Micron’s Expansion Powers Urgency and Optimism at CenterState CEO’s 2026 Annual Meeting

Businesses of the Year Winners Announced: 
Community Financial System, Inc.; Eastern Security Services; Clear Path for Veterans, Sapphire Recruitment; Champions GR8 Kidz After School & Summer Camp

800+ Business and Community Leaders Gather to Hear Micron Technology’s Executive Vice President of Global Operations Manish Bhatia Deliver Keynote Address

Read the Annual Report | Watch Videos from the Event
Read Rob Simpson's Remarks | Meet the Business of the Year Award Winners
 

SYRACUSE, NY – CenterState CEO celebrated its 2026 Annual Meeting with more than 800 members of the business community at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. The event’s theme Vision to Velocity highlights a bold new chapter for Central New York’s economic transformation. 

In his message to the audience, CenterState CEO Chief Executive Officer Robert Simpson reflected on Central New York’s new economic position and highlighted the speed of progress being driven by Micron. He called on community leaders to commit to scaling the necessary systems to expand Central New York’s capacity so the regional economy can compete on a global scale.

“The next phase of our progress will be earned the same way companies like Micron compete in the global marketplace—through performance, creativity and execution,” said Simpson. “We are making real progress and operating at a higher level than ever before, but not yet at the level this moment demands. Our current opportunities were realized in part by the plans and data-driven strategies we developed, but our future depends on how effectively we deliver on them. We must move in coordination to scale with intention, eliminate barriers, and hold ourselves to a higher standard. We don’t want to just participate in the global economy; we aim to compete and succeed in it.”

Manish Bhatia, executive vice president of global operations at Micron Technology, delivered keynote remarks. Micron’s Central New York facility will serve as the cornerstone of the company’s $200 billion in manufacturing and R&D investments across the United States.

Bhatia outlined how Micron is approaching its Central New York investment not as a single facility but as a fully integrated manufacturing ecosystem. That approach aligns infrastructure and workforce development to support sustained growth and global competitiveness.

“We’re bringing the full scale of Micron’s global manufacturing and operations expertise to Central New York, along with decades of innovation that power the world’s most advanced technologies,” said Bhatia. “The investment is more than just building fabs. It’s about building the ecosystem and talent pipeline alongside them, so infrastructure, workforce, housing and transit can scale together. By investing early and deliberately, we’re creating a foundation for sustained growth.”

Business of the Year Winners

CenterState CEO also announced its Business of the Year Award winners at the event, recognizing the outstanding achievements of regional businesses and organizations in five categories. This year’s winners are:

Community Financial System, Inc. – More than 50 Employees
Additional finalists: Black River Systems Company, Inc., Lotte Biologics USA, LLC

Eastern Security Services – Fewer than 50 Employees
Additional finalists: Taitem Engineering, DPC; Total Solutions

Clear Path for Veterans – Nonprofit
Additional finalists: Devin’s Rec Room; The Reading League, Inc.

Sapphire Recruitment – Community Involvement
Additional finalists: Everson Museum of Art, Fulton Block Builders

Champions GR8 Kidz After School & Summer Camp – Minority-owned Business – presented in partnership with the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance
Additional finalists: Rolling Enterprises, Inc.; Who Want Smoke BBQ & Catering LLC

▶️ Visit CenterState CEO's YouTube page to watch videos from the event, including Business of the Year recognitions and remarks from the event’s speakers.

⬇️ Download CenterState CEO’s 2025-2026 Annual Report.