This is a special edition of the Positively West Virginia podcast. Jim talks about Alignment 2018 and recaps some of the events like John Deskins session and the small business panel he was a part of. Jim also talks about the report from the The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) that centers around how small business is at record highs and it is a great time to own a small business.
Show Notes:
Open-1:45: Intro and Jim introduces the special edition of the podcast and what he’ll be discussing.
1:46-2:36: On September 11, NFIB for short, released a really interesting and positive report for US Small Businesses. Read it here.
2:37- 3:17: Jim talks about Alignment 2018 and Zach Abraham, Former West Virginia University wide receiver and Principal Owner of AlignHR, who organized the conference.
3:18-4:19: One of the general sessions on the first day of the conference was John Deskins, PhD at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) in the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University.
BBER’s premier public event is its Economic Outlook Conference series. Click here to learn more about the series.
4:20-5:36: Never before has there been a better time to be in business in West Virginia.
5:37-10:31: According to the survey in mentioned earlier, by the National Federation of Independent Business – U.S. small business optimism surged to a record in August 2018 as the tax cuts and deregulation efforts led to more sales, hiring and investment.
10:32-10:56: Commercial
10:57-11:55: Jim talks about John Deskins, Director of the Bureau of Business & Economic Research at WVU
11:56-14:15: I do want to go over a few things that I think support my premise that Never before has there been a better time to be in business in West Virginia.
14:16-16:33: Dr. Deskins left us with several key take-aways
16:34-19:09: Jim shouts out previous guests and their businesses:
- Luke Diserio, CEO of American Muscle Docks & Fabrication
- Becky Titchenal, President of West Virginia Fruit and Berry
- Angie Cowger, CEO of Custard Stand
- Jordan Masters, CEO of startup agribusiness Allegheny Genesis
- Ray Sickles, Owner of Gurkee’s Rope Sandals
19:10-CLOSE: Jim wraps up the podcast.
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