Lakewood Chamber Of Commerce Names Business Person Of 2019

LAKEWOOD, OH -- The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its 2019 awards, including business person of the year and small business of the year. All honorees will be celebrated at the annual Awards Luncheon on June 21 at Vosh.

Peter Nelson, vice president of retail banking at Dollar Bank, was named business person of the year. He has been in the banking industry for 35 years, starting his career as a part-time teller at Dollar Bank and scaling the ladder.

Nelson oversees 10 offices and 60 employees. He is responsible for instilling "relationship-building" standards at each of the branches he oversees.

Nelson is also a lifelong Lakewood resident and the youngest of nine children who graduated from Lakewood High. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1984 to 1992 and earned a BA in economics from Cleveland State University in 1991.

Nelson joined the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce in 1993. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2014 and served two consecutive terms, working with the finance committee and as co-chair of the Taste of Lakewood.

Small Business of the Year

Fear's Confections was named the 2019 Small Business of the Year by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. The chocolate store opened its Madison Avenue location in 2014, making the jump from the east side.

Run by Cassandra Fear, the store has become a notable regional delicacy for its delicious creations and its geek-themed desserts. Since moving to Lakewood, Fear's Confections has won several awards and landed on several lists, including being named Top Stores & Snacks location by the Food Network.