BusinessTalk

Turning employees into employers. Turning consumers into producers. Those are two of the broad goals behind creation of the Latino Economic Development Council. For the next installment of BusinessTalk, BusinessWest editor George O’Brien talks with Andrew Melendez, director of Operations for this agency, about its unique model and mission and the many ways it will measure success. It’s m...

Creating opportunities to thrive. That’s the underlying goal of  Springfield Works and the Working Cities Challenge Initiative. Ann  Kandilis leads that program, and she is the guest on the next  installment of BusinessTalk. Kandilis and BusinessWest Editor talk about  Springfield Works, a $400,000 Community Empowerment and Reinvestment  Grant, and ongoing work to address...

Downtown Amherst was among the regions hardest hit by the pandemic. With  more than 30,000 students, faculty, staff, and more gone from the  equation, it became, in many respects, a ghost town. But it’s staging a  strong comeback as the students and everyone else return and many new  businesses open their doors. Gabrielle Gould, executive director of the  Amherst Business...

The challenges facing this region’s nonprofits — and cookies. Those are two of the many subjects that BusinessWest editor George O’Brien and Square One President and CEO Dawn DiStefano  discuss on the next installment of the BusinessTalk podcast. There are  many challenges confronting nonprofits, obviously, from finding talented  help to fundraising. Which brings us to … cookies — t...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Mark Rivers, event producer for Hooplandia, the giant 3-on-3 basketball tournament coming to the region next summer. The two talk about how this concept came together, how it survived three years of cancellations and delays due to COVID, and why this tournament, a production, led by the Big E and the Basketball Hall of Fame, has...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with  Jeff Daley, president and CEO of Westmass Area Development Corp. about  the agency’s most ambitious, project to date, redevelopment of the  massive Ludlow Mills complex. Daley recounts the latest developments and  talks about how the project has turned a critical corner. It’s all must  listening, so joi...

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with  Ray Berry, founder of White Lion Brewery. The two talk about everything  from the state of the craft brewing industry in Massachusetts to Berry’s  plans to partner with former UMass and NBA star Marcus Camby  on a new  and exciting White Lion in downtown Amherst. It’s all must listening, so  join us for...

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. The two discuss everything from the city’s new parking garage, to COVID-relief efforts, to a number of new developments — in the city’s downtown and its many neighborhoods. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

On the next installment of BusinessTalk,  BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Lisa Ekus, founder and partner with the Ekus Group in Hatfield, which likes to say it’s in the business of “creating culinary celebrities.” The two discuss everything from the massive, and still growing, business of food, to her 8,000-volume library of cookbooks and what it takes to...

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Jennifer McGrath, communications manager at Six Flags New England in Agawam. The two discuss everything from the pandemic and its impact on the popular attraction to a surge in tourism this summer to the latest additions at the popular amusement park. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by Busines...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Eugene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition. The two talk about everything from what’s on tap for this year’s Big E, to what’s happening within the ‘fair’ industry, to the Big E’s impact on the local economy and its business community. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast present...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Nate Costa, president of the Springfield Thunderbirds. The two discuss the team’s strong finish last season (an Eastern Conference championship), it’s lengthy playoff run, and how the team intends to build on all the momentum built during its surge to the top of the standings. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presen...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Peter Picknelly, chairman of Peter Pan Bus Lines and president of OPAL Development. The two discuss everything from the price of diesel fuel to the housing project taking shape in Court Square. But mostly, they focus on Picknelly’s recently revealed, very ambitious plans for a new courthouse in Springfield, a project he believes will reshape the...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Hubert Benitez, the recently appointed president of American International College. The two discuss his latest assignment within academia, his goals for AIC, COVID, and the many other challenges facing colleges and universities today. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Liv...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Diana Szynal,  the incoming president of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce.  The two discuss her new appointment, the business scene in Greater and  Springfield, and the challenges and opportunities facing chambers of  commerce today. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a  podcast presented by...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Anthony Gleason II, president and co-founder of the Gleason-Johndrow Companies and winner of BusinessWest’s Alumni  Achievement Award for 2022. The two talk about the phenomenal growth of  his company and the many facets of his work within the community.  It’s  all must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presente...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Amy Roberts, executive vice president and chief Human Resources officer at PeoplesBank. The two discuss the ongoing workforce crisis and the adjustments area business owners and managers should make if they want stand out in this marketplace and effectively attract and retain talented individuals. Her best advice?  “Meet people where they ar...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with John Regan, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Mass.  The two discuss the state’s the economy and the headwinds facing it, especially the ongoing workforce crisis. They also discuss the prospects for a recession and the many issues keeping business owners up at night. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Charlie Epstein,  senior vice president of HUB International and Epstein Financial. The  two discuss his upcoming show at Holyoke Community College — Yield of  Dreams — and how it brings together his twin passions — acting and  educating people about not just saving for retirement, but realizing  their dreams. It’s all mu...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Carla Cosenzi,  president of TommyCar Auto Group. A winner of several of BusinessWest’s  awards, including Difference Maker, 40 Under Forty, and the Alumni  Achievement Award, all presented to those who combine excellence in  their chosen field with work within the community, she talks about how  those in business can ach...

Editor George O’Brien talks with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal about the prospects for momentum on east-west rail in the Commonwealth. The congressman believes the stars are aligned on this matter, and explains why Gov. Charlie Baker’s endorsement of the project is just another of many pieces now falling into place. It’s all must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Ted Mendoza, a capital projects manager at UMass Amherst about the school’s recently announced ‘carbon-zero’ project, a bold initiative to power the campus with 100% renewable energy within the next decade or so. The two discuss the coming steps in the process, the challenges and potential obstacles, and the hope that by reaching this ambitious g...

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Andrew Michael,  manager of Dave DiRico’s Golf in West Springfield. The two discuss the  surge that the game — and business — of golf have seen since the start  of the pandemic and its prospects for continuing in the 2020 season.  They also delve into supply chain issues,  inflation, and the many other  challenges facing c...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien engages in provocative  discussion with State Rep. Joseph Wagner of Chicopee, who recently  announced he will not seek re-election. Wagner looks back on more than  30 years in the House and what might come next for him, and also offers  his thoughts on a range of pressing matters, from East-West rail to the  state of the casino indu...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien engages in provocative  discussion with Darby O’Brien (no relation), founder and principal of  Darby O’Brien Advertising. Speaking from 42 years of experience, Darby  believes businesses have become too cautious in their marketing and  advertising and far less willing to take on anything approaching risk —  to their detriment. The g...