New Jersey City University (NJCU) announced a strategic educational partnership with Cortaditos Holding Corporation, a veteran- and Hispanic-owned Cuban coffee shop chain, to launch a customized workforce development program for its employees.
The initiative, formalizing a bond between the university and one of its distinguished alumni, will provide Cortaditos staff with a six-course Retail Management Certificate designed to bolster leadership, financial literacy and customer service skills within the growing local business.
The certificate program is tailored specifically for the needs of Cortaditos’ team members. To ensure accessibility and success, NJCU is providing a dedicated instructor and coach who is fluent in Spanish, offering both linguistic and subject-matter support.
The curriculum consists of six-week asynchronous online modules, supplemented by weekly in-person sessions on NJCU’s main campus. Courses include:
- Leadership
- Fundamentals of Supervision and Management (I and II)
- Managing Customer Service
- Business Finance for Non-Finance Personnel
- Accounting Fundamentals
Cortaditos is funding the program directly, allowing participating employees to advance their education at no personal cost.
The collaboration holds special significance as Cortaditos CEO Adam San Miguel ’18 is a proud NJCU alumnus and a recipient of the 2025 NJCU Distinguished Graduate Award.
“At Cortaditos, we consider our greatest asset to be our people,” San Miguel said. “By developing a Certificate in Retail Management tailored for Cortaditos’ leaders, we’re investing in the growth of a true homegrown local business whose CEO and mother are proud NJCU alumni.”
NJCU President Andrés Acebo echoed the sentiment, highlighting the partnership as a pillar of the university’s mission. “When our graduates return to invest in their employees’ futures, it creates a powerful cycle of opportunity that strengthens families, businesses, and communities alike,” he said.
This partnership follows NJCU’s recent collaboration with The BLOC Foundation to support women in construction trades, further cementing the university’s role as a hub for urban community engagement and workforce training.
The agreement, signed in November 2025, is set for an initial one-year run with plans for renewal. Significantly, the program is designed to continue through the university’s upcoming merger with Kean University. Once the merger is finalized in Summer 2026, the initiative will carry forward under the banner of Kean Jersey City.
Founded by San Miguel, a Cuban-American social entrepreneur and U.S. Coast Guard Reserve veteran, Cortaditos operates seven locations across New Jersey, including a new site opening soon in Newark. The company employs over 60 people and is deeply rooted in the Hudson County community.
