SOUTH EASTON, MA, May 12, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Robert A. Mellion, Esq. has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Robert A. Mellion, Esq., is the Executive Director and General Counsel at the Massachusetts Package Stores Association (MPSA). MPSA is the trade association representing off-premises retailers of beer, wine and spirits across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In serving as chief executive, general counsel and lead lobbyist, Robert Mellion supervises industry relations, federal and state government affairs, and he oversees legal matters before all applicable government agencies, the Courts of Massachusetts, and the Federal Courts. Robert is also the administrator of the Beverage Alcohol Training certification program that is provided to off-premises retailers of beverage alcohol in Massachusetts. He additionally serves on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council to the Alcohol Beverages Licensees (ABL), which is the national association representing independent retailers of alcohol beverages and tavern owners across the United States. In his service to the ABL, Mr. Mellion is vice chair of the Government Affairs Committee, and he serves on the Legal Affairs Committee that he helped establish in 2019. In addition, Robert is Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers Compensation Insurance Group, which is the largest private workers compensation insurance group in the country.
Robert Mellion's advocacy was instrumental in securing "Essential Services" designation throughout the Covid-19 pandemic for beverage alcohol retail across Massachusetts. He also assisted retailers in obtaining personal protection equipment, Phase 2 vaccination priority, and other resources that allowed for safe retail during very challenging times. As a strong advocate for balance and fair play within an industry that is facing tremendous disruption, Robert successfully led a campaign and legal challenge begun in 2019 that prevented a disruptive, confusing, and destabilizing ballot question from reaching voters that would have uprooted the Massachusetts regulatory system for alcohol beverages. Robert also prevented hundreds of bills from being enacted that threatened 19,000 jobs and an industry responsible for generating billions of dollars in annual revenues and $97 million in annual excise taxes to Massachusetts. He also draws positive attention to the alcohol beverages industry by hosting a weekly radio program, called the "Beer, Wine & Spirits Show."
Before joining the MPSA team, Robert Mellion was President and CEO, and General Counsel of the Bristol County Chamber of Commerce, which serves the economic interests of southeastern Massachusetts. As Chamber CEO, Robert was influentially involved with over $2 billion in economic development projects, which included redesigning the Fall River, Massachusetts waterfront, bringing commuter rail service from Boston to the South Coast region and elevating educational attainment for southeastern Massachusetts. He also hosted a regional radio show for ten years titled "Voice of Business" and served as chair of the Council of CEOs to the Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and was Director/Clerk to the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership that markets the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Robert additionally taught "World History" for six years as an adjunct professor at Bristol Community College.
Due to his considerable excellence, Mr. Mellion has been honored several times. In addition to receiving the Chamber Executive Award through the Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2013, he was honored regionally for his contributions to economic development in Massachusetts with the Chairman's Award through the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has also been awarded the Alumni Achievement Award through the University of Massachusetts School of Law in 2015. In 2018, Robert earned the In-House Leaders Award through Lawyers Weekly.
Robert holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Massachusetts School of Law, a master's degree in history from Providence College and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Though his career has been filled with many highlights, Mr. Mellion still looks fondly on his days as an elite athlete and coach. As a member of the Pre- Elite United States Rowing Team during the early 1990's he won over 52 gold medals. In 1995, he was recruited by the Israel Rowing Federation to help establish an Israel National Rowing Team. Then in 1996, Robert started a successful private high altitude training facility and health club business within the Jackson Hole, WY area. Teton Valley Fitness was featured on ESPN, the Gravity Games, X-Games and in many health and fitness publications. Robert states that his greatest accomplishment is his family which includes wife Michelle and their two daughters, Esther, and Hannah. Looking forward, Mr. Mellion intends to experience continued success in his career as a legal and government affairs advocate for those in need of an effective voice.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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