Faith at the Foundation
From an early age, my life was shaped by faith. Growing up in Guánica, Puerto Rico, church wasn’t just a Sunday routine—it was a second home. The lessons I learned there weren’t just spiritual; they were practical. I didn’t know it at the time, but those messages about service, humility, and integrity would end up guiding my entire professional journey.
Now, after decades in public finance, municipal consulting, and business leadership, I can say with confidence that my church community has been one of my greatest influences. My relationship with God and the values I carry from my faith are deeply woven into how I lead, how I serve, and how I live every single day.
Church Taught Me to Serve Others First
One of the most important values instilled in me through church was the call to serve others. Whether it was helping organize food drives or visiting elders who couldn’t make it to service, I saw firsthand how leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about service. That simple, powerful idea stuck with me.
When I became Director of Finance for the Municipality of Guayanilla in 1989, I carried that value with me. I wasn’t there just to manage numbers. I was there to serve the community—to make sure the town’s finances were strong so that public services could be delivered effectively. Every financial report I submitted and every budget I worked on had real people behind it. I thought about the families who depended on clean parks, working roads, and safe neighborhoods. I remembered what my pastor used to say: “If it doesn’t help someone, what’s the point?”
Faith Builds Patience and Perspective
In both church and finance, things don’t always move quickly. Some prayers take years to be answered. Some budget reforms take months of negotiation. Whether it’s navigating new tax laws or developing long-term plans for municipalities, patience is a key part of the job.
My faith has taught me to trust the process, even when the results take time. I’ve had projects where, for months, it felt like nothing was happening. But I stuck with it, stayed true to the mission, and in time, the pieces came together. That perspective—that faith that things will work out if we stay focused and do the work—has helped me weather more than a few storms in my professional life.
Sometimes we look for progress in the big things, but real change often comes quietly, one decision at a time. I’ve learned that just like in our walk with God, progress in work and in life isn’t always flashy. It’s steady, persistent, and faithful.
Values You Don’t Leave at the Door
Some people separate their professional life from their personal values. For me, there’s no dividing line. The same integrity I strive for in church is the integrity I bring into every business meeting, every consulting session, and every financial audit.
When I work with municipalities across Puerto Rico through my company, RWM Consultants Inc., I bring a faith-rooted approach to the table. That doesn’t mean preaching—it means being honest, respectful, and dependable. It means putting the community’s needs before my own. It means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
In an industry where trust is everything, I believe that faith-based integrity is one of the most valuable tools I have. I don’t take shortcuts. I don’t bend numbers. And I don’t forget who I’m ultimately accountable to—not just clients or government agencies, but to the values I’ve lived by my whole life.
A Community That Keeps Me Grounded
Running businesses and advising municipalities can be stressful. There are long nights, high-pressure deadlines, and plenty of moments where things don’t go according to plan. During those times, my church is where I go to recharge—not just spiritually, but emotionally and mentally, too.
Being surrounded by people who share my values, who pray with me and support me, reminds me that I’m not doing this alone. That support system has carried me through some of the toughest challenges I’ve faced as a professional. Whether I’m wrestling with a complex tax issue or navigating a leadership decision, I know I can turn to my faith community for strength and clarity.
Some of my best business ideas and decisions have come after a quiet moment in prayer or a thoughtful conversation after Sunday service. It’s in those still moments that I can see the bigger picture—not just of my business, but of my purpose.
Faith Is My Compass
In the world of municipal finance and entrepreneurship, it’s easy to get caught up in numbers, strategy, and competition. But at the end of the day, what drives me isn’t just success—it’s significance. I want the work I do to matter, not just in a financial sense, but in the lives of people and communities.
My faith gives me that direction. It keeps me focused on what truly matters. It reminds me that even in the smallest acts of service—whether it’s balancing a town’s budget or helping a young professional grow—we can reflect something bigger than ourselves.
I didn’t set out to blend faith and finance. It just happened, naturally and honestly, as I grew into both worlds. Now, looking back, I can’t imagine doing this work without the foundation my church gave me. From leadership to patience, from service to strength, everything I learned in those pews has made me a better professional—and, I believe, a better man.
As I continue to lead RWM Consultants and support communities through financial challenges, I do so with the same faith that brought me this far. Because no matter how complex the numbers get, I know that with God at the center, the path forward is always clear.