Meet OUR Team

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Rafo is a proactive boots-on-the-ground former community bank President / CEO keen on continuous transformation for sustainable profitability, with a hands-on versatile approach. 

His 30+ years’ experience includes executive management positions in commercial & consumer lending, marketing, operations, distribution, financial reporting, and digital banking, at international banks; Citibank, Banco Santander, Wachovia, Fleet Bank, as well as marketing & analytics Business Director and General Manager at credit card issuer Capital One, merchandiser Fingerhut Catalogs and credit scorer & analytics Fair Isaac (FICO). He is also former Dean of the School of Business of Miami Dade College and former Board member of the Florida Bankers Association (FBA), The Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA), The Miami Foundation, and The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Rafo holds a BA in Economics (magna cum laude) from the University of Puerto Rico with additional coursework in calculus and differential equations for econometrics and an MBA with quad majors in; Accounting, Finance, Operations and Industrial Relations from the JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

Mr. González is an international attorney and private equity specialist with over 35 years of experience. He is a partner with a local law firm and is a Principal and Managing Director of BlackBow Capital, a private equity and venture capital fund manager with a successful track record of above-market returns specializing in early commercial stage ventures in the areas of financial services – with a particular emphasis in payment platforms, loyalty, and travel technology. Mr. Gonzalez holds a JD, an LLM and a PhD (Finance) from world class universities.

Mr. Alireza has experience in organizing financial institutions, working as an active consultant in the areas of finance, budgeting, lending, risk, operations, and compliance. Specifically, Mr. Alireza has managed the relationship with the CDFI Fund (Department of the Treasury) since 2013, when OUR Microlending became certified by the Fund. He is responsible for reporting to and compliance with the CDFI Fund requirements and regulations, as well as responsible for all award applications, having been awarded financial assistance funds on three separate occasions (2013, 2015 and 2017). Also, Mr. Alireza has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) three offering circulars under Regulation A and is currently in the process of filing a 4th offering. He has been the individual responsible for reporting to and compliance with SEC requirements and regulations. Mr. Alireza holds a Master in International Finance and a Master in Business Administration from IE Business School. 

Mr. Soto, an attorney by training, is a well-known government affairs and community development leader, currently serving as the CEO of the Denver Foundation. Prior to his current assignment,  over the course of his 10-year tenure as The Miami Foundation’s leader, he led the organization through a period of significant growth in assets, ambitions, and aspirations. He positioned the Foundation at the center of civic and philanthropic activity in the Greater Miami area. Javier has broad influence within the philanthropic sector. He serves on many boards, including the Council on Foundation, where he recently completed a two-year term as Board Chair. Mr. Soto was a member of the Board of Directors of Totalbank from 2009 until 2019.

Dr. Yanes is a physician and owner of a medical practice in Miami-Dade County. He has practiced medicine in Miami-Dade County for over twenty years and has developed a trusted relationship with his patients and colleagues. He completed his residency in 1998 at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. A Diplomate in American Board Family Medicine, Dr. Yanes is also CEO of PreventiMed LLC, an IPA/ MSO with Practices located throughout Miami-Dade County.