Donating Plasma Decoded with Ben Ward | Buying Local S3E45

In this episode of the Buying Local Podcast, host Mike Nelson chats with Ben Ward from ImmunoTek Plasma about the impact of plasma donation, raising community awareness, and bringing new opportunities to the Adirondack region. They discuss donor compensation, how the center contributes over $1 million back into the community, and more!Listen to Buying Local on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Rumble, and YouTube.Connect with ImmunoTek Plasma at www.immunotek.com or by calling (518) 480-2971.00:00 Welcome & introducing Ben Ward from ImmunoTek Plasma01:15 Ribbon cutting and connecting with the Chamber of Commerce04:00 Ben’s journey from Tennessee to New York06:00 How plasma donation works vs. blood donation08:15 Donation frequency, compensation, and supplemental income10:30 Health benefits and medical screening for donors13:00 Eligibility, requirements, and the donation process16:00 Hydration, nutrition, and how they affect plasma quality18:20 What happens to plasma after it’s donated20:00 Freezing, shipping, and fractionation plants22:00 Local economic impact and over $1M in donor compensation25:00 Business model: opening, operating, and selling centers28:00 Community awareness and challenges of attracting donors31:00 Hours, staffing, and growing operations34:00 Donor experience and how long donations take37:00 Managing staff and hiring challenges40:00 Building community relationships through donors44:00 Life in upstate New York vs. the South46:00 The bigger mission: plasma donations saving lives47:00 How to become a donor or apply for jobs at ImmunoTek Plasma