With a passion for assisting small businesses succeed, Michael Mitilier got an idea after working for the Nonprofit Association to start an organization that would foster their growth and success.  He put this idea into action and started the Small Business Association of the Midlands, which has a goal of assisting micro and small businesses develop, grow and operate more efficiently.  The vision of the organization is to become the premier provider of education, coaching and networking for micro and small businesses.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Publishing the book The Rule of Thumb A Guide to small business Basics

Tell us a little about your family. – I am the oldest of six kids and born and raised in Omaha.  Can you tell I come from an Italian/Irish Catholic family?

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Having lymphoma and beating it; nothing like a good scare to put life into perspective.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spend time with close family and friends, especially if includes being outside.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – Well that most of my family has migrated to Arizona, but I like Omaha so much I put up with the winters (ok, so I visit family then).

What are you the most proud of? – Getting a great group of extremely talented people to be board members of Small Business Associations of the Midlands

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Be persistent and consistent.

What is the one goal you would most like to accomplish? – My biggest goal is to make sure that the Small Business Association of the Midlands is a regional organization.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? – Flying so that I could save gas, time and money.

What are your plans for retirement? – Retirement?  What is that?

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – I would like to use my speaking/presentation skills much more.

Which talent would you most like to have? – I would love to be able to sing (and not just in the shower).

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – Good to Great

What is your favorite movie? – I’ll take a comedy or action movie any day.

What is your favorite TV show? – I’m a news/ educational junkie.

What is your favorite local restaurant? – Every restaurant that is an SBAM member.  That’s the only way to answer this question.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Any great civic leader would work, like Gandhi, Martin Luther King or Jesus.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – They can email me or visit the website www.sbamidlands.org  or michael@sbamidlands.org.