The National Hispanic Construction Alliance (NHCA), a trade association powered by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community in the construction industry, has announced its inaugural national board of directors.
“This marks a pivotal milestone in NHCA’s mission to provide capacity-building, access to capital, and business opportunities for members, fostering growth and success at every level of the construction sector,” a press release on the announcement states.
Hispanic workers now comprise over 30 percent of the U.S. construction workforce and have driven nearly 60 percent of the industry’s workforce growth in recent years; however, only about 16 percent of Hispanic construction workers hold management or supervisory roles, which is far below the representation of their non-Hispanic peers. NHCA officials say this highlights “the urgent need for greater representation and advancement opportunities in leadership positions.”
To address this gap and work towards “meaningful progress,” the board of directors will play a crucial role in “advancing the organization’s mission and five pillars: capacity building, access to capital, community empowerment, advocacy, and networking,” the press release states.
Inaugural national board of directors members are:
- Jerry Ascencio, president, Mission Real Estate
- Rodrigo d’Escoto, Jr., founder, president, and CEO, Refection Window + Wall
- Manny Perez, senior vice president, real estate and public finance, Cabrera Capital
- David Adame, founder, president, and CEO, Grupo Adame, LLC
- Phil Bracken, CMB, vice chairman, Falcon Capital Advisors
- Gary Acosta, co-founder and CEO, NAHREP
- Mark Madrid, CEO and founder, Breakthrough Mavens, LLC; Honorary Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve
“The National Board of Directors brings a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to championing the Hispanic workforce and business community,” said Sergio Barajas, NHCA executive director. “They will provide the leadership needed to turn-key findings and policy priorities into actionable progress for the Hispanic workforce and business community.”
The board’s work will take action on key findings from NHCA’s recent State of Hispanics in Construction Report and the accompanying 2025 policy priorities: immigration reform, fair labor practices, regulatory relief for minority-owned businesses, and economic policies that support small firms.
