CenterState CEO & Cayuga County Chamber MOU Explore Opportunities for Organizational Alignment

Exploratory Effort Builds on the Cayuga County Chamber’s Strategic Planning to Expand Resources, Connections and Opportunities Amid Unprecedented Regional Growth 

Cayuga Chamber announces Jessica Wrench as new Chamber Manager 

Central New York is entering a period of historic economic opportunity. Major investments, business expansion and population growth are creating new possibilities for businesses and communities across the region. As growth accelerates, it is critical that businesses of all sizes have access to the resources, talent, connections and visibility they need to compete in this dynamic economy.   

To explore how to best meet this moment of opportunity, CenterState CEO and the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce have executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Over the next six months, they will evaluate how greater organizational alignment and regional cooperation could enhance capacity, improve access to business programming and resources, connect employers to a broader network of talent and partners, and strengthen the voice of businesses and nonprofit communities across the entire region.   

The MOU provides a framework for the two organizations to decide whether and how their respective strengths and networks could be brought together to deliver greater value. The organizations will examine potential approaches, including the resources, staffing capacity, organizational structure and financial considerations necessary to support any future arrangement. There is no predetermined outcome, and the MOU does not commit either organization to a merger, integration or other organizational arrangement.  

“CenterState CEO was founded on the belief that partnership and collaboration are essential to advancing our regional business community,” said Rob Simpson, CEO, CenterState CEO. “We are experiencing a moment of extraordinary opportunity, and we must think differently about how we equip businesses to participate in and benefit from that growth. As our region grows, so too must the capacity of the organizations that support its businesses. This MOU provides an opportunity to build on our shared foundation and better understand how we can expand access to resources, build stronger connections across our economic ecosystem and ensure businesses have a stronger, more unified voice in shaping the region's future. The MOU also represents an opportunity for two organizations with historically aligned missions and approaches to consider how their respective strengths could complement one another amid our region’s changing economic trajectory.” 

“Our strategic planning process reinforced the importance of building a Chamber that is increasingly connected, accessible and equipped to meet the evolving needs of Cayuga County businesses," said Megan Popkess, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES and Chair of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. "As the economic landscape around us changes, we have an opportunity to think bigger about how we connect our businesses to resources, relationships and opportunities, both within our county and across the region. This is about making sure we are positioned to deliver the greatest possible value to the businesses and communities we serve.” 

The exploratory process builds on the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce's (the Chamber) recently completed 2026–2031 strategic plan, developed in partnership with CenterState CEO and informed by significant input from local businesses, stakeholders and community partners. 

The process identified a clear opportunity to strengthen the Chamber's ability to serve businesses across Cayuga County. Feedback consistently emphasized the importance of a more proactive, connected and accessible organization that can help businesses navigate opportunities, access resources, advocate for their interests and connect with one another. 

The plan outlines five strategic priorities to guide the Chamber's work over the next five years: 

• Business Leadership, Advocacy and Economic Growth: Strengthen the Chamber's role as a voice for the business community and a catalyst for business growth and opportunity. 
• Countywide Engagement and Communications: Expand the Chamber's visibility, outreach and engagement with businesses and communities throughout Cayuga County. 
• Organizational Sustainability and Membership Growth: Build the organizational capacity, resources and membership base necessary to support long-term impact. 
• Workforce, Talent and Leadership Development: Connect businesses to workforce resources and create opportunities to develop talent and business leadership. 
• Partnerships and Community Connectivity: Strengthen relationships across the county and region to connect businesses with resources, partners and broader economic opportunities. 

The strategic plan provides a roadmap for advancing these priorities but does not prescribe a particular organizational structure or partnership model.  
 
The planning process also recognized the importance of Cayuga County's participation in the broader economic opportunities emerging across Central New York. Major investments, including Micron Technology's planned semiconductor manufacturing campus in Clay, are creating opportunities and demands that extend beyond county boundaries. A closer relationship with CenterState CEO could help connect Cayuga County businesses more directly to regional networks, economic development initiatives, suppliers, talent pipelines, capital, programming and advocacy efforts, while maintaining the strong local relationships and presence that are central to the Chamber's identity.  

“Strong regional economies depend on strong local businesses and the organizations that support them,” said Stephen D. Fournier, market president-Central New York, KeyBank, N.A. and chair of CenterState CEO’s Board of Directors. "Businesses need more than access to opportunity; they need the relationships, resources and infrastructure to turn that opportunity into growth. As Central New York’s economy continues to evolve, I see tremendous value intaking a closer look at how our regional business community can be better connected, engaged and positioned to contribute to the economic future we are building together." 

The two organizations recognize that Cayuga County has an established economic development ecosystem and that successful regional growth depends on collaboration among organizations with distinct but complementary roles. The goal is to explore how additional capacity and connectivity could strengthen, rather than replace, the work already underway across the county. 

As part of its continued investment in organizational capacity and member engagement, the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce has promoted Jessica Wrench to Chamber Manager. 

In this role, Wrench will oversee the Chamber’s daily operations, strengthen member relationships, and lead its events, educational programming, Leadership Cayuga and Finger Lakes Grants Information Center. She has been leading Chamber programs since 2018. In this expanded role, she will build on that experience to connect local businesses and nonprofit organizations with the resources, relationships and opportunities they need to grow and succeed.  

Her promotion represents an important step in building the capacity needed to support the Chamber's members and implement its strategic priorities. Wrench will work closely with the Chamber’s volunteer leadership, members and partners as the organization moves forward with its next chapter. 

“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Cayuga Chamber at this pivotal moment and help ensure businesses and residents across Cayuga County are well positioned to benefit from the tremendous regional growth happening around us,” said Wrench. “Our recent strategic plan reinforced that our members want to be more connected to these opportunities and have the resources, relationships and support to grow within our region. Working with our dedicated volunteer leadership and partners, I look forward to building that capacity and helping shape what comes next for the Chamber and the businesses we serve.” 

Together, the strategic planning work, the addition of new organizational capacity and the exploratory conversations with CenterState CEO reflect a shared commitment to ensuring Cayuga County businesses have the connections, resources, advocacy and support they need to participate fully in the economic opportunities of a growing region.