New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Cortaditos Holding Corp.—the Weehawken-based owner of seven Cuban-style coffee shops—have teamed up for a new workforce education program. This initiative aims to give Cortaditos employees a chance to build their skills and move up in their careers.
NJCU offers a six-course Retail Management Certificate that focuses on leadership, supervision, customer service, and finance basics. Courses run online, but employees also meet weekly for in-person check-ins at NJCU’s Jersey City campus.
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The instruction team speaks both English and Spanish, making sure Spanish-speaking employees don’t get left out. Cortaditos pays for the entire program, so workers don’t have to worry about tuition.
This partnership shows how NJCU wants to open doors for working professionals. It also supports a veteran- and Hispanic-owned business right in the region, which feels significant.
A Strategic Education Partnership
The program consists of six courses, lined up back-to-back, each lasting six weeks. Employees start with frontline supervision and work their way up to broader leadership skills.
Each group usually includes six to ten Cortaditos employees. That size keeps things personal but leaves room for growth if demand increases.
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Online learning gives employees flexibility, while in-person coaching helps them apply new ideas at work. NJCU brings academic expertise, and Cortaditos brings real-world experience—both matter.
Program Details
All course materials are online, so people can study when it fits their schedules. Every week, though, there’s an in-person check-in on NJCU’s main campus to talk through challenges and reinforce what they’re learning.
NJCU assigns both an instructor and a coach, both fluent in Spanish and experts in their fields. That way, employees get support with both language and the subject matter.
The six courses cover leadership, supervision, customer service, business finance for non-finance folks, and accounting basics. Cortaditos covers all costs, so employees can focus on learning instead of worrying about money.
- Leadership and supervision — building people-management skills for mid-level roles
- Customer service excellence — strategies to improve guest experiences in hospitality
- Business finance for non-finance personnel — practical budgeting and financial know-how
- Accounting fundamentals — everyday business decisions get easier with these basics
- Structured six-week courses — a step-by-step path to stronger leadership
- Funding and access — Cortaditos picks up the tab, so employees don’t pay out of pocket
NJCU President Andrés Acebo says this partnership fits perfectly with the university’s mission to expand opportunities for working professionals. He points out that when alumni invest in their employees, it creates opportunities that ripple out into families, businesses, and neighborhoods.
Cortaditos CEO—and 2018 NJCU grad—Adam San Miguel, who’s been named a 2025 NJCU Distinguished Graduate, calls the collaboration a powerful example of how academia and industry can work together to lift up communities. That’s a big claim, but it feels true here.
Impact and Accessibility
The program sets out to give Cortaditos’ workforce hands-on leadership and financial skills. That’s a big deal for a veteran- and Hispanic-owned business trying to carve out its space in a crowded market.
Bilingual delivery opens the door for folks who’d rather learn in Spanish. This way, more people can actually participate and get something real out of the training.
The university’s putting down roots in Jersey City, and this effort feels like a nod to the local community. There’s a sense of wanting to help the area grow, not just the business.
If you’re figuring out how to get involved or just planning a visit, it’s worth thinking about the basics. Jersey City’s pretty easy to reach—PATH trains and other transit options make getting to the NJCU campus a breeze.
Hotels around Jersey City offer decent places to stay, especially if you’re in town for program events. You might want to pick a spot that keeps your commute short but still feels like a good place to relax.
After work wraps up, the city’s got plenty to check out. Waterfront walks, arts districts, and a real mix of neighborhoods and food scenes make Jersey City more than just a backdrop for learning.
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Here is the source article for this story: New Jersey City University pairs up with Cortaditos Coffee to launch retail management certificate program
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