Established in 1976, the Akron Roundtable is a community forum that inspires and promotes dialog by presenting speakers who inform and educate listeners on diverse topics of importance to the region, the nation and the world. To date, more than 400 major corporate executives, writers, government officials, artists and civic leaders from around the country have shared their ideas with the region.

Each Akron Roundtable event will be recorded by media studies students working for the Z-TV television station, with guidance from PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream producers, offering a valuable, hands-on learning experience for the students. 

All AKRON ROUNDTABLE episodes are available to stream on-demand at PBSWesternReserve.org or the PBS App following their broadcast premiere.

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6 PM

Do You Know the Muffin Men? The Story Behind Main Street Gourmet

Steve Marks & Harvey Nelson, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs , Main Street Gourmet

Steven L. Marks is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and civic leader whose career spans over four decades of transformative business leadership and community impact. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Main Street Gourmet from 1987 to 2019, Marks helped grow the company into a nationally recognized bakery manufacturer, earning accolades such as “Innovative Bakery of the Year” and inclusion in Inc. Magazine’s list of America’s fastest-growing companies. His business acumen is further reflected in his extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, private equity partnerships, and board service across diverse industries including food manufacturing, educational software, and specialty consumer goods.

Harvey Nelson is the Co-Founder and former Co-CEO of Main Street Gourmet, a company he co-founded and helped build and lead from 1987 through 2022. Over the course of 35 years, Harvey, his partner Steve Marks, and a great team, grew Main Street Gourmet into a nationally recognized business, known for innovation, quality, and community impact.