Jennifer Draffkorn has been focused on purchase order financing for the bulk of her commercial finance career, and it continues to interest and challenge her. Although purchase order financing is not meant to be a long-term financing solution, many of Draffkorn’s client relationships have longevity beyond the lifespan of a single deal. For example, in 2022, she played a critical role in structuring and closing a $12 million purchase order finance facility for an apparel client that she worked with years earlier, with the deal earning a spot in ABF Journal’s 2022 Deals of the Year list.

Draffkorn is a senior vice president and portfolio manager at Rosenthal & Rosenthal, where she has worked since 2016 after decades with Transcap Trade Finance and Wells Fargo’s Capital Finance division. Prior to entering the commercial finance space, she spent several years working for a wholesale apparel import, design and distribution company, gaining expertise in international trade and logistics.

This experience gives her a unique perspective when working with clients in the import and distribution channels, as she knows what it takes to stay current on importing logistics, customs regulations and international trade news. Having the expertise to assist clients with these issues can be the difference between successfully navigating and completing an import transaction and having it fall apart due to circumstances outside of the financing piece of the transaction.

Thanks to her consultative approach, Draffkorn excels at building relationships with clients that aren’t just deal-driven, but are also focused on helping clients succeed in their businesses and industries. She truly enjoys getting to know her clients, understanding what they need and taking the time to identify the solutions that will have maximum impact.