Anna Nguyen Named Economic Development Trailblazer by City & State

City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Economic Development highlights some of the most notable job creation efforts underway across New York and puts a spotlight on the individuals behind these efforts. This list includes policymakers, strategists, business leaders and others who are in the business of creating jobs.

"Anna Nguyen and her team are managing a more than $5.6 billion economic development pipeline in Central New York. The region’s rebound is buoyed by the burgeoning semiconductor industry, anchored by a $100 billion Micron plant. By 2034, 1 in 4 American-made chips is projected to be produced within 350 miles of Central New York. Nguyen, who joined the business leadership and economic development organization CenterState CEO last year, also oversees the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Supply Chain Activation Network [for Central New York] and supports unmanned aerial systems, advanced materials and agribusiness."

CenterState CEO also congratulates its regional partners named to this year's 2026 Trailblazers for Economic Development:

• April Arnzen, executive vice president and chief people officer at Micron Technology
• Marc Cohen, vice president of government affairs at O'Donnell & Associates
• Justin Driscoll, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority
• Kevin Law, principal at Tritec Real Estate Co. and board chair of Empire State Development
• Craig Marcinkowski, president and CEO of NUAIR
• Katie Newcombe, director of economic development at National Grid
• Ryan Silva, executive director of the New York State Economic Development Council