Matthew Pavelek
Pay-It-Forward Awardee

Matthew Pavelek co-founded the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) in 2017, a national nonprofit dedicated to connecting veteran-owned businesses with corporate partners and advancing supplier diversity that includes veterans. Under Pavelek’s leadership, NaVOBA has helped shift the landscape from one of limited access to one of opportunity—supporting business growth, job creation, and long-term economic stability for veterans while helping reshape how institutions engage with and invest in veteran-owned businesses.
Lexington, Kentucky
June 30, 2026
Pay-It-Forward
Award
Awarded to:
National Veteran Owned Business Association
Individual award recipients are not eligible for a grant, but can “pay it forward” by recommending a values-aligned organization to receive a grant. When an individual receives a “Pay It Forward” award, they are invited to recommend a grant to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in their community that is aligned with the values of the project. “Pay It Forward” recipients are typically awarded to one or several individuals for personal acts of courage




