Micron Executive VP of Global Operations to be Keynote Speaker for 2026 Annual Meeting

CenterState CEO will welcome the Central New York business community at its 2026 Annual Meeting, April 22, 2026, at the Oncenter. The event theme, Vision to Velocity, highlights this bold new chapter for Central New York’s economic transformation.

CenterState CEO will welcome Manish Bhatia, executive vice president of global operations at Micron Technology as keynote speaker for the event. Micron plays a critical role meeting the demand for memory amid the AI revolution. Bhatia will address the company’s $200 billion in manufacturing and R&D investments across the United States, with the cornerstone being Micron’s $100 billion megafab in Central New York, a project that will generate 50,000 jobs in the state. He’ll discuss the company’s technology leadership and efforts to support community growth while collaborating with state, local and community leaders.

“As the AI revolution accelerates, meeting its demands requires bold investment in advanced memory manufacturing here in the United States,” said Bhatia. “At Micron, we’re building the capacity, workforce and partnerships needed to strengthen America’s technology leadership, and a key part of that is right here in Central New York. Our groundbreaking in Clay earlier this year marked a milestone, not the finish line, and we are now in a period of action. I look forward to joining CenterState CEO and its distinguished members to discuss how Micron’s work is powering innovation, economic growth and opportunity for generations to come.”

Bhatia joined Micron in 2017 and is responsible for the company’s end-to-end operations, delivering industry-leading technology and products at scale. With over 25 years of engineering and operations experience, Bhatia has a proven track record of driving semiconductor manufacturing excellence with best-in-class supply chain and quality performance. Bhatia’s scope includes fab and assembly/test manufacturing, packaging & test development, global quality, global supply chain, global procurement, global government and public affairs functions, as well as information technology, smart manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

Bhatia is a board member of the U.S.- Japan Business Council and Singapore Economic Development Board and was awarded Singapore’s Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) in 2024 for his contributions to the semiconductor industry.

Prior to Micron, Bhatia held several executive roles at Western Digital Corporation, SanDisk Corporation, Matrix Semiconductor, and in consulting at McKinsey & Company.

At the Annual Meeting, CenterState CEO’s President and CEO Rob Simpson will also deliver remarks that highlight the shift that is taking place the region, driven in large part from by Micron’s groundbreaking of its historic project in Central New York, sparking a notable flexion point in the region’s pace of growth and the need for business leaders to shift from planning to action.   

“We’ve strengthened the macro-level performance of our regional economy and demonstrated that Central New York can compete as a small but mighty force in innovation and manufacturing,” said Simpson. “Now, a new phase of our economic transformation is underway, and it’s defined by an unprecedented pace of growth and change. Years of strategic preparation and strong partnerships have made us ready to move from vision to velocity. Together, we will meet this moment with decisive action and sustained collaboration, and fully deliver lasting impact for our community.”

CenterState CEO’s 2026 Annual Meeting is open to the public and attendees can register online to secure a ticket for the event. It is the region’s largest annual gathering of business and community leaders. The event also includes the presentation of CenterState CEO’s prestigious Business of the Year Awards, recognizing member companies in five categories: Business with fewer than 50 Employees; Business with more than 50 Employees; Community Involvement; Nonprofit; and Minority-owned Business, in partnership with the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance.

A networking reception, included in the ticket price, with hors d’oeuvres, beverages and music will immediately follow the program.

REGISTRATION: 2:30 p.m.

PROGRAM: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

NETWORKING RECEPTION: 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The CenterState CEO Annual Meeting is presented by Crouse Health. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Beth Savicki, bsavicki@centerstateceo.com.