Pittsburgh E Award
The President of the United States’ “E” Award for Exporting Excellence
The President’s “E” Award was created by Executive Order of the President on December 5, 1961, to afford suitable recognition to persons, firms, or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports. The President’s “E Star Award”, which was authorized by the Secretary of Commerce on August 4, 1969, affords continuing recognition of noteworthy export promotion efforts.
Our most recent E Award winning company, R.L. Swearer, is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based international freight forwarder and customs broker. Founded in 1915 as a one-person Customs Broker primarily managing barge traffic on Pittsburgh’s three rivers, R.L. Swearer, a Veteran-owned and led company has grown to help clients in markets around the globe.
The company was awarded its the President’s “E ” Award for Export Service in 2024 for its support to U.S. exporters in helping them increase their international sales. They have done this through regular training, education, and counseling to help their customers and local businesses understand and navigate the complexities of the global market. This is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
Past E Award winners can be found below:
First National Bank of Pennsylvania (FNB) is a commercial bank and financial services provider. The bank was established and licensed by the OCC in 1864. Today it is a $32 billion regional commercial bank with operations and lending offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North and South Carolinas. In November 2013, the bank formed International Banking Services as a line of business dedicated to providing comprehensive international services, foreign exchange and export services to small business and middle market clients. Through this banking service, FNB is an active member of several trade organizations and agencies. Because of its visibility in their six-state footprint, they have become a resource center, often called upon to partner with federal and state agencies to educate and create awareness about export financial services. Over the past four years FNB has conducted seminars, workshops and or made presentations to exporters in partnership with several organizations
Echo International, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a translation, localization, and cultural consulting company that received the President’s “E” Award for export service companies on May 18, 2015. Whether the client is a large fortune 100 company or a small company looking to make it’s first international steps, Echo International exhibits the same passion to bridge linguistic and intercultural barriers to global commerce. Staff members from Echo International are frequent speakers and presenters in local export seminars to help the region’s exporters.
Sauereisen, a world leader in the production of protective linings, coatings, and ceramics for industrial users, was awarded its second President’s “E Star” Award for Exports—the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports, in 2019 Sauereisen is one of only four companies to receive a second President’s “E Star” Award for Exports in the history of the 60-year of the award. Sauereisen first won the E Award in 1978 and the E Star in 2020.