The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) will
hold its 2015 annual member meeting on Oct. 21
at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts
Center (EMPAC) in Troy.
Event registration begins at 5 p.m. Howard
Zemsky, president and CEO of Empire State Development
(ESD) will deliver keynote remarks. A
reception will follow the business portion of the
meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Zemsky works closely with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul
and the respective regional co-chairpersons to
implement the Regional Economic Development
Councils, the state’s decentralized, collaborative
and strategic approach to economic development.
Zemsky has co-chaired the Western New York
Regional Economic Development Council during
the past four years and has worked closely on
the state Buffalo Billion revitalization initiative.
His company, Larkin Development Group, has
redeveloped approximately 1 million square feet
of historic building space in Buffalo since 2002,
with a particular focus on reclaiming Buffalo’s
earliest industrial neighborhood, the Larkin Historic
District.
“We are extremely excited to have Howard
Zemsky join us for our annual meeting. Our
region is excited about having our first comprehensive
economic development strategy. Getting
insights from Mr. Zemsky on the governors’ and
his vision for economic development in New
York state provides a compelling platform for
our evening,” said Michael Hickey, CEG’s interim
president and CEO.
More than 300 business, government, academic
and community leaders are expected to attend the
event. Organizers said it is one of the region’s top
executive networking events of the year and an
opportunity to celebrate regional successes with
fellow CEG members.
The member meeting will include official CEG
business, as well as an update on the Upstate Revitalization
Initiative Capital Region strategy, and
the direction the organization is headed in 2016
from Hickey. Additionally, as part of the meeting,
the organization will conduct elections for the
2016 board of directors.
“The annual meeting is a time to share CEG’s accomplishments
for the year, with a look into 2016
and its increased opportunities as the regional
economic development organization to bring
transformational economic change to the Capital
Region” said Dr. Laura Schweitzer, vice president
for health sciences and biomedical initiatives at
SUNY Albany, and chairwoman of CEG.
The meeting is open to CEG members and
is sponsored by: SEFCU; Bank of America;
Janitronics Facility Services; M+W Group; Walrath
Recruiting; Accent Furniture; Ballston Spa
National Bank; Capital Bank; CDPHP; Hixny;
Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership; Saratoga
Economic Development Corp.; Teal, Becker &
Chiaramonte CPAs, PC and Turner Construction.
For more information on event pricing or to
register contact Andrea Swank at 465-8975 or
email andreas@ceg.org. Online registration is
available at www.ceg.org.
CEG is the regional economic development
organization for the greater Capital Region and
New York’s Tech Valley and also serves as the
Capital Region’s designated Regional Technology
Development Center.
In addition, in its role as the Regional Technology
Development Center designated by ESD
NYSTAR as part of the NY Manufacturing Extension
Partnership and the federal NIST/Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, CEG assists local
manufacturing and technology companies with
generating new sales, creating stronger operational
infrastructure and overcoming barriers to growth
and innovation.