BusinessWest & Healthcare News: Business & Health Talk Podcast

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively, wide-ranging discussion with Lenny Underwood, owner of Underwood Photography and Upscale Socks. The two talk about both of those intriguing businesses — especially his ever-expanding sock line — and also about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s must listening so jo...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively, wide-ranging discussion with Lenny Underwood, owner of Underwood Photography and Upscale Socks. The two talk about both of those intriguing businesses — especially his ever-expanding sock line — and also about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s must listening so jo...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively, wide-ranging discussion with Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Western Mass. Economic Development Council. The two discuss everything from the ongoing workforce crisis, to the proposed data center project in Westfield, to the region’s prospects for gaining population — and business opportunities — as a result of t...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Delcie Bean, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT and the presenter for a recent  BusinessWest  Webinar, sponsored by Comcast Business, called ‘Automation: The Time is Now.’ The two talk about the many ways businesses can benefit from automation of processes, everyday tasks, and more — especially during...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Eugene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Big E. As the start of the fair approaches, there is both anticipation and apprehension about the 17-day gathering in the wake of COVID and the Delta variant.  The two discuss what the expectations are for the 2021 fair, the steps being taken in the wake of COVID, and the impor...

On the next installment of BusinessTalk,  BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer for Mercy Medical Center. The two discuss the changing scene with COVID-19, the emergence of the Delta variant, the outlook for the fall — and beyond, and the many factors that will determine the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Th...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Peter Rosskothen, owner of the Log Cabin Banquet & meeting House, the Delaney House restaurant, and other hospitality-related businesses. The two talk about the changing numbers when it comes to the pandemic, the emergence of the Delta variant, and what all this could mean for businesses already facing a number of chal...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Mary Flahive Dickson, chief development officer and chief medical officer for Golden Years Homecare Services. The two talk about what has become a very serious workforce crisis in healthcare, the reasons behind it, the impact on area healthcare providers, and the outlook for the future. It’s must listening so join us...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Tara Brewster, Vice President of Business Development for Greenfield Savings Bank and one of five finalists for  BusinessWest’s  coveted 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award. The two talk about her work, but especially her involvement in the community, her latest assignment as radio talk host, and her li...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Meghan Rothschild, president and owner of Chikmedia and one of five finalists for  BusinessWest’s  coveted 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award. The two talk about her business, but especially her efforts to mentor and coach women in business and also her work within the community and to support many of...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, another of the finalists for BusinessWest’s coveted Alumni Achievement Award. The two talk about a number of the D.A.’s recent programs and initiatives, from work on cold cases, to the Emerging Adult Court of Hope, to efforts to curb everything from drug addicti...

George O’Brien has a lively discussion with Massachusetts State Sen. Eric Lesser, one of five finalists for BusinessWest’s coveted 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award. The two tackle a wide range of topics, including high-speed rail, the new Future of Work Commission Lesser now sits on, and redistricting and what it might mean for Springfield and the rest of Western Mass. It’...

BusinessWest editor George O’Brien talks with Charlie Christianson, president of East Longmeadow-based CMD Technology Group. The two discuss the recent spate of high-profile cyber attacks and how they have served to drive home the point that small businesses — and large businesses as well — need to do all they can to be prevent such breaches and properly respond when and if they...

BusinessWest editor George O’Brien talks with Claudia Pazmany, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. The two discuss the broad impact of the pandemic on a region heavily dependent on  college students and tourism, and how the same region is bracing for the ‘new normal’ and the many challenges and opportunities that will come will with it. It’s mus...

BusinessWest editor George O’Brien talks with John Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. The two discuss the state’s New Normal stage of reopening, new exhibits at the Hall, and how 2021 is shaping up as a strong, memorable  year for the shrine. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living...

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien continues his series of discussions with members of the magazine’s 40 Under Forty class of 2021. This week, his guest is Chris Howland, director of procurement, logistics, and special projects for Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass Amherst. The two discuss all that goes into his job, but mostly they talk about the award-winning UMass Dining program and al...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien continues his series of discussions with members of the magazine’s 40 Under Forty class of 2021. This week, his guest is Joel McAuliffe, deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Eric Lesser and a city councilor in Chicopee. The two discuss everything from his work to bring high-speed Internet access to his constituents in Chicopee, to the need for &...

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien continues his series of discussions with members of the magazine’s 40 Under Forty class of 2021. This week, his guest is Chris Howland, director of procurement, logistics, and special projects for Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass Amherst. The two discuss all that goes into his job, but mostly they talk about the award-winning UMass Dining program and al...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien begins a series of shows devoted to the 40 Under Forty Class of 2021 by talking with top scorer Jessica Bossie, primary care doctor for Health Services for the Homeless. The two discuss the critical work that this agency carries out, the many challenges involved with treating the homeless population, and the many ways this program is not only helping...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. The two discuss a wide range of topics, including the current pace of vaccinations, strategies for improving those numbers, the challenges facing the country as it strives to reach herd immunity, and expectations for when the region, the state, and the nation might be able to reach som...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien continues his series of discussions with members of the magazine’s 40 Under Forty class of 2021. This week, his guest is Julissa Colon, special programs coordinator for the Gateway to College program at Holyoke Community College. The two discuss the many ways this program helps those who have left traditional education set and reach new goals &m...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien continues his series of discussions with members of the magazine’s 40 Under Forty class of 2021. This week, his guest is Julissa Colon, special programs coordinator for the Gateway to College program at Holyoke Community College. The two discuss the many ways this program helps those who have left traditional education set and reach new goals &m...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Meredith Wise, president of the Employers Association of the Northeast. The two discuss a wide range of topics, from how business owners and managers handle the reopening of their offices and the return of employees — some will want to go to the office, but many won’t — to the growing challenge of simply finding enough goo...

On this installment of BusinessTalk,  BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Suzanne Murphy, CEO and founder of Unemployment Tax Control Associates in Springfield. The two discuss a critical issue now facing employers across the region — the huge increases in the unemployment insurance solvency fund assessment now facing all business owners. These assessment increases...

BusinessWest  Editor George O’Brien talks with Dave DiRico, owner of Dave DiRico’s Golf & Racquet. The two have a lively discussion about everything from the state of the golf business in the wake of the pandemic — the sport has actually received a big boost from COVID — to how the federal government’s various economic stimulus programs are helping small busi...