Applications for Cohort 9 have closed! Stay tuned to meet our newest cohort in may.
PRESS RELEASE
Entrepreneur Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up, was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. James, a recognized leader in the small business community, joins the NSBA Leadership Council along with other small business advocates from across the country to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.
“Small business is the backbone of Hawaii’s economy and much of the U.S. economy so it’s important to be involved and active when it comes to laws and regulation,” said James. “Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will let us take our collective small business message to the people that need to hear it most: Congress.”
Prior to co-founding Mana Up with Brittany Heyd, James worked with Hawaii start-up accelerators Blue Startups and University of Hawaii’s XLR8UH, bringing them her Silicon Valley startup experience. James founded her first company, Nirvino – #1 ranked wine app, an Apple Platform Top 100 App, & Top Ten Lifestyles App -- in 2007. She continues to actively promote entrepreneurship in Hawaii as president of Hawaii Venture Capital Association.
James joined the NSBA Leadership Council to tackle the many critical issues facing small business, including tax reform, regulatory restraint, health care costs and how the Affordable Care Act will impact small business. The NSBA Leadership Council is focused on providing valuable networking between small-business advocates from across the country while ensuring small business a seat at the table as Congress and regulators take up key small-business proposals.
“I am proud to have Meli James as part of our Leadership Council,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “She came to us highly recommended, and I look forward to our coordinated efforts for years to come.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pineapple Tweed PR & Marketing, Piia Aarma, 808.221.2102 or piia@pineappletweed.com