Remarkable woman, faculty receives award

Troy University Relations photo Juliana Bolivar wins the Wiregrass Region's 2024 Remarkable Woman of the Year award.

Troy University’s Director of the Small Business Development Center, Juliana Bolivar, has been awarded the Wiregrass Region’s 2024 Remarkable Woman of the Year award.

The award is granted through a contest sponsored by WDHN, a local television station in Dothan.

After finding out she had won this honor, Bolivar said she was genuinely shocked and held gratitude for whoever nominated her.

“I don’t know if it was one of my colleagues or one of our clients, but I'm very appreciative for whoever that person was,” Bolivar said. “Of course, there’s a personal satisfaction of knowing we’re doing things right.

“The effort, the work ethic, the Saturdays working in boot camp and working so many afterhours are worth it.”

The competition began in March for Women’s History Month. Bolivar will now compete for the national title, sponsored by Nexstar Media Group,which owns WDHN, of Woman of the Year.

Bolivar is originally from Pennsylvania but moved to Troy after the university recruited her. She has been director for three years and loves creating programs and services that tend to the needs of community members aspiring to grow their businesses.

Bolivar shared some of the most rewarding aspects regarding her position as Director of the Small Business Development Center.

“What I enjoy the most is the contact with people and learning what the community needs,” Bolivar said. “I get to learn how we can leverage opportunities from federal or state agencies, to create programs that help them improve so they can succeed in their business, grow their business and provide for their family.”

Bolivar said she loves the personal side of things and getting to know the community and its family businesses.   

“A business and family business ownership becomes very personal, so I get to know so many of those stories,” Bolivar said. “You get to know the family and understand what they need, and how to better support them through education and different programs to help them succeed.”

Although winning the award was rewarding, Bolivar said it was just as rewarding to receive support from her clients.

“It makes me happy, but beyond that, the moms and Wiregrass region clients I was approached by was really rewarding and worth so much more,” Bolivar said.

Though she was named Remarkable Woman of the Year, Bolivar said she still has many goals and aspirations.

“My goals are to leverage, create and continue creating programs that impact our region and how the university serves the community,” she said. “I want to grow the impact we have.  “There is potential for us to continue growing the economic impact of the university and the societal impact the university creates in our region. My goal is to be a part of that.”