Rafael A. Roger

Rafael A. Roger is the President of The Business Initiative Corporation of New York (“BICNY”). BICNY is a Small Business Administration Small Business Lending Company and a sponsor organization to the Bronx Economic Development Corporation (BXEDC). Founded in 1998, BICNY helps entrepreneurs and companies gain access to private and public funding around New York State. Rafael is responsible for developing SBA 504 and Community Advantage loans by connecting banks and other referral sources in New York State. In addition to overseeing the further development of SBA lending, he oversees BICNY’s loan portfolio, marketing plans, and BXEDC’s lending programs and initiatives, which currently have over $55 million lent to businesses around New York State and The Bronx.

BICNY has been featured in Crain’s New York Magazine, including being number 3 on the “NY SBA Lenders” list and “Top SBA Loans.” In 2022, BICNY was featured twice in the Top 8 of SBA loans. BICNY has provided over $145 million in loans to businesses in The Bronx and throughout New York State, helping leverage over $450 million from banks and private equity investments. As of September 2022, these loans have retained and created over 2,300 jobs. BICNY has received three “Bronze Awards” from the US SBA New York District Office.

Prior to joining BICNY, Rafael worked in the healthcare and insurance industries. He attended Seton Hall University and obtained his MBA and BS in International Business Management with a minor in Economics from SUNY Empire State College. He is a graduate of the LEAD (Latino Executive Advancement & Development) Fellowship program through George Washington University and the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, as well as The National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB). He was raised in the Bronx and attended Fordham Prep.