Small Business Advocate of the Year Announced

June 4, 2008

NSBA named Joseph Melookaran of Overland Park, Kansas, as the 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Melookaran and four finalists were honored during the Annual Small-Business Advocate of the Year Award Luncheon, held in conjunction with the NSBA Washington Presentation, in Washington, D.C. June 3.

In his remarks accepting the award, Melookaran stated, “I have structured my business in such a way that I can spend at least 30 percent of my time giving back to help other businesses and advocate for small-business friendly policies. I am living the American dream and strive to enable others to find their path to it—for me, there is nothing more gratifying.”

Melookaran has an impressive record of volunteerism, and was named the SBA 2006 Minority Small Business Champion of the Year. He established JMA chartered, a thriving accounting and management consulting business that has seen revenues triple in just four years. Melookaran has worked with a local business incubator helping start-up businesses and has held leadership positions in numerous local, regional, state and national associations. He also served as lead author of a report on entrepreneurship to President George W. Bush entitled, Enhancing Economic Opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2007.

"As the nation deals with economic uncertainty and the upcoming 2008 elections, the role of the small-business advocate is more crucial than ever,” stated NSBA President Todd McCracken. “I am proud to recognize this outstanding group of small-business leaders and stand beside them as we all push for policies that recognize the importance of the small-business community.”

In addition to highlighting outstanding achievements from the best in the small-business community, the award holds special significance this year. For the first time in 2008, it was made in honor of the late Lewis Shattuck, the pioneering small-business advocate and long-time president of the Smaller Business Association of New England. The award luncheon honoring the 2008 finalists and winner was sponsored by CareerBuilder.com.