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Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Citizen of the Year Mike Joslin surely earned his peanut buster parfait on the way home from the award presentation at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.

In a new venue at New Leaf Event Center, the Feb. 26 dinner attracted a record 140 people who gathered to celebrate Conneaut’s best-of-the-best. Tim Kraus described them in his invocation as “people who dream dreams,” and Joslin called them “wonderful people doing amazing things to make the community better.”
Five of them were singled out Tuesday night with annual Chamber awards, starting with Professional Achievement winner Taylor Cleveland who was introduced by 2018 Citizen of the Year Kori Campbell.
 Though recognized for career achievements as an Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office detective, a member of the Ashtabula County Drug Task Force who works with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cleveland District, and as Ashtabula County Prosecutor’s 2018 Community Service Award winner, Cleveland said that at the end of the day, a job is “just a job,” and in eight years, one month, and two days, his will come to an end.
“It’s a benefit that I interact with people professionally and champion for the community, and have the opportunity to meet the most dedicated, motivated people in Ashtabula County to make the community a better place,” he said.
But all roads lead home. He thanked Sparky’s Place owners Shane and Heather Gelfer for hiring his daughter “so she can pay her car insurance,” and reminisced about fishing under the Creek Road bridge, Boy Scouting at Camp Peet, and playing soccer with CLYO.
“I got married at St. Mary, where my parents were married, and I thank Ron Wahonick who gave me a detention for fighting in the school parking lot and then allowed me to marry his daughter. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to receive an award from people I love and respect. Conneaut is my favorite place in the world,” he said.
The Chamber’s 2017 President’s Award winner Gabe Cellini introduced the 2018 Leadership Award winners Shane and Heather Gelfer, who decided to open a restaurant after visiting Conneaut and asking, “Where can you get a good burger?” They credited Mark and Karen Wheeler with helping them find a building and navigate the local business community.
“We thought we could get it up and running ourselves but we found we needed 42 co-workers to make our dream come true,” they said.
Joining the Chamber 18 months before opening Sparky’s Place in 2017 to understand how business is done in Conneaut, they shared the key to their success: “It’s important to be new, innovative and different, a new version of yourself, rather than a different version of the businesses around.”
Shane said they could not have dreamed in a million years that they would be standing at a Chamber dinner receiving an award, and Heather said they have many more ideas to be new, fresh and exciting.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Shane said.
President’s Award winner Bill Holden was described as a person with a vision when he decided to buy a local winery and bed-and-breakfast from long-time owners Fred and Joanne Bucci which he opened last May.
“I grew up in Pierpont and then I left, but I found neither fame nor fortune, so I came back to Ashtabula County after 35 years. And when I asked Arnie Esterer – the ‘godfather of wine’ – what’s the secret to a small fortune, he said, ‘Invest a larger one,’” Holden said.
Because his is one of two wineries in eastern Ashtabula County – “a bit of an outpost,” he said – the Holdens began offering live music Friday and Saturday nights, which has pumped about $15,000 into the local economy via paid musicians both local and a few from Nashville. The winery has partnered with painting and educational projects with Conneaut Public Library, the Conneaut Arts Center, Covered Bridge Gardeners.
Holden at the dinner also unveiled Buccia’s new vinifera wine, North Coast Cellars.
“We had a great first season. The wine business is a lot of work and a lot of fun. The welcome and reception in Conneaut has been amazing. Thank you for your patronage and support. It wouldn’t have been possible without it,” he said.
Nick Iarocci, the Chamber’s 2011 Citizen of the Year, introduced his best friend Joslin as Citizen of the Year by reading his nomination letter but could not pass up an opportunity to note that the large Joslin family had taken up some seven tables.
After speaking of Joslin’s community achievements – SPARC complex, Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation, the Conneaut Foundation, and local business owner -- Iarocci said that of all the blessings God has bestowed on Joslin, his proudest accomplishment is his family.
Taking the podium to a standing ovation, Joslin joked that perhaps his large family was one reason he was chosen Citizen of the Year, since it guaranteed the purchase of many dinner tickets.
Joslin made a point of introducing his mother, Leah, who was attending her first Chamber dinner, and who waved from her chair. Joslin paused to control his emotions when he explained that his dad, Gary, had died in November.
“I’m certain that he, Linda, and my father-in-law are beaming with pride tonight,” he said.
After joking about how such an award could go to his head, adding that he deserved a peanut buster parfait on the way home, he turned serious and said it was “not humanly possible” to convey in words the appreciation of receiving the Citizen of the Year Award.
“I feel so much joy to be chosen,” he said.
He said that his greatest life lesson has come from tragedy. The death from cancer of his wife, Linda, showed him that life has nothing to do with money and everything to do with time.
“It changed me in a good way. It refined my efforts to give more of my most valued asset – time. I wish I could do more. There is never enough time or money,” he said. “Never enough.”
Joslin said that turning 60 in October also jolted him into realizing that he has perhaps seen and done it all – and can’t remember half of it.
“I am lucky. I work with my spouse and sons daily. I see my family regularly. So many people don’t have that opportunity,” he said.
Joslin closed with words of affection for the town in which he was born and raised and which he said he cannot leave.
“Conneaut is on the brink of greatness. We are making great strides, with the city, Port Authority and Conneaut Foundation, all forward-thinking and progressive. They have the interest of the citizens at heart. We have a lot to accomplish with limited resources, but we are working on projects with the best interests of the community as a whole. The work ethic will prevail. I’m glad I stayed here and can’t wait to see what the future holds. Thank you for taking the time to create a wonderful memory for the rest of my life,” he said.
Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce President Kathy Zappitello returned from an out-of-town meeting just in time to offer closing remarks.
“Family. Pride. Growth. Vision. These are the words we’ve heard this great evening, and Conneaut is going to be even greater as we move forward. It’s an exciting time to be a citizen here,” she said.
Earlier in the evening, the “Above and Beyond Award” was presented to Chamber Past President Jeff Raisian for chairing the inaugural Perch & Pilsner Festival last September.
The green Perch & Pilsner mascot – a costumed Conneaut Area City Schools Superintendent Lori Riley – has been named “Jeff” in Raisian’s honor.
“I wanted to give the city a signature event, something to be proud of, and when I heard people at Perch & Pilsner say they saw people they hadn’t seen in years, that it was like a reunion, I knew we had succeeded. See you in September,” Raisian said.
Chamber dinner attendees also heard Ashtabula County Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Stephanie Siegel talk about the importance of marketing. Ashtabula County welcomed 4,000,000 visitors last year, and a special pilot project to specifically market Conneaut is in the works for 2019.
“I’m one of your biggest cheerleaders. You people in this room make a difference. Give yourselves a round of applause,” she said.
Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Wendy DuBey said that the annual dinner is her favorite event of the year, and that 2019 was no exception.
“It was beautiful,” she said. “It’s a grand venue with good sound and the food was great. The evening highlights all that’s good about Conneaut.”