Harvey Nelson, CEO of Main Street Gourmet, is Inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Akron Law and UA College of Business Administration are hosting Harvey Nelson, CEO and co-founder of Main Street Gourmet as the inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence. During his residency at UA, Nelson will be speaking at classes and meeting with students, as well as working with the School of Law Small Entrepreneur and Economic Development (SEED) Clinic and some of their clients.

 “Harvey, in meeting with some of the SEED Clinic’s clients, has offered great insight and guidance to them. Further, his interaction with our students has been extremely valuable,” says Director of the SEED Clinic, Gary Spring.

Nelson, along with UA graduate Steve Marks, founded Main Street Gourmet in 1987 and has grown it into a nationally recognized company. From his accomplishments with Main Street Gourmet, Nelson has received an onset of awards and achievements which include the Entrepreneurial Achievement, Sales & Marketing Executives International (2004), Entrepreneur of the Year, Greater Akron Chamber, Outstanding Alumni Entrepreneur, The University of Akron, Richard Shatten Civic Distinction Award, Crain’s Leading EDGE Awards and Innovative Bakery of the Year, Baking Management Magazine. Nelson received his B.A. from The University of Akron in mathematics and started working as a business analyst and programmer for B.F. Goodrich and as a Group Home Worker for Hogares, Inc. in Albuquerque, N.M.

Nelson and Main Street Gourmet are involved in many community activities such as Muffins for Mammograms which Harvey co-founded to raise funds for free mammograms and to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. He also has been committed to the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank as President from 1998-2000, Board of Trustees from 1994-2000, Foundation Board Secretary 2001-2009 and is currently the Foundation Board Chairman. Nelson has been a volunteer teacher with Junior Achievement since 1993 and on The University of Akron Polymer Advancement Council since 2002. Nelson also lectures and speaks to numerous community and business organizations. He also has a self-published and self-awarded prize-winning (2003 Blueberry Award) Author, Riding On A Dragon in 2003.