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Game Changer:  How Dr. Christopher Howard Is Making A Difference At Robert Morris University   “The Robert Morris University of the Northeast” That is how RMU President Chris Howard often refers to his alma mater, now that he has had some time to get a feel for how the schools integrate with the academic and […]

Rocky Bleier Fights Back…Again….Why the Game and the Battle Will NEVER Be Over for The War Hero-Turned-Steeler Legend Anybody who has listened to “The Raja Show” for any length of time knows the importance that Raja puts on stories, be it the story of a successful individual or business that can serve as a model […]

Staying the Course:  How David Barensfeld Grew The Annual Sales of The Ellwood Group from $25 Million in 1983 To $1 Billion Today   In 1910, brothers David and Jonathan Evans opened the doors of a steel manufacturing company in Ellwood City, PA. That company’s name?  The Ellwood Group. Its name is as simple and […]

Taking Flight:  What Chris Heck Is Doing To Harness the Full Economic Potential of the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor   When the new Pittsburgh International Airport opened to rave industry and consumer reviews in 1992, it provided a foundation for a new era of transportation, commerce, and economic development for Western Pennsylvania. In the 26 years […]

Emotional Rescue: Dan Rossi And The Merger That Made Too Much Sense NOT To Do     In just about any for-profit business, nothing stokes the burning desire to succeed greater than a little healthy competition.  Pushing you and your team to dig deeper, work harder, and overcome any obstacles that lay in the path. […]

Technology and Marketing History Personified:  A Conversation With the Man Who Helped Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Countless Others Bring Their Products To Market “Skate To Where the Puck Is Going To Be” It’s one of Raja’s favorite quotes (….even if HE took it from “The Great One”, Wayne Gretzky) When it comes to the […]

When the Hard Work of One Becomes the Opportunity For Many: The Story of Lance Shaner and Shaner Hotels Listen to The Raja Show for just a few minutes, and the message becomes clear: With hard work, determination, and a never-say-die attitude, you can achieve pretty much anything you want in life, and succeed beyond […]

Sweetness:  How John Walsh Took “Just a Bakery” And Made It Into A Local Institution….And Beyond When you consider some of the lasting business institutions in the Western Pennsylvania region that have stood the test of time, you think of titans in tech, communications, medicine, media, and many other touchstone industries. But you wouldn’t think […]

Social Responsibility:  How Waynesburg University and Chevron Are Redefining the Relationship Between College and “The Real World” For The Greater Good For generations, it seemed the role of colleges and universities, relative to “the real world”, was clearly defined. Be the “feeder system”…..the “pipeline”, as it were. Students went to college to learn the skills […]

The Day When “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You” Was Actually Useful _____________________________________________________________________ It is said that many of the best business ideas are often derived from a simple need. And one day, all Robb Myer needed was a place to have lunch. He was in San Francisco, and it was lunchtime.  He went to a […]

Four Generations…..130 Years….And Counting:  How John Henne’s Business Remains the Crown Jewel of Its Field _____________________________________________________________________ For those who have experienced “The Big Day”, there is perhaps no more everlasting centerpiece of the proceedings than the wedding ring itself.  The exchange of the rings and the ensuing vows between husband and wife marks the beginning […]

Edison…..Westinghouse…..Betler:  The 150-Year (And Counting) Evolution of Industry, and Leadership _____________________________________________________________________ When you read the headlines in 2018 about significant mergers (and potential mergers) in the world of business, you’re no doubt reading about the biggest names in industry, be it Disney/Fox, Sirius/Pandora, AT&T/Time Warner and others. That said, in our region, there is none […]

What Do President Trump’s Tax Cuts Mean For The Manufacturing Industry, And For You? _____________________________________________________________________ When President Trump signed off on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it was hailed by many economic and policy experts as the biggest “win” of his administration to date. What specific impact do they have on the […]

On Saturday, September 1,  “The Raja Show” returned to the airwaves, bringing more of the great discussion on business, education and leadership that have served the region for years, and continuing the commitment to present the most insightful, topical, and thought-provoking discussion with the foremost leaders in the region, and the country.   And when […]

This Week, Raja Talks With a Successful Businessman Who Defied the Experts and Beat the Establishment In Order To Succeed In the Political Arena.  _____________________________________________________________________ (OK….maybe not THAT one….) Ever since he first started his own business at the age of 20, Scott Wagner had dedicated his entire career to starting and growing businesses, providing […]

How the Print Industry Has Adapted To Changes In the Marketplace, Plus a Conversation With A Master Franchisor About the Latest Franchise Under His Belt _____________________________________________________________________ This week, “The Raja Show” returns live to the studio, as Raja talks with a pair of Western Pennsylvania business leaders who are finding new and innovative ways to […]

Rolling Stone Magazine Said He Is Changing America….But Dr. Alan Russell Is Just Doing His Job:  What Is He Doing To Reshape Our Views On Medicine? _____________________________________________________________________ This week, “The Raja Show” returns live to the studio, as Raja continues his look at the interaction between medicine and innovation, and the role that the Western […]

Innovation and Medicine:   An Inside Look At Pittsburgh’s OTHER Confluence _____________________________________________________________________ For decades, the City of Pittsburgh has long been recognized as one of the American bastions of medicine and innovation.  Boasting a history that features innovative pioneers such as Jonas Salk and Thomas Starzl, Pittsburgh, and its stellar reputation for its “meds and eds” […]

What Does It Take To Drive the Economy of an Entire County to “Victory”?  Bob Hurley Has the Answers! _____________________________________________________________________ Mention the name “Bob Hurley” to anybody outside of Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania, and the majority of responses you’d get will likely involve the star point guard who led Duke University to back-to back […]

Honoring the Best in Tech Entrepreneurship and Innovation:  Looking Back at the Carnegie Science Awards _____________________________________________________________________ For decades, the Western Pennsylvania region has been known as a hub for scientific achievement, thanks in large par to its vast medical presence and its flourishing educational sector (i.e. the “meds and eds” for which the region is […]

“What’s Important In Life?”:  Looking Back At Raja’s Commencement Address At Waynesburg University _____________________________________________________________________ Last Sunday, May 1, was a banner day in the storied career of Raja, as the host of “The Raja Show” presented the commencement address to over 500 graduating students (with thousands more friends and family looking on) to honor the […]

Examining the State of Women-Owned Business in Western Pennsylvania, Plus One Silicon Valley Icon With Pittsburgh Roots Remembers Another _____________________________________________________________________ As entrepreneurship continues to lead the way in revivifying the American economy, one significant subgroup driving this rise in entrepreneurship is that of the women-owned business.  In the past nine years, women-owned businesses have seen […]

The Future Is Now:  An Inside Look At the Award Winning Young Business Minds of Propel Schools _____________________________________________________________________ So what were YOU doing for fun in middle school? Maybe you were spending every waking moment outdoors, playing whatever activity you could find, regardless of season.   Or, if you are of a more recent vintage, you […]

More Capital Is Being Invested Into Pittsburgh Business Than Ever Before!  Who’s Getting It…..Who’s Giving It….and Why? _____________________________________________________________________ We here at “The Raja Show” aren’t really big into breaking news about business and the economy.  Rather, our bread and butter lies in taking the headlines that we see in print, in broadcast, and online, and […]

Innovate Or Die!:  Dartmouth Professor Richard D’Aveni Gives His Ultimatum To The Country….and Your Business! _____________________________________________________________________ For years, Richard D’Aveni, the Bakala Professor of Strategy at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, had mastered the practice of long-term strategic planning for corporations.  Taking current metrics and industry trends into account, he could take […]

Battle Lines Drawn:  What the Furor Over the San Bernardino Shooter’s IPhone Means For You _____________________________________________________________________ At first glance, the headlines read like the card from a boxing pay-per-view event, or the next WrestleMania: Apple Vs. The FBI Privacy Vs. National Security Private Enterprise Vs. The Federal Government To many, these battles, especially the last […]

Making Taxes Less Taxing:   How Listening to Dave Wilke’s Advice Will Help You Get Ready For April 18th _____________________________________________________________________ (Yes.  April 18th….the official deadline to file last year’s federal taxes…remember that the IRS gives us ALL a break this year.) Raise your hand if you’ve already done your taxes for 2015. Actually, if you’re pretty […]

Anatomy Of A Budget:  Why Business Should Be the Benchmark For Government To Attain When It Comes To Laying Out the Fiscal Playbook _____________________________________________________________________ Budgeting. Few, if any, of us, LIKE doing it.  It can be very dry.  Very painstaking.  And for a number of us, whose reality lies far afield of the expectations we […]

Investing in a Cure:  How the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Business Approach Has (Literally) Helped Save Lives _____________________________________________________________________ Over the past few decades, medical charities supporting everything from cancer research to AIDS to heart disease, among many others, have become BIG business in the United States. As in “billions of dollars” big.  And through very public […]

Want Your Company To Return To Its Entrepreneurial Roots?  Columbia University Professor Rita McGrath Says It’s All Mental! _____________________________________________________________________ Walmart. Starbucks. Amazon. Apple. Home Depot. We all know the names that we tend to think of when we rattle off the list of the most successful giant companies in the U.S.  You can probably add […]

Want To Re-Engergize Your Company’s Approach To Marketing and Promotion? According to Joseph Jaffe, All It Takes Is a Little “Juice”! _____________________________________________________________________ If Joseph Jaffe had his way, no night out at a local restaurant with friends or family would be complete without “The Stack”. The rules are simple.  Before your meal, take out your […]

For Techies Throughout the U.S., The Future Is NOW!: An Inside Look At the Consumer Electronics Show, and What the Neat New Gadgetry Actually Means For the Companies That Release It _____________________________________________________________________ Compact Disc Technology. Digital Audio HDTV DVD Technology Microsoft Xbox Blu-Ray Technology Over the past three decades, these and other technologies have become […]

Your Public Awaits! (…So What Do You Tell Them?):  Why An Effective Public Relations Strategy Is More Important Now Than Ever Before! _____________________________________________________________________ Here at The Raja Show, we pride ourselves on keeping things clean, when it comes to our language. (Raja IS a family man, after all!).  We discuss socially acceptable topics on a […]

Their Future Is Now: An Inside Look At Two of The Rising Stars of Western Pennsylvania’s Entrepreneurial Landscape _____________________________________________________________________ -On this edition of “The Raja Show”, Raja profiles the entrepreneurs behind two award-winning Western Pennsylvania startups.  These companies were recently honored as part of the Second Annual TIE Pittsburgh Start-Up Award/BMR Showcase event earlier this […]

Paul Mitchell Hair Products.   Patron Spirits.  With Two Billion Dollar Startups Under His Belt, What Is John Paul DeJoria Doing To Go For the Hat Trick? _____________________________________________________________________ “You’ll never succeed in anything in life!” When John Paul DeJoria’s high school math teacher uttered those words directly to him, that teacher was probably correct.  After all, […]

He Was I.T. When I.T. Wasn’t Cool:   How IGATE Founder Sunil Wadhwani’s Gamble of a Lifetime Paid Off, and What’s He’s Doing To Foster Entrepreneurship and Innovation In Western Pennsylvania Today _____________________________________________________________________ OK, regular listeners to The Raja Show…..stop if you’ve heard this before! A young Indian man with success in his eyes, and hard […]

Take A Bow For the New Revolution:  If Peter Marsh Had His Way, Manufacturing (And the “Three C’s”) Will Lead the U.S. and the “Old Economies” Back to Global Economic Prominence _____________________________________________________________________ When historians look back at the period known widely as  “The Industrial Revolution”, they note that period as a time that took the […]

A Cut Above: How Sport Clips Founder Gordon Logan’s Attention To An Overlooked Market Share Spurred One of the Country’s Top Franchises _____________________________________________________________________ It stands to reason that when you make a living in the financial planning industry, you gain plenty of insights into potentially lucrative trends over a wide swath of industries. For Gordon […]

For Terry Jones, The Man Who Revolutionized the Travel Industry, The Road To Success For YOUR Business Lies In Just One Word:  Innovate! _____________________________________________________________________ If you’re old enough to remember life BEFORE the internet, think of all of the ways that the internet has changed the way you do everyday things. Amazon and Ebay changed […]

You Say You Want A Revolution:  An Inside Look At What It Takes To Prepare a City For the Future, and the Enterprising High School Student Making It Happen _____________________________________________________________________ When it comes to revolutions, the City of Pittsburgh seems like it’s front and center.  From the role that Fort Pitt played in the American […]

Ryan’s Rules:  What Impact Will the New Speaker of the House Have on The Future of American Business and the Economy?  Congressman Keith Rothfus Joins Us For An Inside Look  _____________________________________________________________________ The turbulence surrounding Republican Congressional leadership in Washington D.C. has settled considerably within the past week, in the wake of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan’s […]

Given the Tumult With Our Present and Future Leadership in Our Nation’s Capital, What Are Our Current Leaders Doing To Keep Individuals and Businesses Afloat in the U.S.?  Raja Goes One-On-One With Senator Pat Toomey For An Explanation  _____________________________________________________________________ Ask almost any political pundit, one with both feet planted on either side of the aisle […]

As Trump and Fiorina Continue To Dominate the Headlines, It’s Time To Ask:  Can Business Success REALLY Translate To the Political Arena?  We Talk To A Leader Who Has Made The Leap _____________________________________________________________________ In recent years, it seems that one of the biggest hurdles that many politicians face come election time is that they are, […]

Character Counts:  How Timothy Thyreen Has Redefined the Purpose of a College Education Beyond the Mere Byproduct of a “Diploma Mill” _____________________________________________________________________ When considering what a college education means in 2015, popular opinion tends to quickly surge to the forefront of the conversation. -Skyrocketing debt that cripples students earning potential right out of the gate. […]

Driven To Succeed:  How Jim Shorkey Built and Grew His Automotive Industry Empire, And Why Veering Off Course Was All Part of His Master Plan _____________________________________________________________________ In just over a decade, Jim Shorkey expanded his Western Pennsylvania automotive dealership, a company that had been in his family for decades, into a six-dealership conglomerate that is […]

With “Christmas For Geeks” In the Rear View Mirror, How Does America’s Largest Tech Giant Measure Up With Its Newest Rollout?  Silicon Valley Marketing Guru Regis McKenna Was at Apple Day, and He Tells All _____________________________________________________________________ One of, if not THE most highly-anticipated day in the tech community’s annual calendar has come and gone, During […]

Time To Play The “Game”:  When Jack Stack Opened His Books, He Bridged the Gap Between Employee and Manager, Changed the Way Businesses Operate, and Established Himself As a National Business Thought Leader In the Process _____________________________________________________________________ They thought it was crazy. They told him not to do it. They said it was an unnecessary […]

Don’t Think Keeping Up With Current Events Can Help YOU As An Entrepreneur?  Think Again! _____________________________________________________________________ On this  edition of “The Raja Show”, Raja examines a pair of stories that dominated the headlines this week, and assesses the lessons that entrepreneurs and business owners can take away from each, in order to help their business […]

On This Show, We Feature One of America’s Top Minds In Business, Economics and Policy (……and He’s Talking With Steve Forbes) All kidding aside, Raja and the staff of “The Raja Show” are very excited to welcome Steve Forbes onto the show to discuss his life at the helm of one of, if not THE, […]

Eats, Treats, and Sweets on the Street?……Neat! – A Look At the Burgeoning Mobile Food Industry, and What it Means For the “Traditional” Restaurant Business _____________________________________________________________________ “What’s for dinner?” It’s an inevitable question that many adults and college students, many of whom may not have the time, the means (or let’s face it, the ability) […]

11,000 Passing Yards…..60 Touchdowns……..2 Super Bowl Rings……1 Successful Entrepreneurial Venture:   A Look At the Evolution of Charlie Batch, From Locker Room To Boardroom _____________________________________________________________________ Domestic Abuse Performance Enhancing Drugs “Deflategate” Take a look at the headlines surrounding the NFL these days, and what you see may paint a pretty grim picture.   But what about the […]

Is the World Getting Flatter?    Raja Shares Observations From His Trip Overseas, And What It Means For the U.S. Many business and leadership experts point to Thomas Friedman’s landmark 2005 book, “The World Is Flat”, as a definitive look at the impact that globalization has had, and will continue to have, on our lives in […]

Entrepreneurship is Its Own Reward….But Sometimes, It’s Nice To Be Recognized: Inside The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards “To Follow My Passion” “To Create Jobs and Make a Difference in the World” “To Become Rich” Ask most any entrepreneur why he or she starts a business, and you’ll get one of these, or a […]

From Greece to Grads:  How Debt Impacts the World in Which We Live Taking a look at the international headlines is not something on the forefront of the minds of many Americans on a daily basis, but a glance every now and then may not be a bad idea. For example, look no further than […]

High Cost…..High Reward?   Are American Colleges Worth the Price of Admission? On this week’s edition of “The Raja Show”, Raja examines the true value of a college education.   With tuition and other costs of attending a two- or four-year school increasing drastically on an annual basis, and many recent graduates struggling mightily to find meaningful […]

From Horrible Bosses to Terrible Employees and Unbearable Co-Workers…..What Do You Do When The Workers Aren’t Working? On last week’s edition of “The Raja Show”, Raja discussed the nature of leadership, including the idea of “servant leadership”, and you chimed in with your (thankfully, anonymous) stories of your worst experiences with YOUR superiors.   He also […]

“Horrible Bosses”:  Funny Movie, But Not So Funny When It Happens To You….What Do You Do?  It’s often said that when an employee quits working for a company, he or she doesn’t quit the job….that person quits the boss. In this day and age, different companies in different industries require different kinds of leadership and […]

Customer Service With a “Zing”: Maximizing the Effectiveness of One of the Most Important Elements of Your Business Pop quiz: 1.  What was the worst customer service you have ever received, be it retail, restaurant, online, or wherever? 2.  What did that company do to make it right?     . 3.  What could that […]

From Barriers Broken to “Characters Welcome”: How USA Network Founder Kay Koplovitz Raised the Bar For Cable Television Next time you turn on the TV (or your laptop or mobile device) to watch your favorite cable TV show, think about one person whose vision who made it all possible….. Arthur C. Clarke The iconic science […]

Going Toe-to-Toe With Starbucks?  Inside the “Crazy” Idea that Ken Zeff Has Followed For Fifteen Years….And Counting! For many successful entrepreneurs, the path to their success lies in the fundamental idea that that entrepreneur started with a passion, and followed that passion all the way through to fruition, and beyond. So it would stand to […]

Finding Growth in Your Business, and Yourself: Previewing The Premier Annual Event For Western Pennsylvania Entrepreneurs For the entrepreneurs behind businesses of any size, be it a one-person sole proprietorship or Fortune 500 company, the success of that business lies in one word: growth. Whether it’s “facilitating growth”, “experiencing growth”, “managing growth”, or “curtailing growth”, […]

 Shining a Spotlight On the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, and The School Giving Them the Resources To Succeed When assessing the current landscape of entrepreneurship in the United States, one thing is certain, now more than ever:  you’re never too old, or too young, to start your own business. When it comes to the latter end […]

Gamechanger:   How Netflix Co-Founder Mitch Lowe’s Idea That Just Wouldn’t Die Changed the Way We Watch Television and Movies What does the name “Video Droid” mean to you? If you’re like, well, pretty much everybody outside of the State of California, the answer is going to probably be, “not much.”.   And those California residents will […]

Looking Ahead: A Special Event To Remember A Special Business Leader   Maybe you remember him from being an award-winning entrepreneur who had started up 12 companies (“Seven wins, four losses, and one tie,” as he famously put it) throughout a 40-plus year career. Maybe you remember him as the Founding Director of the Entrepreneurial Studies […]

(Original Air Date – 3/15/15) A Show of Inspiration:  Saluting Our Heroes (….and Those Who Look Up To Us as Heroes) No matter if it’s financial advice, business advice, career advice or whatever information you pick up from listening to “The Raja Show”, the ultimate goal is to help you achieve your personal success. But […]

Plan The Change and Change The Plan: The Importance of Being Agile “Life Is What Happens To You When You’re Busy Making Other Plans.” This famous quote, immortalized in the classic John Lennon tune “Beautiful Boy”, perfectly encapsulates the idea that things may not seem to go the way you lay them out, and also, perhaps, that you […]

Time To Get An Early Jump On Spring Cleaning (…For Your Investment Portfolio) Maybe it’s because you got a raise last year…. Maybe it’s because you hit it big with one of last year’s hot investments…. Maybe you even implemented, and stuck to, The Plan…. No matter how you got there, if, much like the […]

Money.  Where Is It?  Who Has It?  How Do You Get Some For Your Business? Taking an objective look into pretty much ANY business you can fathom, it’s pretty tough to argue that there may be no more significant factor to the success of that business than money. Think about it.  Try to argue against […]

This Week We Return To the Open Talk Format….So Step Up, Dial In and Be Heard!!! What drives you? Those three words would seem to form a simple question on their own, but in reality, the answer to that question is so complex in nature that three words don’t seem to do it justice. Whether […]

We’ve Talked About Running a Business, But How About Running A City?  A Conversation With the Man Who Makes Pittsburgh Go Picture in your mind the look and feel of a typical mayor of a major American city. Bill Peduto is NOT that Mayor. Perhaps it’s because Peduto, who recently concluded his first full year […]

Last Week, We Put the Show in Your Hands…..This Week, We KEEP It There! We weren’t sure how well it was going to work. Sure, up until last week’s show, we had taken a few of your calls on The Raja Show, but we had traditionally been a guest-driven show that takes a call or […]

This Week, We Put the Show In YOUR Hands…So It’s YOUR Turn To Sound Off! Being the shrewd entrepreneur that he is, one critical thing that Raja has learned about business is the importance of listening to what the market wants. The same holds true for being a shrewd radio host, and with almost two […]

Want to Take Your Investment Portfolio To the Next Level?  Try Private Equity (….But Be Sure To Listen To This Week’s Show First!) If you’ve checked out Raja’s  three-step plan for financial success on our new and improved website for The Raja Show, you’ll note the importance of having a strong investment portfolio. But for many adventurous […]

“Famous” Was His Middle Name…..Until It Wasn’t: How Wally Amos Gained, Lost, and Regained His Business Mojo As Wally Amos grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and then Manhattan, he had two loves: cooking and people. It was the former that got him through school, having enrolled in a Manhattan-based cooking trade school, based on his […]

Taking Flight By Taking Chances:  How Bob Crandall Turned American Airlines, and the Airline Industry, on Its Ear If you haven’t gathered by now, thanks to the bevy of retail sales and non-stop music in the air, we’re firmly in the midst of the holiday season. And for many of us, that means travel.  Maybe […]

Start Me Up:  Bob Herbold’s Front Row Seat For the Ascension of Microsoft To the Top of the Computer Industry In 1995, Bill Gates knew that the idea of “personal computing”, which, to that point, had been trickling into the marketplace, was ready to explode into the cultural landscape. And the founder and CEO of […]

How Well Did You Or Your Company Do This Year Financially?  You Won’t REALLY Know the Answer Until You Listen to Bennett Stewart It doesn’t take more than a cursory look at the calendar (or out the window) to see that 2014 is coming to an end. For many savvy business owners, as well as […]

Sith Lords……Zombie Apocalypses….Overseeing a Billion Dollar, Publicly Traded Company…..All In a Day’s Work For Overstock.com Founder/CEO Patrick Byrne It’s been said that a typical entrepreneur tends to live by his or her own rules. That typical entrepreneur would probably take a look at Patrick Byrne and say, “Wow!” Byrne, the son of longtime Geico CEO […]

Why Do We Buy What We Buy?  (…And Why Does Britt Beemer Know What That Is Before WE Do?) If you’re looking for a telltale indicator of how things have changed, look no further than how you shop. While, in some cases, the stores you frequent may be in the same location as they were 20 or […]

The One Behind the Ones Who Made Silicon Valley What It Is Today:  Inside the Mind of Regis McKenna Apple.  Microsoft.  Electronic Arts.  AOL.  Compaq. Over the past 40 years, these names have come to define tech culture in the United States, if not throughout the world. But, like even the smallest tech startup, they […]

To help Raja discuss ways in which you can improve your chances for financial success, Raja welcomes a pair of the savviest experts around when it comes to finance and accounting. First, Ahmie Baum, Managing Director of the Baum Consulting Group and UBS Financial, joins Raja to discuss some of the most important, yet practical, wealth management strategies […]

When Life Tried To Throw Him Some Curves, He Built His Own Instead – The Journey of Gary Heavin As a child growing up in Texas in the 1960’s, Gary Heavin had lofty ambitions. Specifically, he had wanted to become a doctor, and worked odd jobs to put him through a college premed program before […]

From Fast Lane to Fast Lane:  How Howdy Holmes Transitioned From Racing Stardom to Running One of “America’s Last Great Businesses”  Imagine you go to a store to buy some pre-packaged food product, take it home, taste it, and realize that something’s not quite right.  You reach out to the company to complain.  How surprised […]

From Texas to Turner to Western Pennsylvania’s First “ACE” (And Beyond): The American Business Life of Jim Roddey On this Sunday’s edition of Your American Story Radio, Raja welcomes one of Western Pennsylvania’s preeminent figures in business, politics, and leadership, Jim Roddey, onto the show to discuss his remarkable career. And what a career it has […]

When Investing Money Isn’t Enough:  How Entrepreneur Saul Garlick Made a True Impact  When Saul Garlick was in elementary school, he took a trip to South Africa, and what he saw in the lives and experiences of the kids that were the same age as he was deplorable.  No water.  No electricity.  No classrooms.  Essentially, […]

First It Was Your Kids….Now, Your Business is Going “Back to School” On this week’s edition of “Your American Story” Radio, we feature a pair of guests who will help you get your business off the ground, and more importantly, will help you KEEP it off the ground. First, Raja talks with Valerie Voss, tax […]

Her Pretzels Aren’t the Only Thing With a Twist: Inside the Tumultuous Life and Unparalleled Success of “Auntie” Anne Beiler For Anne Beiler, it started in the heart of Amish country, Gap, Pennsylvania, with a dream to be a singer, along with her sisters, in a musical trio.  Along the way, she figured she would become […]

How do you evaluate the performance of a city? For some people, they listen to what the city’s leaders are saying,  from their campaign promises through to their inaugural address, all the way to their parting words on the last day in office.  (After all, they’re the ones in charge, right?) For some people, they […]

So it’s time for you to implement your plan to market to your target audience. Nowadays, of course, the top weapon in your arsenal to do this is more than likely going to be your website. But how do you know if your website is getting you the optimal results you need? And how can […]

Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught? Of the many areas of study available to college business students, entrepreneurship may be the most intriguing, given that the traits of a typical successful entrepreneur cannot be clearly defined or categorized to the point where his or her career path or business acumen can be laid out in a lesson plan […]

“Lost in Translation” No More:  How Juergen Fritsch Has Reinvented the Process of Medical Dictation Anybody who has spent time receiving treatment in a hospital, no matter the reason or the severity, knows that one of the most important responsibilities the medical staff can be summed up in three words: Get It Right Often, one […]

Regular listeners to Your American Story Radio are no doubt familiar with our groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature presentation, the second iteration of which just wrapped up a successful six-week run. With six of the leading life science entrepreneurs in Western Pennsylvania pitching their companies to three of the region’s premier venture capital professionals, it was […]

Today, we wrap up six weeks of our groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature, as Raja reveals which of our entrepreneurs will receive investment capital from our three judges, James Jordan of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Ned Renzi of Birchmere Ventures, and Mike Stubler of Draper Triangle Ventures. We talk with each investment professional […]

Running With the Bulls: Let’s Take a Look Back We’re almost there!!! We’ve heard from all three judges. We’ve heard from all six entrepreneurs. Voting for the audience participation prize ($2,500 cash) is in full effect, with a record turnout. On Sunday, July 13, we wrap up our groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature, as […]

Two More Presenters to Go!!!! You’ve heard from four of our entrepreneur contestants.  This week, it’s time to hear from the last two! Last week, as part of our groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature on Your American Story Radio, listeners heard the pitches from two local entrepreneurs who are making a serious impact in […]

Things are heating up now! Last week, as part of our groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature on Your American Story Radio, listeners heard the pitches from two remarkable local entrepreneurs, Bill Kaigler of New Care Solutions, and Mike Lang of NanoVision Diagnostics.    Culled from the portfolio of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, these two entrepreneurs demonstrated why their […]

It’s back….. After hearing from our three judges, James Jordan of the PLSG Accelerator Fund, Ned Renzi of Birchmere Ventures, and Mike Stubler of Draper Triangle Ventures, as well as John Manzetti of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, last week to kick off the second iteration of our “Running With the Bulls ” radio feature, this week, it’s time […]

-A New Run of Running With the Bulls This Sunday, we begin our second iteration of our groundbreaking radio feature, “Running With the Bulls”,  as we welcome six NEW entrepreneurs, who will be pitching their companies to three NEW investors, in hopes of raising the investment capital necessary to take their companies to the next […]

All in the Family:  How Stan Sheetz Revolutionized the Business That Bears His Name For over 40 years, Altoona, PA-based Sheetz had established itself as one of the most successful convenience store chains throughout the State of Pennsylvania, growing from one store, opened in 1952 by Bob Sheetz, to over 100 stores, under the leadership of Bob […]

Profiling a Leading Entrepreneur Of Tomorrow, and Assessing Why “Obamacare” Matters Like many entrepreneurs throughout the country, Dan Mathews spends considerable time every day making sure that the business he has owned and operated for the past two years, Mathews Automotive Detailing and Styling, runs smoothly and maximizes profitability. Unlike many entrepreneurs throughout the country, […]

48% That number represents the percentage of shoes that were manufactured in the United States in 1980, the same year that John Stollenwerk purchased Port Washington, WI-based shoe manufacturer Allen Edmonds. Just over 20 years later, that number dwindled to 1.5%.   Chief among those remaining few companies: Allen Edmonds. Despite the obvious trends heading in […]

“The Queen of Beers” No More:  The Rise and Fall of Rhonda Kallman in the Beer Industry, and Why Her Next Round Is Something Stronger “It’s beer.  It’s supposed to be fun.  If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.” In a recent interview, a Senior Brewmaster from the Samuel Adams Brewery used those exact […]

Revisiting the Legacy of Ron Morris, And Tracking Down One Of His Signature Companies Regular, longtime listeners to Your American Story Radio….namely, folks who have been with us since we started in February, 2013, no doubt are aware of the impact that the lateRon Morris, a.k.a “The American Entrepreneur”, has had on the show.  Ron’s […]

Back to the Basics of Business: The Importance of Effective Management and Value Creation -On this edition of Your American Story Radio, Raja, himself a successful entrepreneur, tips his cap to other successful business owners in the listening audience by featuring two nationally-renowned experts in the fields of management and value creation. -Managing people, systems, and […]

One Entrepreneur.  Three Businesses.   How Does Harry Geyer Keep It Together? One of the defining traits of any entrepreneur is the ability to seek and accept new challenges as they emerge in business.  For Harry Geyer, he has done just that, as the owner of Geyer Construction, a Pittsburgh-based construction company….and the owner of […]

From Shipping To Healthcare To Film: Mike Critelli’s Journey Along the Road Less Traveled On this edition of Your American Story, Raja goes one-on-one with one of the foremost business leaders in America, Mike Critelli, as Mike shares the story of his career path, an unusual one to say the least, and the impact he has made […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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. […]

“What Next?” It’s a common question facing successful entrepreneurs who “cash out”, or otherwise enjoy startup success beyond their wildest imagination.  Some entrepreneurs prefer to lay low and settle in to a life of comfort and retirement, putting the fast-paced entrepreneurial lifestyle in the rearview mirror. Others use the passion and determination they deployed in […]

Taking Their Companies To the Next Level: How Did They Do It? For many entrepreneurial ventures, the leadership and guidance of the startup’s founder is more than enough to propel the company to heights greater than he or she could have ever imagined.  But in some cases, sometimes it takes a call to a special […]

On this edition of  Your American Story radio, Raja welcomes a pair of local business leaders onto the show to discuss the contributions they’re making to improving the overall climate for businesses, both large and small, in Western Pennsylvania. -When a person typically thinks about a greenhouse, he or she thinks of a safe, controlled […]

Women in Business On this edition of Your American Story radio, Raja returns live to the airwaves, in order to take a special look at the impact that women have in the world of business, as he talks with a pair of the most prominent female business leaders in Western Pennsylvania. -Over the past few […]

On this week’s show, we examine the role that our elected leadership plays in overseeing the effectiveness of our transportation system, as well as the importance of networking, referrals, and relationship building to success in business and personal growth. -The current flap in New Jersey regarding the recent lane restrictions on the George Washington Bridge […]

-In Western Pennsylvania, just as in the rest of the United States, entrepreneurship is a driving force that continually propels our culture forward every day.  (Don’t think so?  Think about how you’re reading this message, and the entrepreneurs who were involved in the process of transmitting this message from the staff of Your American Story […]

On this edition of Your American Story Radio, we bring 2013 to a close, as Raja talks with a pair of local leaders, one from the business realm, and one from the political sector, who both have interesting stories to share, ones from which you will learn and be inspired. -For many males who hit […]

Happy holidays from Raja and the staff of Your American Story Radio! On this Sunday’s edition of Your American Story Radio, we feature an unprecedented FOUR never-before-heard interviews with business and thought leaders, as we head into the holiday season.  These are stories geared towards educating you about the most prevalent trends in business and […]

On this Sunday’s edition of Your American Story Radio, Raja profiles a Pittsburgh-based entrepreneur whose company is making an impact in one of the areas that matters most in business: data. -No matter the business, large or small, one of the most critical elements of any organization is data, as it serves as the figurative […]

As we enjoy Thanksgiving weekend full of family, football, and food, two more “f’s” should be in the back of your mind once the meal has settled, the games are over, and the relatives have headed back home. “Future” and “Finances” Specifically, what are YOU doing to ensure that your financial future will be a […]

“The Times They Are a Changin’” When Bob Dylan wrote that lyric some 50 years ago, he meant it as a communal anthem to describe the sweeping transformation that was taking place in American society at the time. What he didn’t know back then was that it would be the perfect description of American media […]

Raja returns live to the Your American Story studio, and while he’ll spend some time discussing what he learned during his recent visit back home to India, the main focus of the show is what we’re learning, whether or not we’re truly being served by our educational system, and how effective our colleges and universities really are […]

On this edition of Your American Story, Raja recaps the groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature, as we revisit each of the six entrepreneur contestant pitches, as well as the criteria upon which each of our three venture capitalist judges will make their investment decisions.

As you read this on your computer or a mobile device today, here’s some food for thought: How safe and secure IS your “digital” life? It’s not as easy a question as you may think. Sure, you may be armed to the teeth with passwords, passcodes, PIN Numbers, and up-to-the-minute anti-virus software in hopes of […]

We talk with one of the most prolific entrepreneurs in the history of Western Pennsylvania’s tech sector, Dr. Giorgio Coraluppi, the CEO of Compunetics (now Compunetix and Chorus Call), about his illustrious career, and his recent honor in receiving the CEO of the Year Award from the Pittsburgh Technology Council as part of the organization’s […]

And the winner is…. (Actually, it’s more like….”And the winners ARE”) On this edition of “Your American Story”, we wrap up our coverage of the inaugural “Running With The Bulls” segment, as we talk with Colin Huwyler, CEO of Optimus Technologies, who discusses the $50,000 venture capital investment that one of our judges, Roger Byford, […]

On the third week of entrepreneur presentations as part of the “Running With the Bulls” feature on Your American Story Radio, Raja, along with his panel of judges, welcome the final two entrepreneurs onto the show, as Albert Ciuksza of Portabeer and James Lomuscio of Hability prepare to make their best pitch, and take all […]

It’s a radio feature like never before, with hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake! Raja, along with Mike Matesic and his team at IdeaFoundry, a Pittsburgh-based business development and support organization, are giving six local entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their companies to a trio of real-world venture capitalists, Roger Byford, Mel Pirchesky, and […]

THE BULLS ARE LOOSE!!! After weeks of buildup and last Sunday’s preview show, it’s time for the first two contestants in our groundbreaking “Running With the Bulls” feature to show their stuff! On this Sunday’s edition of “Your American Story”, Raja moderates a pair of pitches from REAL entrepreneurs, in need of REAL funding, who […]

It begins! For weeks, you’ve heard Raja talk about a feature that we’re very excited about here at “Your American Story”. “Running With the Bulls” is a first-of-its-kind radio feature that showcases aspiring entrepreneurs from around the region, as they pitch their company in front of real investors, in hopes of obtaining real capital necessary […]

Raja shares the remarkable story of Bobby Zappala, a Pittsburgh-based attorney who gave up a position with one of the highest-profile firms in the region in order to start ThrillMill, a rising star in the landscape of business incubators in Western Pennsylvania. Bobby discusses why he made the decision he did, and his vision for […]

On today’s edition of “Your American Story”, Raja examines the role that our political leaders can play in shaping the climate in which we do business, and in which we live. Plus, we take a look at the challenges and opportunities that a business owner faces when looking to sell his or her business in […]

Reinvention is one of the most oft-used words when it comes to business, as a means through which a struggling company can turn itself around, or a successful company can reach that elusive next level. Today on “Your American Story”, Raja talks with three Western Pennsylvania business leaders for whom reinvention played a role in […]

The road to business success can often be a long, arduous one, with many challenges along the way. On today’s edition of “The Raja Show”, Raja interviews two successful business leaders whose stories can serve to be inspirational to anybody looking to reach the next level with his or her current endeavors. -It didn’t take […]

What role does lifelong learning play in our everyday lives, as well as our professional lives? Raja tackles this question on today’s edition of “The Raja Show”, as he talks with two successful leaders about what they do to ensure that education does NOT stop at graduation. First, Raja talks with Simin Curtis, the President […]

Recently, Raja spoke with Ilana Diamond, the Director of AlphaLab Gear, the robotic-intensive spinoff of AlphaLab, one of the premier tech incubators in the United States. During the conversation, Ilana praised the organization’s managing director, Josh McElhattan, the founder of Startbot, a firm dedicated to investment and growth for robotic startups in Western Pennsylvania. This […]

Raja discusses his recent experience running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain on today’s edition of “The Raja Show”, and relates the lessons he learned about competition and adaptation to change during his run to the world of business. Plus, he talks with Mike Kauffelt of Bill Few Associates about planning for change in your […]

This Sunday, we will focus on one of the rising stars in the Western Pennsylvania sports management scene, as Raja talks with Pittsburgh Power CEO Matt Shaner. Matt discusses the challenges and opportunities he experiences as the head of Pittsburgh’s arena football team, and what his management team, a squad which includes Pittsburgh Steelers legend […]

We continue our discussions with award-winning entrepreneurs, as we talk with John Lacarte, the President of Model Cleaners and recent winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Western Pennsylvania region (in the “business services” category). John discusses the history of the business, and how a business as simple as […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

As part of Memorial Day Weekend, we feature two special veteran guests who will join us to discuss both their military service, and their best-selling military-themed books. Former Army Ranger Sean Parnell will discuss his book, “Outlaw Platoon”, and former U.S. Marine Corps officer Nathaniel Fick talks about “One Bullet Away”.

We examine what it takes to become an effective leader when it comes to the political arena. We talk with a pair of candidates for the Republican nomination for Allegheny County Council, Matt Drozd and Tom Baker, to get a feel for their ideologies, and to determine what sets them apart.

Raja takes a look at the role that business support organizations can play in helping businesses grow and develop as he talks with Rich Lunak of Pittsburgh-based InnovationWorks. Plus, Henry Thorne, one of the founders of the wildly-successful maternal lifesaving company 4Moms, talks to Raja about his remarkable story.

We preview one of the hottest networking events in Western Pennsylvania, the Entrepreneurs Growth Conference, presented by the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University. The all-day event takes place on Friday, May 10, on the Duquesne University campus. Raja talks with the event’s keynote speaker, Will Knecht of Wendell August Forge, as well as […]

Raja talks with former Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey about the leadership roles that women can play in our region. Plus, Jason Kutney, CEO (and player) for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team, joins us to discuss the challenges of building a successful sports franchise in a city that is already full of them, and the […]

Raja talks with Karen Morris, the wife of The American Entrepreneur, the late Ron Morris, about who Ron was as a person, and what she is doing to preserve Ron’s legacy as a business leader. Plus, Jerry Cozewith of Entrepreneuring Youth checks in to discuss how he’s working with Karen on some special projects dedicated […]

Raja discusses the importance of collegiate education when it comes to developing the mindset and skillset of an entrepreneur with Ann Dugan, the Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh. Plus, Dave Wilke of Wilke and Associates CPA checks in to discuss sound strategies you need to employ right now […]

Raja discusses some of the economic issues making headlines on a domestic and global level, and assesses the impact these headlines have on the world of business, as he talks with Mike Kauffelt, CEO of Bill Few Associates, a Western Pennsylvania-based financial planning firm, and Matt Brouillette, the President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation […]

Raja welcomes Regis McKenna, one of the most significant figures to emerge from the tech boom that produced Apple, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and a host of other tech titans. Regis was there, and he shares his stories from his time there, his recollections of Steve Jobs, and his thoughts on the state of tech today. […]

Original Air Date: March 17, 2013 Can an entrepreneur be successful in America if he or she is not from America?  Raja has some answers to that question, including stories from his own experience as somebody who made it big in the U.S.  Plus, Raja talks with a pair of successful, influential business leaders, Ken […]

Original Air Date: March 10, 2013 What are the most effective ways in which entrepreneurs can differentiate themselves in the marketplace? Raja has a few ideas, and he talks with a pair of educators at Carnegie Mellon University, Raul Valdes-Perez and Art Boni, who weigh in with what they’ve experienced in their careers, and what […]

Original Air Date: March 3, 2013 Raja talks with Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute, who discusses an upcoming event honoring The American Entrepreneur, Ron Morris. Plus, Varol Ablak, the co-founder and CEO of Vocelli Pizza, discusses the evolution of a family-oriented business that exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Original Air Date: February 24, 2013 It’s the debut episode of “The Raja Show”, and host Raja kicks off the show by discussing the show’s mission, as well as the role that his friend, the late Ron Morris, played in inspiring him to start a show aimed at promoting the American dream. Plus, Raja talks […]

Raja is teaming up with NewsRadio 1020 KDKA to bring the struggles and triumphs of the American Dream to the airwaves! The Raja Sho promos are running throughout the week on the air and online. As one of the few Indian-American voices on FM radio, Raja brings a fresh blend of entrepreneurial savvy and street […]