Prime Janitorial president gets top SBA honor
The U.S. Small Business Administration has selected Fernando Rodríguez, president of Prime Janitorial Corporation, as Puerto Rico’s “Small Business Person of the Year,” the agency’s local officials confirmed Monday.
Is the second recognition Rodríguez has received from the SBA in the last decade. He the Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands District’s “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2005, at the age of 24, SBA District Director Yvette T. Collazo said.
“At the time, his company generated approximately $2 million. Today, he employs over 500 people and generates more than $6 million in sales. Fernando represents what small business entrepreneurship is all about — dedication and perseverance,” she said.
Winners from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the USVI will be formally recognized in Washington, D.C. on May 1-2, SBA Chief Maria Contreras-Sweet said. They will be awarded their individual awards along with recognition of the runners-up and the naming of the 2016 National Small Business Person of the Year.
“It is my distinct pleasure and honor to announce the 54 winners from across the U.S. and her territories,” Contreras-Sweet said. “These small business owners represent the best of the best and showcase daily their entrepreneurial spirit and what it takes to be successful in today’s evolving and competitive business environment.”
Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. National Small Business Week is set as the first week in May, and this year the dates are May 1-7 with national events planned in Washington, D.C., New York City, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix and San Jose and Oakland, California.
