NSBA seeks nominees for biz award

WASHINGTON (April 7, 2014) — The National Small Business Association (NSBA) is seeking applications for the Lewis A. Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, which recognizes small-business owners who go above and beyond in advocating for the small-business community.

The NSBA, which describes itself as a non-partisan organization advocating on behalf of America's entrepreneurs, said the qualifications and criteria include:

• A demonstrated commitment to small-business advocacy above and beyond policies that specifically impact their own business or industry;
• A proven history of volunteer efforts to advance and improve the overall small-business community;
• Success in advocating for pro-small business policies; and
• Success and growth as a small-business owner.

Four finalists and the overall winner will be honored at the NSBA's Washington Presentation on June 23 in Washington. Nominations are due April 25.

Self nominations are encouraged. The nomination packet can be found at the NSBA's website.

Past winners include:

2013 — Raymond Arth, president of Phoenix Products Inc. in Avon Lake, Ohio, a 37-year strong faucet manufacturer and supplier specializing in recreational vehicles and manufactured housing.

2011 — Grafton H. “Cap” Willey, IV, managing director at CBIZ Tofias in Providence, R.I., a full service accounting, auditing, tax and consulting firm with over 40 years of experience.

2010 — Michael Mitternight, president and owner of Factory Service Agency Inc., a commercial air conditioning service and construction company in New Orleans.

2009 — Thomas C. Pitrone, CFP and head of The Integrity Group in Willoughby, Ohio, a 25-year firm that provides financial services and advice to other small businesses.

2008 — Joseph Melookaran, CPA, founder of JMA Chartered in Overland Park, Kan., a professional services firm specializing in public assurance, IT, network design and security.

2007 — Scott Hauge, president of Cal Insurance & Associates and executive director of Small Business California, a grassroots organization with significant influence in California;

2006 — Robert Schmidt, founder of Cleveland Medical Devices Inc. and Orbital Research Inc., an active voice in state and national politics on taxation and commercialization; and

2005 — Valerie W. Perlowitz, founder and CEO of Reliable Integration Services Inc., a leader in technology issues serving on President George W. Bush's IT Advisory Council.

Founded in 1937, the NSBA has 65,000 members representing every state and every industry in the U.S. Lewis Shattuck was a pioneering small-business advocate and long-time president of the Smaller Business Association of New England, the NSBA said.