‘Business Matters’: WETS-FM debuts new regional business program

With the economy on everyone’s mind, East Tennessee State University’s public radio station WETS-FM (89.5) announced the addition of a new radio show that deals with economic and business developments in the greater Tri-Cities region.

“Business Matters,” hosted by Dr. Fred Mackara and Larry Grogan, airs at 7 a.m. each Saturday.

This weekly radio show covers “matters of business and why business matters to you,” according to Grogan. It is dedicated to thoughtful discussion of major economic issues with a focus on how and why these issues are important to the East Tennessee region.

The show begins each week with the “Macro View,” a discussion of a relevant macroeconomic subject, conducted by Mackara. Each installment of “Business Matters” includes a guest speaker, who discusses relevant economic subjects in a question-and-answer format with the hosts. In the last segment, “The Investment Corner,” Grogan provides a weekly and year-to-date review of investment performance.

Mackara is a tenured associate professor of economics in the East Tennessee State University College of Business and Technology. Specializing in macroeconomics and monetary economics, he has spent time with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and is a regular consultant in the field of forensic economics. As a co-host of “Business Matters,” Mackara gives a rounded overview of the macroeconomic news, data and policies coming out of Washington that can have direct impact on the East Tennessee area.

Grogan is president of Grogan Advisory Services, an independent investment firm in Johnson City. He provides investment, financial planning and advisory services to his clients. In addition, he works with many engineering associations and is often requested to speak at their conferences to give strategic insight into portfolio management. He contributes a weekly update on the markets and a broad perspective on potential investment opportunities on “Business Matters.”

For more information, contact Wayne Winkler, WETS-FM station manager, at (423) 439-6441 or winklerw@etsu.edu.