusted records while receiving guidance through important life transitions. One of the most promising opportunities is the potential application of Vaultzy within programs serving foster youth, seniors, and other underserved populations.

About Vaultzy

Vaultzy is an AI-powered document management and life assistant platform that helps individuals securely store, manage, and share important records throughout their lives. Combining secure document management, document intelligence, multilingual assistance, and agentic AI capabilities, Vaultzy is building the infrastructure for lifelong document ownership and trusted digital identity.

About Miracle University

Miracle University is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students overcome educational barriers and achieve academic, personal, and professional success. Through mentorship, education, and community support, Miracle University equips students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to transform their futures.

Media Contact
Anupriya Ramraj, Vaultzy, 1 510-255-0657, contact@vaultzy.ai, www.vaultzy.ai

Twitter, LinkedIn

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/vaultzy-and-miracle-university-pilot-demonstrates-ai-powered-document-management-for-students-expansion-planned-for-california-foster-youth-programs-302805103.html

SOURCE Vaultzy