The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) will celebrate its 2015 Annual Member Meeting on October 21st at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in Troy, NY.  Event registration begins at 5:00 pm; Howard Zemsky, President  & CEO of Empire State Development (ESD) will deliver keynote remarks. A reception will follow the business portion of the meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

As President  & CEO of ESD, Howard Zemsky works closely with Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and the respective regional co-chairs to implement the Regional Economic Development Councils, the Governor’s decentralized, collaborative and strategic approach to economic development.

Mr. Zemsky has co-chaired the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council during the past four years and has worked closely on the Governor’s Buffalo Billion revitalization initiative. His company, Larkin Development Group, has redeveloped approximately 1.0 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; 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 – a message from the board chair and committees, as well as an update on the Upstate Revitalization Initiative Capital Region strategy, and the direction the organization is headed in 2016 from CEG Interim President & CEO Michael 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 University at Albany, and Chairwoman of CEG. 

The CEG 2015 Annual Member 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 Corporation; Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte CPAs, P.C. and Turner Construction.

For more information on event pricing or to register contact Andrea Swank at 518-465-8975 or email andreas@ceg.org. Online registration is available at www.ceg.org.

About the Center for Economic Growth

The Center for Economic Growth (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.

With over 300 C-level members in business, government, education, and the not-for-profit sectors, CEG's vision is to lead Tech Valley as one of the most prosperous and innovative ecosystems in the world.  Together with its partners, the organization works to build a skilled and sustainable Workforce and Education pipeline; cultivate a strong Entrepreneurial ecosystem; and ensure a modern Infrastructure to grow local companies, attract new investment and prepare our communities for growth.

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. Since 2002, the CEG MEP team has driven more than $562 million in total quantifiable impacts to close to 400 manufacturing companies in the Capital Region. Visit www.ceg.org.