BCL Homeownership Staff

About Us

Central Texas Homeownership Team

Rosa Rios Valdez, Executive Director

Ms. Rios Valdez received a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) by the National Development Council of New York. Rosa has 28 years experience in business and community development and lending. Rosa maintains a network of local, regional, statewide and national lenders. Rosa worked for the Texas Governor’s Office of Economic Development as manager of business finance which focused on businesses and manufacturing expansions throughout Texas. She worked regionally in central and southeast Texas as the Director of Economic Development for the Lower Colorado River Authority. Rosa served as President of the National Association of Economic Developers (NREDA), and Treasurer for the National Rural Alliance. She served 10 years as board chair for the Travis County Housing Authority. She currently serves on the NeighborWorks America Community and Economic Development Committee and the board of director for NeighborWorks Capital. Rosa teaches business development, corporate financial management and economic development at NeighborWorks America Training Institutes. She has served as Executive Director for BCL of Texas since 1997, growing the company’s net worth 15 fold from $600,000 to over $9,200,000. Rosa manages a statewide $25,000,000 commercial real estate loan portfolio and is Asset Manager for a $2.5 million real estate portfolio.

Raquel Valdez, Director of Corporate Strategies

Ms. Valdez is a graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Business Administration, concentration in marketing and management. Prior to working for BCL of Texas Ms. Valdez was a product coordinator and marketing assistant for salon franchise and a marketing intern with the Make a Wish Foundation. She has over five years experience in working with non profit organizations, economic development, homeownership promotion/preservation and marketing strategies. Ms. Valdez currently leads BCL’s community development line of business, which consists of business counseling in Central Texas, homeownership promotion and preservation throughout the State of Texas and entrepreneurship education and business lending collaborations with non profits in the Middle Rio Grande region. Raquel also acts as a loan officer for BCL’s SBA 504, mirco, and in-house loan programs. Ms. Valdez is certified through NeighborWorks America in Financial Fitness, Success Measures, Basic and Advanced Foreclosure Counseling, Post Purchase Education and will be obtaining her certification in Homebuyer Education Train the Trainer so that she will be able to teach classes as needed. Ms. Valdez has completed the RKG Center, Strategic Management Program for Nonprofit Leaders, and recently completed the Power Pipeline program through the Foundation for Women’s Resources.

Alesha Larkins , Executive Assistant

Ms. Larkins graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Biology. She provide direct program support by coordinating all Homebuyer Education classes in Central Texas. She also assists in all homeownership program marketing and outreach.

Austin Team