BusinessTalk

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 Improvement District, talks about these developments  with BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien on the next installment  of the BusinessTalk podcast. It’s must listening, so join us for  BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and sponsored by  PeoplesBank.

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 — the focal point of  the agency’s new fundraiser, set for this fall. It’s all must listening,  so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 the potential to become a legacy event. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by  BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and  sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 become part of that collection. It’s all must listening, so join us for BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 BusinessWest  and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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 presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local and sponsored by PeoplesBank.