BusinessTalk

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 certainlymustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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 withBusinessWestEditor Joe Bednar about the challenges of this important role, and why she’s so passionate about meeting them. It’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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,BusinessWestEditor 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’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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,BusinessWestEditor 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’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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. t’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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 withBusinessWestEditor Joe Bednar about all of this and more — and how she manages to find balance in a very busy and meaningful life. It’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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 BusinessWestEditor 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’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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,BusinessWestEditor 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’smustlistening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented byBusinessWest.

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,BusinessWestEditor 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 byBusinessWestand sponsored by PeoplesBank.