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!

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Connect with ImmunoTek Plasma at www.immunotek.com or by calling (518) 480-2971.

00:00 Welcome & introducing Ben Ward from ImmunoTek Plasma
01:15 Ribbon cutting and connecting with the Chamber of Commerce
04:00 Ben’s journey from Tennessee to New York
06:00 How plasma donation works vs. blood donation
08:15 Donation frequency, compensation, and supplemental income
10:30 Health benefits and medical screening for donors
13:00 Eligibility, requirements, and the donation process
16:00 Hydration, nutrition, and how they affect plasma quality
18:20 What happens to plasma after it’s donated
20:00 Freezing, shipping, and fractionation plants
22:00 Local economic impact and over $1M in donor compensation
25:00 Business model: opening, operating, and selling centers
28:00 Community awareness and challenges of attracting donors
31:00 Hours, staffing, and growing operations
34:00 Donor experience and how long donations take
37:00 Managing staff and hiring challenges
40:00 Building community relationships through donors
44:00 Life in upstate New York vs. the South
46:00 The bigger mission: plasma donations saving lives
47:00 How to become a donor or apply for jobs at ImmunoTek Plasma