As Chief Executive Officer of the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), Rafael E. Cestero brings over 30 years of experience in tackling the most pressing housing and community development challenges facing cities today.

Under Rafael’s leadership, CPC has grown its impact and diversified its multifamily lending and investing platforms, operating nationally as one of the largest CDFIs in the country solely committed to the creation and preservation of multifamily housing. Today, CPC uses its unique expertise in housing finance and public policy to expand access to affordable and workforce housing, advance diversity and equity within the development industry, and expand investment in the green economy to lessen the impact of climate change. CPC is a carbon-neutral company and is among a select group of CDFIs to achieve and maintain a AA- S&P rating.

Prior to joining CPC in 2012, Rafael was Managing Director at L+M Development Partners, a leading developer of affordable and mixed-income housing committed to fostering diverse communities through its development practices.

From 2009 to 2011, Rafael served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the largest municipal affordable housing development and housing code enforcement agency in the country. In his capacity as HPD commissioner, he simultaneously served as chairman of the board for the New York City Housing Development Corporation, the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency. He also served as HPD’s Deputy Commissioner for Development from 2004-2007.

Rafael’s career in community development began at Enterprise Community Partners in 1990 as a Chief Program Officer. In 2007, he was named Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer – a capacity he served in until 2009 and his departure to take over the leadership role at HPD.

Rafael is a regular voice in the media on topics related to housing policy. He is the co-host of the popular housing-focused podcast The Housing Problem, and has been featured in publications such as The Hill, New York Daily News, Crain’s New York, The New York Times, and City Limits, among others.

Rafael earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Policy Analysis from Cornell University and his Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently serves on the CPC board of directors, Citizens Housing and Planning Council board of directors, Morgan Stanley Community Development advisory board, YMCA real estate committee, Center for an Urban Future board of directors, and the NYU Furman Center advisory board.