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What One Banker Learned Through a Natural Disaster

ATLANTA—Like many in the commercial real estate industry, Ellen Rogers career has evolved in ways she couldn't have anticipated.

By Jennifer LeClaire | jenniferleclaire | | Updated on June 03, 2016
"It was a rewarding experience that I'll never forget." “It was a rewarding experience that I’ll never forget.”
ATLANTA— Like many in the commercial real estate industry, Ellen Rogers’ career has evolved in ways she couldn’t have anticipated. And some of the most impactful moments were during times of crisis. GlobeSt.com caught up with Rogers, a market executive of community development banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch , to talk about her career and the lessons she’s learned in part one of this exclusive interview. Stay tuned for part two, in which she will discuss how she has navigated industry challenges. GlobeSt.com: How did you get your start in commercial real estate?  Rogers: It was a process. Entering the banking industry through a management training program provided a good baseline of experience in a number of lines of business that eventually led to a position in commercial banking with a real estate focus. That evolved into a focus on community development, which is where I’ve spent the bulk of my career. GlobeSt.com: What have been some of the key turning points in your career? Rogers: Taking on responsibility for community development lending at a previous financial institution, which led me to recognize the passion that I have for this segment of commercial real estate . At the time, it was less an area of focus for many organizations, and more a ‘have to do’ to comply with CRA requirements. Clearly, that’s no longer the case today. At Bank of America Merrill Lynch, we have an integrated business focus on financing affordable housing , urban revitalization, and charter school facilities financing, all of which can have a significant impact on communities. Another key turning point for me was representing BofAML in the Gulf Coast states following Hurricane Katrina. The bank did not have a footprint in that region, but we set out to lend and invest $100 million in the rebuilding. In the end, we financed around $350 million in the rebuilding effort. It was a rewarding experience that I’ll never forget. I’ve discovered many bankers have interesting stories. Find out how one banker learned to adapt in difficult cycles in my recent column .  

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