When employees look forward to coming to work, it translates to more enthusiastic customer service and superior company success. That’s the rationale behind ROK Financial’s cultivation of an employee-centric culture, which has propelled the small business funding company to the top of the Top Workplaces Long Island survey in the small businesses category.
“We have an upbeat, high-energy culture — we’re focused on building a positive mindset and a supportive environment where people enjoy coming to work and are able to live a good, fulfilled life,” says ROK Financial CEO Patrick Manning. “If everyone’s enjoying themselves, we figure it will ultimately feed back into the work. After all, we have a job to do — to service our small business customers. We believe that providing a positive, supportive environment brings out the best in our employees.”
Based in Great River, ROK Financial was founded in August 2020 by a group of financial executives — led by Founder and Executive Chairman James Webster — who had worked together at National Business Capital & Services, a similar company that Webster co-founded in 2007. Manning, an executive vice president at National, was part of ROK Financial’s founding team.
“It was during the pandemic, and while a lot of business was shut down, we saw an opportunity to launch a new brand to support essential businesses with their financing needs,” he says.
Over the last five years, the company — which now has 59 employees — has provided optimal financing solutions for thousands of business customers with annual revenues that are generally $15 million or less. Products include small business loans and lines of credit, Small Business Administration loans, equipment financing, accounts receivable financing, merchant cash advance/working capital, commercial real estate financing, startup financing and more. Currently, the company facilitates $250 million in loans annually and has exceeded $1 billion in small business financing in its five-year history. Last month alone, the team handled more than 600 transactions.
Employees speak highly of the supportive and fun atmosphere at ROK Financial, which spurs them to do their best work.
“I love my job because I get to make a real impact every day, surrounded by a supportive, empowering team that pushes me to grow, personally and professionally,” one employee wrote in the “Best Workplaces” survey.
Another employee commented, “The environment and culture allows me to continue to enjoy coming into work every day. I continue to strive and provide the best work I am able to.”
All team members are encouraged to share their ideas and suggestions, whether at company Town Halls or as the occasion arises. The friendly atmosphere has fostered a culture of teamwork.
“We work as a team to accomplish our mutual goals and have fun while doing it,” wrote one employee.
“There’s a very family-like atmosphere, since a lot of us have been working together for over 10 years,” says Manning, noting that when employees reach the 10-year mark (including time spent at National), they get inducted into the company’s 10-year club. At the annual 10-year club dinner, which is attended by all new and existing members, the inductees are presented with a Rolex watch with the company logo.
ROK Financial encourages camaraderie with social outings, like an annual company picnic in which team members can bring their families. There are also office social events surrounding holidays throughout the year, such as St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo.
The team also volunteers together for charitable causes. On a recent Saturday morning, a group volunteered in partnership with the Lighthouse Mission, a mobile food pantry. “Community members showed up to get their groceries, and we set up a buffet-style display and provided them with free hot meals,” Manning says. The company also donates 50 meals to Feeding America for every small business loan transaction. In June, ROK Financial passed the 1 million meal milestone.
Besides the supportive, friendly environment, employees spoke positively of their earnings. As one put it, “I am compensated very well for the work I do.”
According to Manning, “We take a lot of pride when our industry peers tell us they hear we are very employee-friendly here with our commissions and earning packages. We want to put our employees in a position where they can earn well. It is important to us that they live fulfilled lives, and making sure they have the means to do that is a big focus of ours.”
He adds, “We believe that if employees see paths to success it’s one of the things that will make them happy to come to work every day, and they will bring more positivity and energy.”
