Talk CNY

On this Talk CNY quarterly check, we welcome back CenterState CEO President and CEO Rob Simpson. Rob joins us for this episode to share lessons learned during his sabbatical, his renewed goals now that he’s back in the office and what he’s excited about in the final quarter of 2025. You can hear more on the power of reset from Rob and Syracuse Women’s Basketball Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack at...

In this episode of Quarterly Market Insights, a special series part of CenterState CEO’s Talk CNY podcast, presented by NBT Bank, the conversation explores the shifting dynamics of the U.S. economy and their implications for businesses and consumers.  NBT Bank’s Chief Economist and Chief Investment Officer Ken Entenmann breaks down market trends, policy shifts and local opportunities. This episode...

The Regional Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics or STEAM School welcomed its first class at the start of this school year. The new school is the first of its kind in the Central New York region and brings the historic Central Tech building back to life in downtown Syracuse.  It’s a major accomplishment, bringing together numerous partners across private, public and nonprofit sec...

In this episode of Talk CNY: Leadership Lessons, presented by NBT Bank, we sit down with Felisha Legette-Jack, Head Coach of Syracuse University’s Women’s Basketball Team. In just three seasons, Coach Jack has turned the Orange into one of the ACC’s top contenders, earning ACC Coach of the Year in 2024—the first Syracuse head coach, men’s or women’s, to ever receive that honor.  Beyond the wins, C...

We are so close to opening the doors to CenterState’s INSPYRE Innovation Hub. This 90,000-square-foot facility will be the largest innovation hub of its kind in New York state and one of the top five largest in the entire country.  The resources and programs at INSPYRE are designed with founders in mind. Offerings range from state-of-the-art work spaces and a new maker space to funded accelerator...

It’s been just over a year since the New York SMART I-Corridor was named a federally funded Tech Hub. It’s the only Tech Hub focused on semiconductors in the country to receive federal dollars. When the award was first announced, we spoke with leaders from the convening organizations back when the Tech Hub was first announced to learn about its goals in creating a global semiconductor hub in upsta...

One of the ways that CenterState CEO is working towards its goal of creating a region where businesses thrive and all people can prosper is by supporting programs that help create greater access to in-demand careers in the community. The Bridge to Manufacturing Careers program is one such initiative. Thanks to the many community partners that have helped to make it possible, more than a dozen peop...

When Governor Kathy Hochul charged CenterState CEO with leading the One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships or ON-RAMP Syracuse planning process, one of the first things the team knew to do was look for an innovative, dedicated and experienced professional to lead this new organization.  They found her right here in Central New York. After conducting a national search, CenterS...

This episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, is a bit different. We’re passing the host mic to the CenterState CEO corporate leadership team for this episode, recorded at the Redhouse Arts Center in downtown Syracuse.  With CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson on sabbatical, the Corporate Leadership Team is taking charge of all the projects this organization currently has underway, from the I...

In this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, host Katie Zilcosky sits down with David Kavney, President of Central New York and Pennsylvania at NBT Bank. From supporting major economic developments to helping CNY leaders tackle the housing crisis, Kavney shares how NBT Bank is strategically aligning its services to drive innovation and regional impact.  Tune in to this episode to learn more...

In this episode of Quarterly Market Insights, a special series part of the CenterState CEO’s Talk CNY podcast, presented by NBT Bank, the conversation dives deep into the economic forces shaping Central New York and beyond in the second quarter of 2025. NBT Bank’s Chief Economist and Chief Investment Officer Ken Entenmann breaks down the market’s record highs, analyzes the easing of geopolitical t...

From 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 M...

In 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 u...

It’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...

Every 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 prese...

It’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 realiz...

In 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 stren...

Talk 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 invest...

In 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 lif...

This 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 ou...

As 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...

If 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...

The 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 environment...

Each 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 bus...

This 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 thr...