Podcasts: The Western Mass. Business Show
The Western Mass. Business Show
Entrepreneurs undertake risk and responsibility, in order to solve problems, contribute their passions and talents to society, and make the world go round. Our success and survival depends on them, and they depend on you. Hear their stories, perspectives, and inspirations every week, as they reveal themselves in a conversation with Tara Brewster. Saturdays at 11AM and Sundays at 2PM on The Western Mass Business Show.
Western Mass Business Show on 6.27.26 – Downtown Amherst Foundation/The Drake
Join us as we speak to Claudia Pazmany Executive Director of the Downtown Amherst Foundation aka the Drake. Many know Claudia from her roles around the region including ED of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and Development Director at the MLK Center in Springfield. She is joined by Gabrielle Gould, Founder and President of the Board at the Downtown Amherst Foundation and families face around the greater Amherst area in her past role as ED of the Amherst BID. The Drake has been a huge economic driver for downtown Amherst since it’s inception in April of 2022. Learn how ticketed events add to the vibrancy and economic development of a town and how partnership is the way we must move forward together. We are also joined by Lincoln Allen, Manager of the Drake and Chris Freeman, ED of the Iron Horse in Northampton. Miles for Music is an 8.1 mile run from the Drake to the Iron Horse on September 13th to coincide with the Taste of Northampton. Be a part of the action and sign up early at runreg.com or go to www.thedrakeamherst.org for more information. Thanks for listening.
Western Mass Business Show on 6.13.26 – Zoar Outdoor
Join us as we hear from Mo Bergmann Perez, General Manager, and Brigid O’Riordan, Core Resources Coordinator, from Zoar Outdoor and Zoar Paddlesports in Charlemont, MA. Both women are long time employees and committed to the Zoar Core Values of Enhancing Lives, Acting with Integrity, Building Positive Relationships, Promoting Teamwork, Embracing Change, Valuing Growth, Taking Ownership, and Planning Thoughtfully. This business is one of many under the Berkshire East/Catamount/Burke Mountain groups and a key piece of the regional outdoor tourism economy for Franklin County. Zoar Outdoor especially relies on a partnership with the FERC and an agreement with Brooksfield and Great River Hydro for the water releases they guarantee for the Gap and the Dryway water levels to rise enough to be able to enjoy the water sports and activities that the business relies on. Listen in as we talk about the history of the land, how many offerings they have to engage customers and upcoming events this summer. Thanks for coming on Mo and Brigid.
www.zoaroutdoor.com
Western Mass Business Show on 6.6.26 – Mary Yun
Join us as we speak with Mary Yun who is the Executive Director of Click Workspace at 9 1/2 market Street in downtown Northampton. Click is celebrating 10 years on Market Street. Tune in as we talk about what it means to cowork in pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post pandemic life. How do we work? Why Click? Why coworking space? Why Northampton? How did Click come to be? Mary has a background as an architect and designer. Bringing this eye for quality of spatial relationships to light, materials, and color for over 28 years Click Workspace has benefited from her eye for detail. Click as a coworking space, gallery space, and community event space has been a very successful concept. They will be celebrating their 10 years on June 12th from 6 to 8 PM with an large scale event at 9 1/2 Market Street. To find out more please go to www.clickworkspace.org or www.maryyunstudio.com.
Western Mass Business Show on 5.30.26 – Friends of Forbes Library
Join us as we listen to some of the Friends of Forbes Library speak about their love of Forbes and the spaces that it creates for people. Jody Rosenbloom, is the Garden Tour Committee Chair, JoEllen Mackenzie, is the President of the FOF Library Board of Directors, and Alex Kessler, is the Garden Tour Committee Member and Coordinator of the Garden search process. What is the Garden Tour? Well, only the most successful fundraiser that the FOF runs every year, coming up on June 13th, 10AM-4PM. For 46 years the Friends have been supporting the needs of the library through memberships and donations at events like the Garden Tour. Your participation helps the library thrive. Go to www.friends.forbeslibrary.org to purchase tickets or find out more about the Friends of the upcoming Garden Tour. Thanks for listening.
Western Mass Business Show on 5.23.26 – John Bidwell Chief Development Officer at Way Finders
Join us as we speak to John Bidwell about his many roles professionally and what experiences shaped him as a human. From owning a small business to being a regional leader in larger companies spanning for and non-profit roles John has seemingly done it all with grace and ease. What does it mean to reinvent yourself and why should leap of faiths be something that we embrace rather than run from? What does purpose and leadership look like for you and how can you forge your own path of joy and mission. As a Peace Corps volunteer and author John has been in partnership with his wife Kris for many years and encourages us to all find our edge and walk the line (which is not straight) to our own edges where we can live our best lives. Thank you for listening.
Western Mass Business Show on 5.16.26 – Paradise City Arts
Join us as we hear from the new owners of Paradise City Arts, Elana Churnick Kritz and Mariah Swanson. They are not strangers to the arts and have developed quite a name for themselves in the art world before taking over the helm at PCA. A 30-year legacy is a hard ship to Captain, but they are taking it in stride and as a team. Please attend PCA on May 23-25 at the 3 County Fairgrounds, go to www.paradisecityarts.com for more information, times, food, and music schledue. Tune in for the surprise news, artist line up, and new showstoppers. Thank you for joining us in the excitement and fun of our local arts, business, and non-profit community.
Western Mass Business Show on 5.9.26 – Jennifer Derringer & Tom Navin
Join us as we speak to Jennifer Derringer (Managing Attorney of the Franklin and Hampshire County) and Tom Navin (Development Director) from Community Legal Aid to learn about their 75 years of helping people across the state get legal services at, they would otherwise not be able to afford (or the system easily navigated). Started in 1951, as Western MA Legal Services, the focus has been on low income, elders, housing, benefits, immigration, elder law, Cori, re-entry, and custody proceedings. With over 200+ staff members the organization has grown significantly over the past decade partially due to increased need and partially due to the housing crisis. Listen in as we learn about this amazing community resource from some of its dedicated staff.
https://communitylegal.org/
Western Mass Business Show on 5.2.26 – Kisha Zullo
Join us as we speak to Kisha Zullo, Founder of Events of Joy and the Women in Business Summit now in its 21st year. Kisha has been an Event Planner for over 20-years. She talks about the ins and outs of event planning and what it means for small businesses to make an impact like a large institution. As a Certified Meeting Planner, she is constantly working on gaining more knowledge for her clients. She looks for saving money and hidden items omitted and needing to be included into contracts. As a part of Meeting Professionals International in Connecticut, she brings events to the Northeast region and since 2025 internationally as well. Listen in as we hear about the upcoming Women in Business Summit in September and how hiring an event planner can give you back the much-needed time and mental capacity that you need to achieve your goals for your next event. Thank you for coming on Kisha and to our listeners for tuning in.
www.eventsofjoy.com
Western Mass Business Show on 4.18.26 – She Is
Join us as we talk about insurance and events through the eyes of Jenny MacKay and Regina Burns Murphy. Jenny is a Senior Vice President at the Alera Group specializing in employee benefits consulting and Regina is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Wycoff Country Club and Owner of Rise Event Production. Both joined forces to fight against misuse of words and mislabeling of women by creating She is…she is a brand and movement challenging labels that women are given at work and beyond. The core idea behind this effort is to acknowledge the behavior but change the label because labels can impact opportunity. For example, promotions, recognition, accolades, and relationships. The flip it movement encourages people to think before they label someone and to recognize that language shapes perception. They want to be hired to speak at conferences, put on a workshop for your company, or purchase their merchandise to spark a conversation. Check out www.allsheis.com to learn more about this incredible movement.
