"The tighter families' budgets are, the harder it is for workers to stay here," says Marty Martinez, president and CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay.

In this podcast, Carolyn Jones, market president and publisher of the Boston Business Journal, sits down with Martinez to discuss how threats to our region's human services safety net and the rising cost of living are affecting workers, families, employers and the region's economic future.

Martinez says affordability is an issue that no single industry can solve alone.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about:

• Why housing, childcare and healthcare costs have become workforce issues
• The financial realities making it harder for many families to build stability
• What business leaders may be overlooking about affordability and economic well-being
• How cross-sector partnerships can help address complex community issues
• What it might take to make the region more affordable

Find out how you can get involved to change lives in the community by visiting unitedwaymassbay.org.

The Construction Leadership Council has a vision to strengthen the workforce in Kansas City. In this podcast episode, three guests joined to discuss how the CLC is building the next generation of construction leaders.

Guests included:

• Nik Bergstrom, senior preconstruction manager with JE Dunn Construction and philanthropy chair for the Construction Leadership Council steering committee
• Matt Eberle, relationship manager at The Builders, a chapter of the AGC
• Annie Perez, events and marketing administrator at The Builders, a chapter of the AGC

Listen to the full episode to learn more about:

• How the CLC supports professional development
• Ways the organization gives back to the community
• The CLC’s rapid membership growth
• Plans for Kansas City to host the national CLC conference in 2027

In this podcast episode, Thaddeus (Todj) Gozdeck, partner at Citrin Cooperman, discusses merger and acquisition activity in Boston and beyond, and explains why accounting is fundamental to these transactions.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about:

• Why this summer has been one of the busiest for M&A
• Three accounting tips to keep in mind when exploring a deal
• Common accounting pitfalls to avoid
• Why Gozdeck views accounting as much more than a compliance exercise

Thaddeus (Todj) Gozdeck is a partner in Citrin Cooperman’s Transaction Advisory Services Practice. Todj has over 25 years of experience in financial and advisory services with experience assisting financial sponsors and strategic buyers and sellers in executing merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions.

“Citrin Cooperman” is the brand name under which Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC and Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards.

After more than 20 years working alongside nonprofit leaders, boards and management teams, Citrin Cooperman partners Amanda Adams and Alex Regan have had a front-row seat to some of the sector's most important lessons.

In this podcast episode, Adams and Regan discuss some of the biggest changes affecting the industry, common mistakes organizations continue to make and what the strongest nonprofits don’t lose sight of when making decisions.

Listen to their perspectives on what nonprofit leaders can do now to prepare for the decade ahead.

More about the guests:

Amanda Adams is a partner and the Not-For-Profit Tax Practice leader for Citrin Cooperman with more than 20 years of experience serving not-for-profit organizations. She provides tax compliance services throughout the organizational life cycle and advises a diverse range of entities, including foundations, trade associations, colleges and universities, museums, religious organizations and social clubs.

Alexandria Regan is a partner and the leader of Citrin Cooperman’s Boston Metro Not-for-Profit practice. She has more than 25 years of accounting experience supporting New England's not-for-profit community, particularly within the education, human services, foundation, membership, arts/cultural, religious and healthcare sectors.

“Citrin Cooperman” is the brand name under which Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC and Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards.

In this podcast episode, Halter discusses what makes Seattle one of the country’s fastest-growing metros in the U.S., from its technology sector and startup culture to the land, sea and sky industries that helped shape the region and remain central to its future. She also reflects on K&L Gates' more than 140-year history in Seattle, including the legacy of Bill Gates Sr. and the firm's role in some of the city's defining moments.

Halter explores how advanced technologies like AI, quantum and cybersecurity concerns, as well as an evolving regulatory landscape are creating new opportunities and challenges for businesses across industries.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about Seattle’s changing legal landscape and what it will take to thrive amid rapid change.

Julie Anne Halter is the managing partner of the K&L Gates Seattle office and a member of the firmwide management committee. A 25-year veteran of K&L Gates, Halter’s practice includes complex commercial and business litigations, arbitrations and government and internal investigations. Nationally known as a leader in the field of electronic data discovery, she has counseled clients in litigations, arbitrations and investigation matters involving intellectual property, trade secrets, securities, and banking, including SEC and FINRA investigation matters, antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, products liability, real estate, and employment litigation, as well as other government and internal investigations and public records act requests.

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm. The firm represents leading multinational corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals.

“I think the velocity's going to pick up,” says Brendan Gutierrez McDonnell, partner with K&L Gates, when describing what he’s seeing in Oregon’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market.

In the latest Oregon Competitiveness podcast, McDonnell joins Portland Business Journal Publisher Candace Beeke to discuss M&A and where opportunities exist to strengthen competitiveness.

Tune in to hear about:

• How Oregon stacks up in M&A deals
• What makes Oregon companies attractive to buyers and what can hold deals back
• The M&A patterns surfacing in Oregon and what capital flows reveal about the business climate
• How AI is changing the acquisition process
• Steps business owners can take to increase value before a transaction

Brendan Gutierrez McDonnell is a partner at K&L Gates. With an accounting background and a J.D. from UC Davis School of Law, he advises public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, venture and private equity financing, securities and corporate governance, and global transactions. McDonnell serves clients across multiple industries, including technology, manufacturing, transportation and energy, with an emphasis on leveraging emerging technologies such as AI to drive legal and business innovation. He is the Co-Chair of the firm's AI in Action Practice Group and former Chair of the AI Solutions Group, and has been widely recognized for his leadership in both legal and civic spheres.

As companies evaluate expansion, investment, and long-term growth opportunities in an evolving business landscape or market landscape, K&L Gates brings the experience and global platform needed to support transformative transactions and long-term success. Explore our recent corporate transaction highlights.

Hinson explains how Kinwell’s collaboration with Premera Blue Cross addresses two major healthcare challenges: access and affordability. He highlights longer patient visits, integrated behavioral health and a prevention-first approach that improves outcomes while reducing overall health care costs.

The conversation also explores why primary care is critical for employers seeking to manage rising healthcare costs, reduce absenteeism and improve workforce health. By shifting care to more proactive, coordinated settings, Kinwell demonstrates how better patient experiences can lead to lower costs and healthier outcomes.

Listen to the full episode to learn more.

“Energy is definitely one of our core values, and it's not by accident,” said Becca Crossley, director of corporate affairs and operations at ALKU, a highly specialized staffing firm that connects clients with IT and life sciences experts.

ALKU has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal for many years. In this podcast episode, Crossley discusses the people-first culture the company has intentionally built.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about:

• How ALKU attracts and develops talent
• Why promoting from within is central to its culture
• Crossley's journey from intern to senior leader
• How ALKU's internship program, training initiatives and UMass partnership help prepare future sales leaders

At ALKU, we deliver efficient and effective solutions to meet our clients’ most critical business needs. As a top-tier, nationally ranked staffing firm, we connect our exclusive network of highly skilled, expert consultants to roles in cutting edge spaces within the IT and life sciences industries. Find expert talent.

“While overall activity has increased in the last few months, there still exists a supply and demand issue with labor shortages from an aging workforce, geopolitical issues and a variety of other reasons,” McCusker says.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about:

• Strategies contractors can implement to reduce costs
• How AI can improve efficiency for contractors
• Succession planning for companies in the construction industry
• Where McCusker sees opportunity for growth in the industry

Corey McCusker is a partner with nine years of experience in public accounting, providing accounting, audit, tax, and business advisory services, primarily in the construction industry. He performs financial statement audits and reviews of general contractors and subcontractors, including evaluation of internal controls, financial reporting and compliance, and construction specific tax planning.

“Citrin Cooperman” is the brand name under which Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC and Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards.

In this podcast episode, Kevin Bolen, principal and leader for AI transformation at KPMG, joins Carolyn Jones, market president and publisher at the Boston Business Journal, to discuss the value organizations are receiving from adopting AI so far.

“There’s a lot of hype and noise out there in the marketplace,” Bolen says. “Leaders are concerned they’re falling behind on the value capture, but they’re not sure what to do differently in the way they’re deploying AI.”

He explains why some organizations aren’t seeing a return on their AI investments and outlines a framework for moving beyond experimentation.

Listen to the full episode to learn more.

You can unlock more value with AI. Discover real stories of how KPMG’s AI solutions are enabling organizations to create new value, grow, and stay ahead of the competition.

In this podcast episode, Justin Provencher, managing director, Citrin Cooperman, discusses findings from the 2026 Manufacturing and Distribution Pulse Survey Report.

Each year, the firm gathers input from more than 500 industry leaders to understand performance trends, key challenges and where companies are investing for the future.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about:

• The current state of the supply chain
• Workforce challenges across the industry
• How companies are deploying AI to solve problems
• What leaders can prioritize for success in 2026

Justin Provencher is a managing director in Citrin Cooperman’s Braintree office with over 10 years of experience in public accounting. Provencher specializes in providing audit, tax, financial reporting and business advisory services to clients in various industries, including but not limited to manufacturing and distribution, professional services, retail, employee benefit plans and not-for profit.

“Citrin Cooperman” is the brand name under which Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC and Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards.

“It’s no surprise that, given the uncertain landscape, organizations are being forced to take a hard look at their costs,” Craig says. “Folks are really focusing on how they are maximizing their value, going beyond simply cutting costs, but examining what it takes to be effective in a sustainable way.”

“There is significant uncertainty in the benefits around healthcare costs, and that is what we’re solving for with our local employers, our local providers, and really addressing those underlying cost drivers that we’re seeing,” Farooq said.