Rivals….Reunited!

The 2011 Allegheny County Executive race was one of the most heated campaigns in the history of Western Pennsylvania politics (if not THE most heated).

Words were exchanged, often loudly, over dozens of debates.  Facts were quoted (and misquoted) throughout broadcast, print, and social media.

When the dust settled, and all was said and done, there had to be a winner, and one man became the new Allegheny County Executive.  The other man became the host of “Your American Story” Radio.

Here, they meet again!

Despite the vitriol that was exchanged during those turbulent months three years ago (and there was plenty), Rich Fitzgerald and Raja are actually pretty friendly nowadays. And while the ideas they presented during their campaign were somewhat different, they both had the same destination in mind: developing Allegheny County into a successful, viable place for citizens to thrive and for businesses to grow, in a sustainable way that will benefit the region for generations to follow.

And as two proud business owners, and family men, Rich and Raja are both following through with their mission, Rich from the County Executive chair, and Raja through not only the radio airwaves, but through his continued influence on countless boards and business development organizations.

In this episode, they sit down to discuss their mission live on the air, as Rich joins Raja to discuss the strides that have been made over the past three years to improve Allegheny County, and where Rich thinks we need to focus to help keep this development on the right path.

This is a groundbreaking discussion for Western Pennsylvania that will appeal to not only those who live in the region, but for anyone in the country who wants to hear thorough, well-reasoned analysis on how to grow and develop a successful region from the men who are making that happen.

(And if you tune in to the show hoping for the same fireworks you may have heard the last time they were on the same show together, you may be sorely disappointed. But you may want to stick around with us anyway….)

The Western Pennsylvania region, in addition to being known for its “Ed’s and Med’s”, has also been a bastion of entrepreneurial and economic development in recent years.  On this  edition of “Your American Story” Radio, Raja talks with a pair of local leaders who have their fingers on the pulse of what drives this development, and where this path will lead the region going forward.

-When it came time to pick a new Director of Duquesne University’s Entrepreneurial Studies Program in late 2012, the management of the Palumbo Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University knew they had some big shoes to fill.  For the previous eleven years, the program had been run by its founding director, a man with whom many “Your American Story” listeners are familiar, the late Ron Morris.  Ron’s energy and passion for developing the entrepreneurial spirit in his students was without equal, and under his leadership, the program produced hundreds of students who were ready-made to either start their own businesses, or to make significant contributions to the success of pre-existing smaller companies throughout the region.  Ron’s passing in June of 2012 had left a significant void on the Bluff, to be sure.

Enter Jack Mason.  For over 40 years, Jack had served as an executive and leader for many businesses in the energy and tech sectors, as well as an educator, having served on the faculty of the University of Colorado in Denver.  Since coming to Pittsburgh in January of 2013, Jack has made an immediate impact on the school, and the region.  He has reached out to hundreds of businesses throughout the area, to determine the areas of biggest need, in order for the region’s business profile to rise to the next level, attract new and existing companies in the region, and create thousands of knowledge-based jobs in the process, positions that may be partially filled with Duquesne University students.

Here, Jack talks with Raja about what he is doing to ensure that Duquesne University’s current crop of entrepreneurial students is making an impact in the region, and how the Entrepreneurial Studies Program is differentiating itself from other entrepreneurial education programs across the region, and the country.

-Of the many organizations in Western Pennsylvania dedicated to promoting the region as an legitimate economic player in the United States, if not the world, few, if any, have been as impactful as the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.  Bringing together the business community, the region’s political leadership, and the economic resources necessary to drive this region forward, the Allegheny Conference has raised the profile of Western Pennsylvania as an economic powerhouse on a global scale.  This was no more evident than in 2009, when, through the efforts of the Allegheny Conference and the region’s political leadership, Pittsburgh was the host city for the G-20 economic summit, and welcomed economic and political leaders from around the world to discuss the progress that has been made, and that which remains, in making the “global economy” a TRULY global effort.

Today, Raja welcomes Bill Flanagan, the Allegheny Conference’s Vice President of Corporate Relations, onto the show to discuss the work the Conference has done in promoting the cause of economic development in Western Pennsylvania, and what lies ahead for the region’s efforts.

On this episode, we welcome the man whom many consider to be the pioneer of electronic video gaming, as Raja goes one-on-one with Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, the first commercially successful video game company.  Upon its inception in 1972, Atari made its foray not only in the video game arcades that have since populated the American landscape for decades, but also into living rooms throughout America, via the home video game system, a platform that has since begat dozens of subsequent systems, including the ubiquitous XBox One and PlayStation 4 systems that are all the rage in 2014.  And five year’s after Atari’s launch, Nolan conceptualized that kids who play these games religiously need a safe, indoor, family-friendly atmosphere where they can play electronic video games as well as traditional carnival games, eat pizza and just have a good time in the process, so he started a SECOND iconic American brand,Chuck E. Cheese family restaurants, in 1977.

Nolan talks to Raja about his remarkable story, including the circumstances that led him to take over his family’s concrete business at just 15 years old.  Plus, Nolan gives his thoughts on how his signature ideas have evolved over time, and what the future holds for video gaming, as well as family-themed entertainment establishments.

-While it’s safe to say that ANY election season has a direct impact on the population to some degree, few may have as big an impact as the 2014 elections, both nationally, as well as in the State of Pennsylvania. Not only will every Congressional seat (as well as dozens of Senatorial seats) be in play in Washington, but Pennsylvania’s Gubernatorial seat will be up for grabs as well. Even though Election Day is eight months away, it’s not too early to assess some of the lead candidates for the most important spots for these offices, and the impact that these elections will have on your ability to conduct business in the State of Pennsylvania.

Here, Raja, a man who knows a little about the political process himself, talks withJoe DiSarro, a professor and chair in the Department of Political Science at Washington and Jefferson University in Washington, PA, discuss the 2014 elections, who to watch for this season, and the impact that the results will have on your business, and your life.

Looking Out For You….From Our Nation’s Capital

This week, Raja talks with one of Western Pennsylvania’s foremost political leaders, Congressman Keith Rothfus, as we examine Keith’s life story, including his rise to prominence in the private sector of Western Pennsylvania, his service to his community, and his 2012 election to the U.S. House of Representatives. And Keith discusses some of the most important items on his Congressional plate since taking office in January 2013, including his work to improve consumer protection practices, ease the regulations on American jobs and wages, and promote accountability and transparency in our federal government.

-By now, regular listeners to “Your American Story” are keenly aware of the mission that Raja has laid out for the show since its inception just over one year ago: to profile our leaders in politics, business, and economics in order to find out what drives them to be successful, and to share what THEY have learned over the years with you, our listening audience. From time to time, we like to feature others who are following that same mission with their endeavors, such as Brian Baum. The Pittsburgh-based financial analyst will join Raja today to discuss not only his take on what’s happening in the market, but also to discuss Profiles of Success, his new book in which he profiles over 40 business leaders, in order to determine what makes these leaders tick, and what their stories can mean for you in your journey to business and personal success.