Western Mass Business Show 4.25.20

Tune in Saturday, April 25 @ 11 am & Sunday, April 26 @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with ETHEL GRIFFIN & COLLEEN LOVELESS, of REVITALIZE CDC. For 28 years they have rebuilt homes and revitalized communities in Western Mass, leveraging the investments of donors, grantors and volunteers to provide resources to the elderly, veterans, families with children and people with special needs, ranging from roof repairs to mold remediation, to health and safety modifications and energy-efficiency improvements. Hear how they’ve helped neighborhoods build the community strong enough to drive out drug houses; helped children suffering from asthma, worsened by their own house; and even in the time of Covid-19, can do virtual assessments to identify hazards in your home and provide advice and supplies. And how contributions, using the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC), gives back 50% of your donation, as a tax credit that even includes nonprofits ie: kind of like the government is providing a matching grant!

Western Mass Business Show 3.28.20

Tune in Saturday, March 28 @ 11 am & Sunday, March 29 @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with JEFF LOMMA, Marketing & Communications Manager of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity . They discuss why and how they help people move out of substandard housing and into a Habitat home, which is more likely to improve their health, attain an education, and increase their safety and finances. Because 1 in 5 families in Mass pay ½ or more on housing, HFH builds and repairs homes in partnership with local families; and helps qualifying families obtain a home of their own with an affordable mortgage, and how they provide a “Hand up, not a handout.” Also, hear about their June 20 fundraiser, Home Runs for Habitat (wiffle ball home run derby) at Bullens Field in Westfield; and about ReStore in Westfield, a home improvement store and donation center.

Western Mass Business Show 3.14.20

3.14.20 George O’Brien from Business West guest hosts and talks with Pete Westover from Conservation Works

Western Mass Business Show 3.7.20

Western Mass Business Show 2.29.20

Tune in Saturday, February 29 @ 11 am, and Sunday, March 1 @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with JIM YOUNG, the Centered Coach, and JESSI KIRLEY, of the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley. Jim grabs the mike and interviews Jessi and Ira, who discuss the emotional aspects of transition; how their building friendship was like “STP” to the fuel of their hand-off plan; how trust, vulnerability, appreciation were vital ingredients; how their ongoing meeting agenda was built on tensions that needed resolving; how they utilized their chosen ‘leadership coach,” and how few transitions (including 38 in Pioneer Valley in 2019) had any overlap at all. Listen in!

Western Mass Business Show 2.22.20

Tune in Saturday, Feb 22 @ 11 am, and Sunday, Feb 23 @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with GARY SCHAEFER & IVAN USSACH, of Common Good, a 501(c)(3) non-bank financial institution paired with a democratic system for deciding as a community how to use the Community Fund the system produces. They discuss how this method gathers people together locally; and transforms the ability of communities to improve access for food, housing, clean environment, and a resilient economy; using transparent and open source software, policies, finances, plans, and publicity materials

Western Mass Business Show 2.15.20

Tune in Saturday, February 15 @ 11 am, and Sunday, February 16 @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with ROCHELLE CLARK, Founder and CEO of Succession Strength, a company that keeps good businesses in business. She works with entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses to protect their operations with business continuity planning and prepare to pass the operations from one generation of leadership to the next. They discuss how 80% of succession failures are due to poor communication and inadequate preparation, how she provides the education, practical tools, and in-person guidance to overcome those obstacles.

Western Mass Business Show 2.8.20

Tune in Saturday, February 8th @ 11 am, and Sunday, February 9th @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with NINA ROSSI, of Nina’s Nook, a whimsical, 5-foot-wide gallery in Turners Falls, that displays her art, and of her fellow craftspeople. Their exhibits include an annual erotic art show, her paintings of street life, collections of the stories of visitors to the store, and her art on the theme of the abandoned shopping carts of Turners Falls (it’s a thing there). She is also a member of 2 bands (including bassist for the wonderful She Said); and the Shelburne Falls Art Collective; and a hyper-local coloring book of Turners Fall. Listen in!

Western Mass Business Show 2.1.20.

Tune in Saturday, February 1st @ 11 am, and Sunday, February 2nd @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with ALEX KENT, Japanese translator and interpreter, on how human and machine translation compares, how Japanese is built in a very Japanese way, the many areas of life where good interpretation is crucial; also, Alex’s love of biking, plus of Japan, resulted in him leading biking tours in Japan! (did not see that coming!) Also, hear about his campaign to get the Common Share food coop in Amherst to be born, and how its competitive advantage is how it will be a community gathering space, with a social justice mission, plus great food.

Western Mass Business Show 1.25.20

Tune in Saturday, January 25 @ 11 am, and Sunday, January 26 @ 8 pm to hear Ira speak with ANDREA BORDENCA of DESCO, Lead Yourself Youth, and Institute for Generative Leadership. The building being built on Venture Way in Hadley will be the new home to all this and more. They discuss Andrea’s journey, including running her 2nd generation family business (repairs on technical medical equipment, getting the O.R. operating again); plus how her personal struggles and healing led her to help young people in crisis, and lead the organization (IGL) that gave her so much support, when a client seeking help. If anyone is interested in spinning several high-quality plates, listen to how Andrea keeps it all going.