I have been blessed to receive many honors in my life, but quite honestly, one of the greatest happened in early December when I served as the commencement speaker at the winter graduation ceremony at Youngstown State University.

In 2011, while serving with the 2nd Battalion 4th Marines in Afghanistan, an improvised explosive device struck Sust. The injuries were so severe that he, eventually, had to have his left leg amputated below his knee. “It sucks that I am missing a leg, but I am OK and I wouldn’t change anything,” he said.

He took a few orders before customers began to recognize him. The celebrity came to Panera Bread as the final shot in what has been a six-week effort to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland. He and his parents dined at the Rocky River Panera with the winners of the Dinner with Delly raffle.

While preparing my remarks for the dinner, I came across a quote from Lewis Cass, a politician and statesman who lived in the 1800s. He said, “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.” One of the reasons why I was so honored about the NAACP award is because the NAACP knows me and our organization, Covelli Enterprises.

In February, I received the Whitney M. Young Award from the Laurel Highlands Council, Scoutreach Division of the Boy Scouts of America. I am thrilled by the honor, but it has also prompted me to think about the social role and responsibility of businesses.

I have a new reason for going to work every day. She’s not very big and she doesn’t eat a lot. But as long as our Panera baguettes are her favorite food, I’m going to make sure that Lily Von Glahn has as many baguettes...

People learn in many different ways. I believe that I learn best by studying others. I was fortunate to have learned from my parents and countless role models throughout my life. And I am still learning – every day. I learned a lot and gained amazing inspiration from dozens of Pittsburgh youth who entered Covelli Enterprises’ Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Writing Contest and Leadership Award.