Welcome to Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, small business loan products for the Lehigh Valley!
Our Team
Meet the Team
Christopher Hudock
Associate Executive Director of Business Development
Christopher Hudock is the Associate Executive Director, Business Development, for Rising Tide Community Loan Fund providing leadership and direction as well as technical assistance to potential and current borrowers. With more than 32 years of lending experience, 15 of which have been at the Rising Tide, Chris is skilled in business plan development, financial analysis, loan packaging, organizational budgeting, policy development, and employee supervision.
Prior to joining Rising Tide, Chris was a Financial Specialist for Wachovia Bank, a Loan Officer for Waypoint Bank, and the Lending Manager for People First Federal Credit Union. He holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science with an Accounting concentration from Northampton Community College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA.
Yajahira Rodriguez
Associate Lender
Yajahira Rodriguez is a Lender for Rising Tide Community Loan Fund and is responsible for underwriting, structuring and closing of commercial loans, as well as maintaining and servicing a commercial loan portfolio. She has more than 12 years of community development experience, with 5 of those years developing new businesses.
Yajahira, who is fluent in Spanish, works directly with business owners to address their needs.Prior to joining Rising Tide, Yajahira worked for Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) for over seven years, the past two years as their Information and Referral Advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Kean University in Union, NJ.
Stephen Planisky
Business Advisor
Stephen Planisky has joined Rising Tide as a Business Advisor. Steve brings years of underwriting and lending experience to Rising Tide, which he will use to aide business participants.Although Rising Tide is his first nonprofit opportunity, Steve has extensive experience working with local businesses in the private sector. His background includes working with local merchants and retailers to help increase revenue by providing their customers with financing options for purchases.
Before joining Rising Tide, Steve worked as a Loan Consultant and then Branch Manager for Lendmark Financial Services, and as Internal Auditor for Berkshire Hathaway GUARDInsurance. Steve counsels business owners: "Be passionate about what you want to do, but also have a plan. It is important to have a solid plan to guide you along the way to reach your goals as a business."Steve holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Lynn Schoof
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Lynn Schoof serves as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, bringing nearly eight years of experience in nonprofit marketing and communication. Passionate about supporting all small businesses, Lynn is dedicated to assisting them in enhancing their marketing strategies to thrive within the community.
Prior to her role at Rising Tide, Lynn spent three years as a journalist before transitioning to the nonprofit sector in 2016. During her tenures at Third Street Alliance in Easton and Via of the Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, she honed her skills in marketing and gained insights into community engagement strategies and trends. Lynn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Print Journalism and Economics from Penn State University.