SER-Jobs for Progress
SER-Jobs for Progress is
one of Florida’s
leading providers of workforce development services. Founded in 1978 in the Little Havana
neighborhood of Miami, the organization’s area
of service now reaches from southern Palm Beach
County to the Florida Keys, from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Everglades. Primarily offering outsourcing services to
local governments and agencies, the company has experienced an unprecedented
growth rate of 300% over the past half decade.
Our 150 professionals and paraprofessionals serve
nearly 100,000 customers annually through seven locations with specialties from
psychology to education to career guidance and placement. While the company serves anyone needing services,
it also operates programs targeted towards groups like youth 16 to 21,
individuals 55 and over, recently arrived refugees and welfare recipients
looking for work.
SER’s management team consists of trained
professionals with an average of 15 years experience in the field. The company’s president, Jose L. Cela, has been with SER since
1979. He leads a diverse group that is
representative of the communities the organization serves. Throughout the organization’s history, it has
been there when local governments have needed help such as during the Mariel
boatlift, civil and social unrest, multiple hurricanes and other major
events. The company manages tens of
millions of dollars annually without incident.
Beatriz
Gaviria-Lopez, vice president, heads the largest division, SER One-Stop
Solutions. One-Stop Solutions is the
operator of the one-stop career centers in Pompano Beach,
Hollywood, North Miami Beach
and downtown Miami. These centers provide comprehensive
employment related services to assist anyone needing career advice, retraining,
and of course job placement assistance.
These centers help over 30,000 people find employment annually.
Advanced
Technical Centers is the education division. This division operates a technical
school. The school offers a unique blend
of high-tech and high-touch, with small class groups and easy access to faculty
and counselors. Job placement is the goal
for all students. Some of the
institutions’ credentials follow.
Accredited by the Council on
Occupational Education
Licensed by the Fla. Commission on
Independent Education
Certified by the US Dept of
Education for Higher Education Act
Licensed by the Fla. Dept of State
Division of Licensing
Certified as a Cisco Systems
Networking Academy
Certified as a Microsoft IT
Academy
Member of Computing
Technology Industry Assoc, CompTIA
South Fla. Workforce
certified for Individual Training Accounts
Reinaldo Exposito, director, leads the social
services division. This group of
psychologists, social workers and other professionals operate contracts
targeting historically hard-to-place populations including at-risk youth,
recently arrived refugees, and unemployed seniors. Services are offered at three community
offices.
The company’s CFO, Manuel Cordoba, manages fiscal,
administrative, human resource and facilities matters.
A volunteer board of directors heads the
organization. Among the board’s main
functions are policymaking, financial oversight and the overall direction of
the organization. Chaired by Richard Terrelonge, the board includes professionals
from business, government, medicine, accountancy, hospitality, finance, law
enforcement and human resources.
The company’s client list is long and varied. The major economic partners include the
following.
South
Florida Workforce
Workforce One/Broward
Workforce Board
Miami-Dade County
US Department of Education
Higher Education Act
SER-Jobs for Progress,
National Office
Esperanza USA
SER is an equal opportunity
employer/program. Auxiliary aids & services are available upon request to
individuals with disabilities. All voice phone numbers listed on the page may
be reached by dialing the Florida Relay # 711