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Darby O’Brien is the dean among the local marketing and public relations professionals, and he speaks with more than 40 years of experience in that field. He’s also famous for speaking his mind, being candid any subject you want to talk about, and not caring if he ruffles any feathers while doing so. Sounds like an intriguing guest for BusinessTalk. And he is. Indeed, in a candid talk with BusinessWest contributing writer George O’Brien (no relation — and both are thankful for that) Darby opines on everything from the state of modern advertising — “where has all the creative gone?” — to what can be expected during the 2024 presidential campaign — “it’s going to get ugly.” This is certainly must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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Dave Hayes was fascinated by storms in his youth, and even more intrigued by the weather forecasts he saw on TV, and how they were quickly mirrored by the skies above him. That passion never went away, and he eventually began sharing it with the world — with surprising results. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with the man known online as Dave Hayes the Weather Nut about his career creating community around weather, and what he plans next for his popular daily platform (it involves a mobile app). It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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Since its inception in 1976, the Center for EcoTechnology (CET) has been on the cutting edge of big issues like energy efficiency, waste reduction, and, more recently, decarbonization. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Ashley Muspratt, president and CEO of the Florence-based Center for EcoTechnology, and Emily Gaylord, the organization’s director of Communications & Relationship Development, about CET’s evolving mission and broad impact, why the organization expects to grow dramatically in the coming years, and how individuals and businesses can take steps to move toward a greener, healthier future. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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Downtown Northampton has long been a neighborhood in flux — from its renaissance in the 1990s to its reputation as a trendsetter and tourism draw; from its resilience during the pandemic to the construction and road redesign beginning next year. As executive director of the Northampton Downtown Assoc., Jillian Duclos leads a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the cultural and economic vitality of downtown, through a mix of beautification, events, marketing, and advocacy. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, she talks withBusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about the challenges of this important role, and why she’s so passionate about meeting them. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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If she could redo her 20s, Kara Bombard says she would have become involved with the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield much earlier than she did, because the relationships she has built at YPS — which she currently serves as president — have proven valuable. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Bombard about her work at YPS and why the organization is so important 17 years after it was first launched. They also talk about her intriguing role as marketing manager at Performance Foodservice, which helps area restaurants run their businesses more successfully — and her recent selection as one of this year’s 40 Under Forty. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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Franklin County Community Development Corp. (FCCDC) boasts a long history of stimulating the region’s economy in myriad ways, in particular providing business-development education, access to capital, and commercial office and manufacturing space, and it has done so through a robust array of programs. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with FCCDC Executive Director John Waite and Communications Director Kate Lawless about how the organization’s mission has evolved with community needs, but the vision of a more vibrant Franklin County economy has not. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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It’s called 52 Sumner. That’s a street address in Springfield, but it’s also an intriguing new addition to the arts landscape in Western Mass. — an event space created in the former Faith United Church, one that opened its doors in January and is off to a very fast start. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, George O’Brien, contributing writer at BusinessWest, talks with Angela Park, president of Springfield Performing Arts Ventures Inc., the nonprofit that manages the venue, about how this stunning transformation of the church came about and how it will not only host different kinds of performances, but also immerse people — and especially young people — in the arts. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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Tara Brewster has come a long way from her years in the world of men’s clothing. Over the past several years as vice president of Business Development and director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank — a role in which no two days are the same, she says — Brewster has only grown her heart for the business community (which she also expresses as host of the Western Mass Business Show on WHMP) while continuing to find impactful ways to serve local nonprofits and community organizations. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, she talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about all of this and more — and how she manages to find balance in a very busy and meaningful life. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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In 1979, the Iron Horse Music Hall opened inside a nondescript storefront on Center Street in Northampton — and launched four decades of music and memories. After it was shuttered a few years ago, the nonprofit Parlor Room Collective decided to not only reopen it, but fix what needed fixing while keeping its intimate model intact. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Parlor Room Collective Executive Director Chris Freeman talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about the challenge of this project, an ongoing campaign to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete it, and why live music — and the Iron Horse — are so critical to the cultural life of this city and region. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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When BusinessWest celebrates its Difference Makers class of 2024 on April 10, one of the honorees will be Delcie Bean, who has been a fixture in the region’s IT space for the past two decades — and has begun to grow the footprint and reach of his company, Paragus Strategic I.T., well outside it. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Bean about that growth plan, how to build and retain an IT workforce, why he transitioned Paragus to a 100% employee-owned model, and the excititing changes ahead in the high-tech world, from VR and automation to AI, and how that will impact businesses of all kinds. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.
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Tourism is critical to the economic energy of Western Mass. — it’s often the first experience people have with the region, and can be a strong factor in whether they want to move or work here. And the annual economic impact of visitors — at tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels, conventions, and events — soars into the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, about what goes into energizing, promoting, and sustaining this critical sector — as well as the many events and attractions that promise to make 2024 a year to remember. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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Today’s zoos — the best ones, anyway — have come a long way from what they used to be, and the Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center is a prime example, honing over the years its focus on education, conservation, and rehabilitation, and bringing much of that education into the community through its programs. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks with Sarah Tsitso, executive director of the Forest Park Zoo, about her passion for animal welfare, the challenges of funding a year-round operation that’s open to the public for only five months, and how the organization is helping to cultivate the next generation of animal-care professionals — not to mention the next generation of families making new memories together. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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Fifty years ago, Curio Nataloni was laid off from a construction job and started doing solo kitchen projects. Ten years after he launched that business, his brother, Frank, joined him full-time, and just this past month, Kitchens by Curio celebrated 50 years in business. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Curio and Frank talk with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about surviving and thriving through various economic shifts and the many changes in home renovation over the years, from high-tech advances to the way people shop to evolving tastes in kitchen and bath styles — and also about Curio’s son, Michael, who plans to eventually be the company’s second-generation leader. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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For seven decades, the Home & Garden Show presented by the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Massachusetts (HBRAWM) has been a much-anticipated annual event, where people come to check out what’s new in home improvement, maybe book a project or two, and have fun with friends and family. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, HBRAWM Executive Director Andrew Crane talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about why, even in an online world, people still love to see, touch, and talk about what they want to install in their homes, and why vendors value the show for the way it makes connections … and its impact on their bottom line. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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Bill Collins had worked at all levels of the restaurant business, amassing a wealth of experience, when he decided to open Center Square Grill 10 years ago. The decision proved to be a good one, as the East Longmeadow eatery, specializing in creative American cuisine, was an immediate success — but has still faced plenty of challenges along the way, especially during the pandemic. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Bill talks withBusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about what he’s learned over the decades, how to retain a large workforce at a time when many restaurants struggle with that, and what continues to drive his passion. It's must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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Real estate investment with a purpose can be rewarding in more ways than just the bottom line. Just ask the team at Mill Town Capital in Pittsfield, which has invested in a wide array of projects aimed at rejuvenating local businesses, enhancing recreational amenities, and revitalizing key infrastructure. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Mill Town Capital CEO Tim Burke talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about his passion for his corner of the Berkshires and how the firm’s purposeful work is generating new life and new opportunities for businesses and residents alike. It’s must-listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Road Race are traditions in the Paper City and across the 413. They are events, but they are much more than that. They bring families and communities together, and they are economic engines — for Holyoke, but also the entire region. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, contributing writer George O’Brien talks with Hayley Dunn, 2024 president of the parade and road race, about all this and much more. They discuss everything from who’s in charge of the weather — the grand marshal — to having the parade on St. Patrick’s Day itself. But mostly, they talk about all that goes into putting these events on, and how the suspense builds in the weeks and days leading up to March 17. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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Mental-health awareness is on the rise — partly because more people are willing to talk about it, and that’s a healthy development. But it’s also because the needs in society are greater too, even as we move further away from an isolating pandemic. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s Shelley Zimmerman, hospital administrator, and Kimberley Lee, chief of Creative Strategy and Development, about what the Holyoke facility is doing these days to meet those needs, from reopening its renovated adolescent unit to supporting families in crisis and, yes, continuing to fight the stigma too-often associated with mental health. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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Colleges and universities have had to deal with a host of challenges in recent years, from demographic pressures on enrollment numbers to recovery from a pandemic that challenged the main role of colleges: delivering access to quality education. Elms College has emerged from those years on a mission: to reshape its strategic plan, launch a capital campaign to help implement it, and better prepare students for a changing work world. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar talks to Elms College President Harry Dumay about these developments, as well as an intriguing regional higher-ed partnership with Springfield Public Schools to improve literacy in area kids. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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These are unusual economic times for businesses, with some healthy indicators but also hurdles like persistent inflation, high interest rates, and workforce challenges. As president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, Rick Sullivan recognizes those issues but also sees plenty of potential for the region to attract new business, grow promising industries, and continue to build on its strengths in education, innovation, and collaboration. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Rick talks to BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about the current economic tides, what’s happening in the development community, and why there’s plenty of optimism out there, even amid the uncertainty. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.
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