Yeraldin Yordi holds the position of Senior Project Specialist at BCL of Texas, where she has dedicated nearly seven years of service, initially joining to support the THRIVE program aimed at assisting small businesses in Austin during the COVID-19 crisis. Prior to her role at BCL, Yordi ran her own event planning business, giving her a unique understanding of her clients’ experiences, particularly amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic.

With the recent launch of THRIVE 2.0, where her responsibilities include managing the application process, grants, and selecting grantees beyond the Austin area, she has been able to significantly increase the program’s reach from 225 to 334 businesses.

Yordi finds fulfillment in the flexibility and support provided by BCL’s leadership, as well as the opportunity to utilize her event planning skills in organizing the organization’s events. Coming from a non-profit management background, Yordi was drawn to BCL’s mission and unique role as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), allowing her to serve and assist businesses firsthand.

Her bilingual ability in English and Spanish, combined with her immigrant experience (immigrating from Venezuela while in high school), enriches her work with empathy and passion. One of her proudest professional achievements is supporting small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the pandemic, ensuring they received assistance and stayed afloat. “I am so proud of our teamwork walking hand-in-hand with small business owners that needed help, even with something as small as filling out applications,” shared Yordi. “Those businesses came out the other side and stayed afloat. Our clients are always so thankful for how BCL serves as a resource and how they are able to talk to a live person who actually cares.”