Every day, EGF Assistant Vice President Yahaira Núñez works closely with EGF’s bank and community partners to ensure that business owners receive the funding and resources they need to grow. As a member of EGF’s Business Advisory Services team, Yahaira also works one-on-one with clients to support them through the application and funding process. Learn more about Yahaira and why she loves working with small businesses.
1. What is your role at EGF?
My primary responsibility at EGF is business development. In this capacity, I work with bankers and our community partners and share with them the portfolio of programs and services that we have available. My goal is to build partnerships with banks and other lenders and promote client referrals between EGF and our partners. EGF offers bankers the opportunity to provide alternative solutions to their clients that are unable to meet the bank’s requirements. It’s a win, win all around.
I also work one-on-one with clients both pre-and post-loan to help them submit a completed application, schedule and execute the closing meeting, and/or connect them with capacity building services such as our Consulting Corps or webinars.
Lastly, I provide support to the team on tasks that are critical towards implementing special initiatives and projects.
2. What is your favorite part about working at EGF?
EGF is a truly unique organization that couples access to financing with capacity building. Our programs and services are innovative and forward thinking. I appreciate being a member of a team that’s mindful of the challenges that small business owners face and works to develop thoughtful responses to those challenges. My colleagues are all amazing and talented and it’s a pleasure to work alongside them to help advance the EGF mission.
3. What is your favorite thing about working with small businesses?
Small businesses are truly the life blood of the economy. It’s really empowering to see the positive economic impact that small businesses have in their communities. Growing up, my father owned a small business at the time his impact on the community didn’t register to me. But now I see that he had more than just a store – he provided local residents with essential goods and jobs that allowed them to earn wages that were then spent at other local businesses. Through small businesses like my fathers, entrepreneurs help strengthen and uplift communities. It’s incredibly fulfilling to play a part in helping these businesses prosper and grow.
4. What is something unique about you?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn and growing up my family never had a car. I only recently (two years ago) received my license and still have never driven outside of my neighborhood. #publictransportationqueen
Also, many people are surprised when they find out that I do not like chocolate nor do I drink coffee.
