Buying Local Podcast · Episode 45 · September 30, 2025 · 47 min
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 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