October 2026: ACP congratulates Hector Santiago-Perez and Algrish Williams

“I am pleased to nominate my ACP mentor, Hector Santiago of Bank of America, for Mentor of the Month. Throughout my transition from the U.S. Navy, Hector has been a consistent source of thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and perspective. He is always willing to share his experience and has a remarkable ability to help me work through important career decisions with greater clarity and confidence.

What I value most about Hector is his genuine investment in my success, both professionally and personally. He makes himself available when I am facing significant decisions or need support navigating the next step in my transition. One example that has stayed with me was when he shared a simple tool he uses to evaluate work-life balance when considering major opportunities and decisions. It gave me a practical way to step back, assess what matters most, and consider success beyond just a title or salary. That perspective has become something I continue to use as I navigate my transition.

Hector has also been incredibly generous with his network, introducing me to professionals who can provide additional insight and expand my understanding of different career paths and organizations. His willingness to open doors for others speaks to the kind of leader and mentor he is.

I am truly grateful for Hector’s time, encouragement, and continued support. He exemplifies the purpose of ACP mentorship and has made a meaningful difference in my transition and professional growth. I believe he is highly deserving of recognition as Mentor of the Month.”

– Crystal L. McFadden, US Navy, Maryland

““It is my privilege to nominate my mentor, Algrish Williams (Al), for ACP Mentor of the Month.

After more than 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, preparing to leave the military and begin a completely different chapter of my life has brought a lot of excitement, but also a great deal of uncertainty. I have spent most of my adult life in the military, where I understand the culture, the language, and what is expected of me. Stepping into the civilian workforce means learning how to tell that story all over again—and figuring out where more than two decades of military experience fits.

Having Al as my mentor has made that process feel much less overwhelming.

As a retired Army Veteran who successfully made his own transition and now works for Bank of America, Al understands this experience in a way that few people can. He understands where I am coming from, but he also understands where I am trying to go. That shared experience has allowed him to challenge me, encourage me, and sometimes help me recognize things in myself that I have had difficulty seeing on my own.

From the beginning, Al has genuinely invested in my success. He has reviewed my resume and helped me translate military terminology and accomplishments into language civilian employers can understand. He has worked with me on interview preparation, helped me think differently about how I present myself, and introduced me to Bank of America’s Global Operations Military Development Program—an opportunity I did not know existed before meeting him.

But his mentorship has gone well beyond resumes and interview preparation.

Al has opened his professional network to me and personally connected me with people who could help me learn. Those conversations have given me perspectives I would not have gained on my own and have helped me better understand the corporate environment I am preparing to enter. Every introduction he makes feels intentional. He is not simply helping me find a job; he is helping me prepare for a career after the Military.

The biggest impact Al has had on me, though, has been on my confidence.

There are moments during military transition when you can look at everything you have accomplished over an entire career and still wonder, “Will any of this matter on the other side?” Al has helped me answer that question. He has helped me recognize that leadership, problem-solving, operational experience, and ability to build and lead teams that I developed throughout my military career have tremendous value—I just needed to learn how to tell that story differently.

He has also reminded me that I do not have to have every answer right now.

What makes Al such an exceptional mentor is that I have never felt like I was simply another veteran he was helping. He listens. He asks questions. He gives honest feedback. He challenges me when I need to think differently, and he encourages me when I begin questioning whether I am ready for what comes next. Most importantly, I know that his investment in my transition is genuine.

When I joined American Corporate Partners, I hoped to find someone who could help me better understand the civilian workforce and prepare for my transition. What I received in Al was much more than that. I gained a mentor who understands the journey because he has lived it, a trusted advisor who is willing to share what he has learned, and a fellow veteran who genuinely wants to see another service member succeed in the next chapter of his life.

I still have work to do before my transition is complete, but I am approaching it with far more confidence and clarity than I had when Al and I first connected. That is a direct reflection of his mentorship.

I am incredibly grateful that ACP matched me with Al, and I cannot think of someone more deserving of recognition as ACP Mentor of the Month.”

– Roderick Lapham, US Air Force, Ohio