Background

Rafael joined Development Counsellors International in 2007, after working for five years in the mortgage industry. There, he gained valuable sales experience by servicing numerous existing clients and researching potential customers. As a member of DCI's Prospect Development/Qualification (PDQ) team, Rafael puts his lead identification skills to work helping his clients find the right companies to invest, relocate or expand in their regions. Three words that describe Rafael: ambitious, committed and personable. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.

Rafael's Passion for Places

As a first-generation New Yorker whose family hails from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Rafael believes that his heart belongs to three countries. But while nearly all of his family lives either in the United States or on these two islands, Rafael loves to travel and meet new people from diverse cultures. So far, he's been to several Caribbean countries, including Aruba and his parents' native homes, but the destinations that remain at the top of his "To Visit" list include Spain, Brazil and Japan. 

Despite Rafael's passion for travel, he plans to stay in his hometown - New York City - forever. For him, this melting pot of cultures and people has it all.

Notable Results

•  Rafael has helped secure numerous meetings for our DCI clients resulting in major expansion opportunities. Thanks to these face-to-face talks, our clients have started their first phase of investment planning with top executives working for companies such as Credit Suisse, Oracle Corporation and Hewlett-Packard Company.

•  On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Rafael helped secure more than 10 meetings in two days for this client's representatives when they visited Chicago for a prospecting trip. As a result of these meetings, Smurfit Stone, a Chicago-based manufacturer with an existing facility in Pennsylvania was in a consolidation mode and was considering shutting down the PA facility. The Governor’s Action Team sprung into action and was able to save the facility and 306 jobs attached to it. A great example of a job retention success! 

•  Rafael has maintained relationships and supervised each PDQ program from start to finish for several clients such as INTERES- Invest in Spain, Greater Rochester Enterprise, and the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania).