John Mikelson, President of Midwest Military Outreach, Columbus Junction, IA has been selected as Iowa Small Business Administration - Veterans Small Business Champion of the Year.

Mikelson has a long and distinguished career in helping veterans get on a career track. After retiring from the United States Army in 2004, he worked as the Coordinator for the
University of Iowa’s Veterans Center from 2006 to 2013 where he served as an adviser and oversaw support services for military and veteran students.

After retiring from the Veterans Center in 2013, Mikelson started Midwest Military Outreach. This non-profit organization was created to provide current members of the military, veterans, and their family members with information and referral services, including for those in the military community interested in entrepreneurship. Mikelson has helped numerous veterans over the years get the information and referrals they need to successfully start and grow their own small businesses.

Mikelson believes strongly that small businesses and entrepreneurs are what make America successful and those transitioning from the military into entrepreneurship are an important part of that success.

In addition to his efforts to assist veterans and members of the military community through Midwest Military Outreach, Mikelson actively volunteers with numerous veteran’s organizations throughout Iowa, including the Iowa Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). ESGRserves both employers (including small businesses) and reserve component service members in understanding the employment rights of service members and the responsibilities of the businesses
that employ them.

Mikelson is currently the Area 6 Co-Chair for the Iowa Committee of ESGR, which serves Linn, Johnson, Washington, Benton, Tama, Iowa, and Poweshiek counties. He is also a Veterans Ambassador for the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Foundation.