Shows
Talk CNYHow Central New York is Poised for GrowthFrom rising job numbers and wage growth to transformative capital investments by small business owners and major employers, this episode of Talk CNY explores why Central New York is poised for economic growth — more in the next three years than the last 16 in terms of GDP growth. In this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, host Katie Zilcosky is joined by Jess Abbott, Vice President of Member Engagement, and Jared Shepard, Director of Research and Planning at CenterState CEO. Together, they unpack the economic momentum propelling Central New York forward.CONNECTCen...2025-06-2525 min
Talk CNYTalk CNY Miniseries: Leadership Lessons - Leading with Purpose: Lessons in Resilient and Reflective LeadershipIn this episode of Talk CNY: Leadership Lessons, presented by NBT Bank, Todd Muscatello, the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, gets candid about a defining moment in his career. Todd began his journey with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield in 2003. A year after being on the job, he made a strategic move that propelled him forward but also ushered in some of the toughest yet most rewarding moments in his career. However, through resilience, reflection and the power of intentional leadership, Todd built the foundation for long-term leadership success. Tu...2025-06-1817 min
Talk CNYTackling Housing Challenges in Central New YorkIt’s estimated that Onondaga County will need to build around 2,500 new units of housing per year in order to meet expected growth demands. It’s averaged just about half of that in recent years. Housing is a vital piece of the puzzle as we work to grow sustainably and equitably. It will require creative solutions and dedication from the entire community to create a more accessible and affordable housing market. On this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, Ryan Benz, managing partner of ReDev CNY, and Ben Lockwood, president and CEO of Housin...2025-06-1126 min
Talk CNYEntrepreneurs who Turned Their Passion into ProfitEvery dollar spent at a small business gets returned to the local economy one and half times, so it’s not a surprise that small businesses are sometimes called the life-blood of the local economy. Here at CenterState CEO, we are lucky to support and work alongside many of the entrepreneurs who are making our neighborhoods more vibrant and helping our region grow. On this episode of Talk CNY presented by NBT Bank, we’re excited to introduce you to two of them: Michelle Cruse of Cracked Bean Roastery and Keeli Manning of Doomsday Pasta.CONNE...2025-05-2125 min
Talk CNYCelebrating and Supporting Small BusinessesIt’s National Small Business Week!More than 45% of U.S. employees work at small businesses according to the Small Business Administration, making them a vital part of our national and local economy. With as important as they are, it’s imperative to recognize their impact and support their growth.CenterState CEO offers an array of supports and services to try and help small business owners realize their goals and prosper in the community. This includes everything from community investment work through CenterState Up Start to operating the world's largest accelerator for uncrewed systems with GENI...2025-05-0722 min
Talk CNYCelebrating CenterState CEO’s 15th AnniversaryIn this special anniversary episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, host Katie Zilcosky sits down with CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson to reflect on the organization’s 15-year journey. He recounts the state of Central New York’s economic development landscape in the early 2000s and how the creation of CenterState CEO in 2010 from its two predecessor organizations aimed to unify and strengthen efforts to drive sustainable regional growth for all people.Looking ahead to envision Central New York another 15 years from now, Simpson shares why he foresees the region as a thriving growth market. With...2025-05-0412 min
Talk CNYQuarterly Market Insights: A Special Talk CNY Series - 2025 Q1 with Ken EntenmannTalk CNY - Quarterly Market Insights presented by NBT Bank features Ken Entenmann, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist for NBT Bank.Ken joins us to share what's happening in the markets and how it impacts you.Kenneth J. Entenmann is Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Chief Economist at NBT Wealth Management. Ken has over 3 decades of investment experience. Prior to joining NBT Bank, he served as Director of Investment Management at Alliance Bank.In his current role, he oversees more than $6 billion in assets under management and administration...2025-05-0225 min
Talk CNYTalk CNY Miniseries: Leadership Lessons - Dream, Build, Lead: Lessons from a Serial EntrepreneurIn this episode of Talk CNY: Leadership Lessons, presented by NBT Bank, serial entrepreneur Jeff Knauss shares the personal and professional philosophies that have shaped his dynamic career. As an angel investor, 4x Inc. 5000 founder and the CEO of Arcovo AI and Opin, Jeff reflects on what drives his business decisions and his passion for building things from the ground up and bringing them to life in ways that provide real value.Beyond business, Jeff’s leadership is deeply grounded in personal values, especially his commitment to family and the intentional use of time. Tune in to th...2025-04-3018 min
Talk CNYInspiring Growth Through InnovationThis episode will start with a trivia question. What do the dental chair, the tool you use to measure a person’s shoe size and the 24 second shot clock all have in common? They were all invented in Central New York. This region has a rich history of inventing, creating, and bringing new ideas to life. As we embark on this new chapter of growth in our community, we want to grow with respect to our roots. That’s why CenterState CEO’s new innovation hub will reflect both where we’re going and where we’ve been...2025-04-2326 min
Talk CNYBuilding the Largest Entrepreneurship Hub in NYAs each month passes in 2025, CenterState CEO gets closer and closer to opening the new innovation hub in downtown Syracuse. If you pass the building on Harrison Street these days, you’ll see glass is now in the windows and exterior siding is going up. Inside, the elevators are now installed and crews are painting and renovating the new rooms. We know there are still a lot of questions about how the new innovation hub will fit into our community and when people will be able to get inside. And we still have a lot to share abo...2025-04-0919 min
Talk CNYDiscovering What’s Next in AviationIf you’re leaving the Syracuse Hancock International Airport through Terminal A, and you look to your left after crossing through the glass doors, you’ll see a room with large screens on the walls. The screens are displaying air traffic control data, a microweather service and low-altitude flight detection and more. It's a room you may not have noticed if you weren’t looking for it, but it’s home to a keystone of the Central New York uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, ecosystem, an ecosystem with a global reputation of innovation and success. This is the NUAIR...2025-03-2626 min
Talk CNYTalk CNY Miniseries: Leadership Lessons - Creating a Vibrant Downtown SyracuseThe Talk CNY Miniseries: Leadership Lessons is a new series where we sit down with business and community leaders to explore the personal and professional experiences that have shaped their journeys.Kicking off the series is Merike Treier, Executive Director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse. In this role, she leads initiatives focused on development, revitalization, security, and environmental maintenance.Ever wondered what it takes to create and sustain a thriving downtown? Merike shares with host Brittni Smallwood her perspective on downtown Syracuse’s remarkable transformation and the strategies she’s used to fost...2025-03-2017 min
Talk CNYAccelerating Innovation in CNYEach year, uncrewed systems startups from across the globe apply to be a part of an accelerator program in Central New York. The five selected startups move to Central New York to take part in the world’s largest uncrewed aerial systems accelerator, GENIUS NY.The GENIUS NY program, operated by CenterState CEO, awards $3 million in funding across the five selected teams and provides a suite of business services over the course of the program. It’s a program that produces results. Since the program’s start in 2017, Empire State Development has invested $24 million in these u...2025-03-1221 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Hannah Henley, INFICONThis episode of the Talk CNY, Economic Champions Miniseries, presented by NBT Bank, features Hannah Henley, President and Head of Intelligent Sensor Solutions at INFICON. Hannah and host Kate Hammer talk about her clear passion for developing high performance teams with a growth mindset. Through her work at INFICON she’s collaborated across the semiconductor value chain as the industry evolved through several inflection points. These experiences have firmed up her view that possibilities are truly endless when teams work together and let go of traditional fixed pie mindsets. Hannah initially came to CNY from New Hampshire, to pursue Ch...2025-03-0626 min
Talk CNYCreating Jobs and Attracting Business in New YorkGovernor Kathy Hochul has a number of economic development initiatives in this year’s budget, from supporting the semiconductor supply chain to helping adults reskill for the new careers that will be available in the state.Leading these projects and all other economic development in the state is Empire State Development. On this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development Hope Knight joins the show to discuss the state’s plans to see New York grow.CONNECTCenterState CEO Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube2025-02-2623 min
Talk CNYProjects and Partnerships Impacting CNYCenterState CEO’s vision of economic development is not narrow. It aims to enable inclusive and sustainable growth, bringing together a range of partners to find creative solutions that will make for a vibrant community. That means the work is varied. From multi-billion dollar investments like Micron to new restaurants opening in city neighborhoods. It’s all economic development. On this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, CenterState CEO Vice President of Economic Development Nora Spillane discusses a range of projects currently underway in this region and how they’ll impact the community.CON...2025-02-1223 min
Talk CNYPhilanthropy in ActionCenterState CEO is taking on an exciting new role as a sub-intermediary for Micron Technology’s workforce development investment through the CHIPS and Science Act. And we’ll get to work with one of our long-time partners, the Central New York Community Foundation, which will serve as the lead intermediary for the investment. The Central New York Community Foundation has invested more than $300 million in the region since its establishment in 1927. It also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives that foster a thriving and equitable region.Joining host Katie Zilcosky on Ta...2025-01-2921 min
Talk CNYSeizing Opportunities in 2025It’s a new year, and 2025 will be filled with a lot of work and a lot of opportunity. Micron is expecting to break ground this year, partners in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Ithaca continue their work as a federally awarded Tech Hub, ON-RAMP will begin to take shape and we’ll be celebrating the opening of the new Tech Garden. And that is just a bit of what’s to come. On this episode of Talk CNY by CenterState, presented by NBT Bank, CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson discusses what’s to come and what it means for...2025-01-1527 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Arel Moodie, Talkadot and Profound MastermindToday’s conversation on Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, is with Miniseries, Economic Champions host, Kate Hammer and multi-hyphenated entrepreneur, Arel Moodie. You may know him as the host of Disney+ show, "Family Reboot", which is oh so much fun, but in this episode we discuss his current businesses and work as a professional speaker.Arel is co-founder of the tech start up Talkadot, a top tool for professional speakers allowing them to capture leads, collect data, and prove their value with hard numbers.He also co-founded Profound Mastermind, where he helps bring together so...2024-12-3035 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - David Casullo, Daneli Partners and Rock City DevelopmentToday’s conversation on Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, is with Miniseries, Economic Champions host, Kate Hammer and guest, David Casullo, CEO and founder of Daneli Partners and CEO of Rock City Development. David is the author of Leading the High-Energy Culture: What the Best CEOs Do to Create an Atmosphere Where Employees Flourish, an Amazon best seller published with McGraw Hill.In this episode, Kate and David discuss David’s work as a C-suite executive, entrepreneur, leadership coach, and author on a mission to develop leaders who have the courage and capability to change the worl...2024-12-3027 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Anthony E. Rojas, AIA, in-ARCHITECTSToday’s conversation on Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, is with Miniseries, Economic Champions host, Kate Hammer and guest, Anthony E. Rojas, AIA, principal of in-ARCHITECTS. In this episode they discuss Anthony’s passion, which lies in successfully translating a clients’ vision into a path towards construction.Anthony has over 17 years of professional experience in the architectural profession with a focus in Planning and Design. He is responsible for the conceptualization and implementation of design strategies and solutions for various project types which include; Mixed-Use, Multi-Unit Residential, Office, Retail, Restaurant, and Healthcare. CONNECTCenterSt...2024-12-3023 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Tom Huegel, Wireless Business GroupToday’s conversation on Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, is with Miniseries, Economic Champions host, Kate Hammer and guest, Tom Huegel, founder and senior Partner at Wireless Business Group. Tom brings his clients over 35 years in the cellular industry, primarily working in corporate sales and engineering. And if you think you know what we mean when we say cellular, tune in because we are not just talking phones, we’re talking drones! CONNECTCenterState CEO Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTubeGuest: Tom HuegelLinkedInGuest’s Company: Wireless Business GroupHost...2024-12-3025 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Sheena Solomon, The Gifford FoundationToday’s conversation on Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, is with Miniseries, Economic Champions host, Kate Hammer and guest, Sheena Solomon, executive director of The Gifford Foundation. In this episode Kate and Sheena discuss the role of the non-profit in economic development, and foundations in particular.Sheena joined the Gifford Foundation team in 2007, and was named Executive Director in January 2019. Her prior work at the foundation was primarily focused on expanding its community impact initiatives, as well as working with the grants management team. She has been instrumental in the design and planning of Nourishing Tomorrow’s Lea...2024-12-3033 min
Talk CNYAdvocating for CNYCenterState CEO’s Strategy, Policy and Planning team works closely without our elected officials to advance policies that help our region grow. Now with less than a month until the start of a new legislative session for both Congress and the New York State legislature, they’re identifying some legislative priorities for the upcoming year.So what are we at CenterState CEO paying attention to, and what are we hoping to see? Joining this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank is CenterState CEO’s Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations and Senior Aviation Industr...2024-12-1825 min
Talk CNYQuarterly Market Insights: A Special Talk CNY Series - 2024 Q4 with Ken EntenmannToday's guest of Talk CNY - Quarterly Market Insights presented by NBT Bank is Ken Entenmann, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist for NBT Bank.Ken joins us today to share what's happening in the markets and how it impacts you.Kenneth J. Entenmann is Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Chief Economist at NBT Wealth Management. Ken has over 3 decades of investment experience. Prior to joining NBT Bank, he served as Director of Investment Management at Alliance Bank.In his current role, he oversees more than $6 billion in assets...2024-12-1121 min
Talk CNYDefining Moments of 2024We are in the final month of 2024 and thinking back on all this region’s accomplished this year, you’d be forgiven if you missed or forgot some of the great work that’s been done to make Central New York a place where all people can prosper. This season on Talk CNY, we’ve had the privilege to hear about the progress we’re making from vital partners as well as some of our talented and thoughtful colleagues at CenterState CEO. They’ve all helped us better understand the work and how it impacts the people in our commun...2024-12-0426 min
Talk CNYWhy Giving Back is ImportantCenterState CEO’s Tech Garden expansion project would not be possible without the entire Central New York community. Support from our local and state leaders, as well as from the surrounding business community is essential to achieving our vision. For some, they’re not only supporting the future vision, but also giving back to a place that helped them grow. On this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, we are joined by one of those supporters, Tony Baird, President and CEO of Tony Baird Electronics.2024-11-2025 min
Talk CNYTaking CNY Innovation to the Next LevelOne of the most exciting projects that CenterState CEO has underway right now is the expansion of The Tech Garden into a new center of innovation at 235 Harrison Street. The expansion is a physical symbol of how much our innovation economy has grown. We’re not just expanding the building, but also the program offerings. We want this new building to be open to everyone, a welcoming space for all types of entrepreneurship. Helping to lead this vision to reality is CenterState CEO’s Vice President of Innovation & Entrepreneurship John Liddy. He joins this episode of Talk CNY...2024-11-0620 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Heather Drake Bianchi, Drakos Clinical DynamicsToday’s conversation is with Heather Drake Bianchi, CEO and Founder of Drakos Clinical Dynamics, an award winning umbrella organization created as a foundation of innovation to provide accessible laboratory and healthcare resources to all walks of life in Central New York. Drakos Dynamics was named the 2024 Centerstate CEO Business of the Year Award in the ‘Fewer than 50 Employees category’ after opening the only standalone pediatric urgent care in the CNY area at Clay Medical Center in Liverpool to address the lack of accessible after-hours pediatric care for children and their families in the area. Following patient demand...2024-10-2926 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Eli Smith, E. Smith ContractorsToday’s conversation is with CenterState CEO member and Business of the Year award winner (in partnership with the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance), Eli Smith, Founder & Managing Director of E. Smith Contractors. In this episode you’ll hear about how this local builder with national reach is evolving and taking on incredible projects, like the renovation of Micron’s downtown office space on West Jefferson Street. Eli has a passion for creating and scaling ventures that make a positive difference in the world. He is a 10,000k Goldman Sachs alumnus, and has received multiple honors, including the New Yor...2024-10-2923 min
Talk CNYEconomic Champions Miniseries - Dakota Malone, Community Solar AuthorityToday’s conversation is with Dakota Malone, Managing Partner of Community Solar Authority, a do-it-all, done-for-you, bolt-on partnership that delivers turnkey access to enhanced sustainability leveraging the most significant solar developers in the country. Dakota was born and raised in Central New York. In this episode you’ll be inspired by this five-heart surgery survivor with a love for entrepreneurship who believes in working on meaningful projects that help reshape the world into a more empowered place. CONNECTCenterState CEO Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTubeGuest: Dakota Malone LinkedInGuest’s Company...2024-10-2922 min
Talk CNYCelebrating Accomplishments and Looking AheadWe are in the last quarter of 2024, but that doesn’t mean things are slowing down. The team at CenterState CEO is working on numerous projects and events to celebrate and advance Central New York’s economy. On this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, we’re catching up on the last few months and looking forward to what 2025 will hold. CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson joins the podcast to discuss everything from microelectronics to the annual Economic Champions event.CONNECTCenterState CEO Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTubeRob Simpson...2024-10-1626 min
Talk CNYQuarterly Market Insights: A Special Talk CNY Series - 2024 Q3 with Ken EntenmannToday's guest of Talk CNY - Quarterly Market Insights presented by NBT Bank is Ken Entenmann, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist for NBT Bank.Ken joins us today to share what's happening in the markets and how it impacts you.Kenneth J. Entenmann is Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Chief Economist at NBT Wealth Management. Ken has over 3 decades of investment experience. Prior to joining NBT Bank, he served as Director of Investment Management at Alliance Bank.In his current role, he oversees more than $6 billion in assets...2024-10-0929 min
Talk CNYNavigating the Changing DEI LandscapeDiversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been declining nationwide over the last few years. But the values of those initiatives are vital to business and overall community success. As Central New York grows and we strive to create a region where all people can prosper, it’s become even more important to prioritize DEI work and create an inclusive economy.On this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, CenterState CEO’s Senior Vice President of Racial Equity and Social Impact (RESI) Dr. Juhanna Rogers discusses the evolving DEI landscape and why equity work is an i...2024-10-0227 min
Talk CNYCommunity Voices Informing Community NeedsSyracuse’s future ON-RAMP facility needs to be a place where diverse people from across the community can feel welcome to utilize resources that can aid their success. So, a vital part of the ongoing planning and design process of this future workforce training facility is community engagement and input. Helping to lead the community engagement portion of the ON-RAMP planning process is the Urban Jobs Task Force Executive Director Tylah Worrell. She’s hosted feedback sessions across the community and collected comments from people the future ON-RAMP facility aims to serve. Tylah joins this episode of Talk...2024-09-1823 min
From the Lobby with Jack O'DonnellUpstate NY Tech Hub-CenterState's Rob SimpsonIn our third installment on the Upstate NY Tech Hub, our Alec Lewis talks to Rob Simpson, President and CEO of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity on Central NY's role in the acceleration of the semiconductor industry.
Rob talks about workforce training, job creation and how they are engaging businesses across the Syracuse region to prepare Upstate NY to become one of the nation's leaders in semiconductor manufacturing.
2024-09-1413 min
Talk CNYCreating a Unified Front Door for In-Demand CareersSend us a textThe workforce development ecosystem involves a lot of people—training partners, employers, career seekers, support networks, educational institutions and many more. So what if instead of having to coordinate all these different people and places, everyone had access to a shared physical space and collaborative process?That’s that vision for Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent workforce development initiative One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships or ON-RAMP. CenterState CEO is currently helping to lead the design and planning process of this transformative project. On this episode of Talk CNY, pr...2024-09-0427 min
Talk CNYBecoming the Next Semiconductor Industry Hub: Part 2The NY SMART I-Corridor, a consortium of partners from Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, is one of just 12 groups to receive a federal Tech Hub award and the only Tech Hub focused the semiconductor industry. The federal government saw local leaders’ strategy and existing regional assets and determined the NY SMART I-Corridor region has what it takes to be the next globally critical semiconductor industry hub. To support this growth, the federal government awarded the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub more than $40 million for initiatives and projects that will help us grow and ensure all residents have access to...2024-08-2125 min
Talk CNYBecoming the Next Semiconductor Industry Hub: Part 1Around 400 communities applied to the federal Tech Hubs program, a program designed to support tech-based economies in underinvested areas. Of those, only 12 received a Tech Hub designation and federal dollars to support and implement their strategies.The NY SMART I-Corridor, a coalition of partners from Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Ithaca, is one of those 12 Tech Hubs. And it’s the only designated Tech Hub in the US focused on the semiconductor industry. That means 40 million dollars from the federal government and 8 million dollars from the state are coming to upstate New York to support the growth of a...2024-08-0726 min
Talk CNYInnovative Projects Advancing our RegionWe’ve said it before on Talk CNY, but it’s a really exciting time in Central New York.So far this summer, a delegation of Taiwanese semiconductor industry and supply chain representatives paid a visit to Central New York, the Central New York Community Engagement Committee released the Community Priorities Document, and the federal government awarded the NY SMART I-Corridor a multimillion dollar award through the Tech Hubs program. And that’s only a portion of what is going on throughout the region. CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson joins this episode of Talk CNY, present...2024-07-2426 min
Talk CNYQuarterly Market Insights: A Special Talk CNY Series - 2024 Q2 with Ken EntenmannToday's guest of Talk CNY - Quarterly Market Insights presented by NBT Bank is Ken Entenmann, Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist for NBT Bank.Ken joins us today to share what's happening in the markets and how it impacts you.Kenneth J. Entenmann is Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Chief Economist at NBT Wealth Management. Ken has over 3 decades of investment experience. Prior to joining NBT Bank, he served as Director of Investment Management at Alliance Bank.In his current role, he oversees more than $6 billion in assets...2024-07-1730 min