Rafael Manalac, Levine’s CFO, was born and raised in the Philippines. He grew up in Cavite City, 33 miles southwest of the capital city of Manila. Rafael was a product of the public school system in his formative years and dreamed of becoming an architect. Influenced by the careers of both his siblings he decided to enroll at the University of Santo Tomas (the oldest catholic university in the Philippines) where he majored in accounting. The decision and sacrifice (daily 2-hour one way commute through public transportation to his classes) certainly paid off. He worked in the quasi-government, banking, futures trading, construction, mining and manufacturing industries. His final employment in the Philippines was with Goodyear Philippines.
In February 1990, at the age of 27, Rafael migrated to reunite with his family in VA. After a year, he ventured to California and spent 4 years working at Corporate Express in Compton, California. In 1995, he returned to VA and was employed at Ficon Corporation. He later engaged in the non-profit sector and worked for a combined 15 years at two trade organizations: the National Food Processors Association and the Food and Drug Law Institute. In 2008, right in the heat of the recession, he found Levine. He has since re-discovered music, its importance and meaning. He has been Levine’s Chief Financial Officer for the past 15 years.
Rafael shares his home in Clifton, VA with his lovely wife and 2 sons. In his spare time, he enjoys long walks. You might see him strolling down Connecticut Ave during his lunch break. Inspired by his wife, his favorite activity is the 5-mile hike around Burke Lake Park, at times pushing for 10 miles.