Ask most entrepreneurs why they start and grow businesses, and they’ll likely tell you that “awards/recognition” is pretty far down the list. But sometimes, it’s nice to be honored for what you do, and for almost 30 years, Ernst & Young has done just that with their annual Entrepreneur of the Year award celebration. I have been honored to win the Entrepreneur of the Year award in the past, and on today’s show, we talk with two of the winners of the 2013 E & Y Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia region. We talk with Eric Sauereisen, CEO of Sauereisen Inc., the winner in the “Family Business” category, as well as Karin Mayr of Sabika, the winner in the “Retail and Consumer Products” category.

As many listeners know, Ron Morris was a good friend of Raja’s, and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the recent history of this region. And as any good entrepreneur knows, the first step in the success of any entrepreneurial endeavor is simply an idea. And the beautiful part of entrepreneurship is that the next great entrepreneurial smash hit idea can come from anyone at any time. What makes the entrepreneurial journey truly rewarding is the partnering of that idea with the right mind to drive it there, and the change that can result.

In the spirit of Ron, today’s show features two guests, each of whom, one day, had an idea, in hopes of affecting change in two decidedly NON-entrepreneurial arenas. One young man, 15-year old Shane Jones, is an aspiring young entrepreneur who wanted to put his passion for baking to use in order to shake up an industry that can adhere to the status quo. And Brian Wolovich is a sixth-grade teacher from a town that has been ravaged in recent years, both physically and economically, by the effects of flooding. His modest goal: to build a library, not only to house books and media in order to educate the region, but to provide for a region in need of a simple place to come together, in order to share ideas to help that region grow and prosper.

We examine what it means to run a social enterprise, as we talk with former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker Eric Ravotti about his latest venture, Generoasta, and what he’s doing to not only diversify his remarkable coffee house from the competition, but also to give back to the community in the process. Plus, we see what’s cooking with Mark Uchida, owner of A Remarkable Kitchen Store, as he talks about how his kitchen and bath design store came to be, and how he maximizes the integration with customer feedback when it comes time to develop new aspects of his business.

Raja talks about competitive value and sustainability in a business, as well as discusses the five steps of early-stage business success with Alex Thomson, an attorney with the firm of Houston Harbaugh. Plus, Joe Smith of Dollar Bank joins us to discuss the inspirational story behind the resurgence of the historic lions that adorn the entrance of the bank’s Fourth Avenue location in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Raja talks with Harish Saluja, an Indian filmmaker now living in Pittsburgh, about his role as Founder and Executive Director of the Silk Screen Asian Arts and Cultural Organization, and the importance of the arts when it comes to bridging the gap between international cultures. Plus, Bill Generett, the President of Urban Innovation 21, a Pittsburgh-based business support organization that harnesses the collective power of innovation among entrepreneurs to create a driving force geared to move the region’s economy forward.