SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - Friends of Puerto Rico and the Metro Women's Business Center are pleased to announce that Aledawi Figueroa Martínez, from Smile Again Learning Center, based in Isabela, has been recognized as the 2023 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Award for Puerto Rico by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands District Office.
Aledawi received the distinction on Wednesday, May 3rd, during the Small Business Week Award Ceremony 2023, as part of the National Small Business Week.
"For the U.S. Small Business Administration, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship is an essential component for sustaining a vibrant society and serves to enhance the quality of life for all residents," said Josué Rivera, SBA Puerto Rico, and USVI District Director.
Aledawi, also known as "Widy," is a social entrepreneur, mentor, wife, and mother of two. She began her initiative while studying for her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration Sciences and Human Resources at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus.
She has over 15 years of experience helping children, youth, adults, companies, and agencies achieve their goals and objectives. Smile Again offers translation and transcription services, conversational English and Spanish courses, computers, teamwork workshops, etc. It has maintained an annual growth rate of 30% in recent years.
Widy was selected Entrepreneur Woman of the Year 2018 by the Puerto Rico MBDA Business Center (Agency for the Development of Minority Businesses of the Department of Commerce of the United States) for her achievements and execution. Jenniffer González, Resident Commissioner, also presented her with a special Certificate of Recognition as Business Woman 2018 from the United States Congress.
"The best award you can give the world is to be yourself and to fulfill the purpose for which you were created," says Widy, "That's where true happiness hides."
Smile Again has expanded its operations due to the pandemic, offering educational services of virtual tutorials, courses, and reviews to students inside and outside of Puerto Rico. Annually, it impacts hundreds of participants from various regions of Conexión Laboral with workshops on Financial Education, Technology, and English. In addition, it professionally develops employees of international companies such as Johnson and Johnson and Bacardi with English courses tailored to their industry. Smile Again is a federal and state contractor for agencies such as FEMA, EPA, CST, Department of Housing, providing them with document transcription and translation services. In its 17 years, thousands of clients have achieved their educational and professional goals thanks to its services.
"We extend our congratulations to an exemplary businesswoman who is creating jobs and opportunities for economic development in Puerto Rico," said Angelique Sina, President of Friends of Puerto Rico.
To learn about the services offered at Friends of Puerto Rico and Metro Women's Business Center, contact us at: puertoricowomen.org
