Center for Economic Growth

Advance 2 Apprenticeship Virtual Info Session
2026-02-02 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for one of our virtual information sessions to learn about our manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program, Advance 2 Apprenticeship and how you can apply to join our February 2026 cohort!
Thursday, January 22 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. OR Monday, February 2 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on ZOOM
Are you looking for a new career? Do you enjoy working with your
hands, and want to be part of building something?
Advanced manufacturing may be the industry for you! The Center for Economic Growth, in
partnership with Hudson Valley Community College and the Capital Region Workforce
Development Board, are offering a pre-apprenticeship program to introduce individuals to
foundational technical and professional skills needed to find a role in the manufacturing industry.
Throughout the program, participants have the opportunity to tour and interview with local
manufacturers for rewarding, sustainable roles!
REGISTER HERE

Knowledge @ Noon: 2026 New York State Legislative Session
2026-02-10 12:00 - 13:00
Join the Manufacturing Association of Central New York (MACNY) and Ostroff Associates for an insightful preview of the 2026 New York State Legislative Session.

In this free, must-attend webinar, industry experts will break down key legislative priorities impacting manufacturers, including:

Energy Policy: Moving forward with an “All of the Above” approach;
Workforce Development: Investing in Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship;
Cutting Red Tape: SEQR regulatory reform; and
Tax Policy: Allowing federal tax benefits to flow to New York investments

Stay ahead of policy changes, reduce risk, and position your business for success in the year ahead.
Presenters:
Randy Wolken is President and CEO of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, representing over 300 companies and 50,000 employees in Central and Upstate New York, and President and CEO of the Manufacturers Alliance of New York, a statewide coalition representing more than 2,500 companies and 425,000 employees. He joined MACNY in 2001 and has spent over 20 years strengthening the region’s manufacturing sector and business climate.

Casey Marvell joined Ostroff Associates in 2021 and brings extensive experience in lobbying, government relations, and public policy strategy. He advises clients on navigating New York State’s legislative and regulatory landscape across key areas including energy, environment, economic development, transportation, and taxation, with particular expertise in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Previously, he worked in the New York State Senate and at the Adirondack Council, where he supported the passage of major environmental legislation through advocacy and coalition-building. In 2025, he was named a City & State New York “Trailblazer in Clean Energy,” and he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College.

Register Here

Presenting Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsors:

Startup Tech Valley
2026-02-19 17:30 - 20:00 | Brown’s Revolution Hall, 425 River St, Troy, NY, 12180
Startup Tech Valley is Capital Region’s premier startup event. Connect with the entrepreneurship community. Free and open to all.

Startup Tech Valley is a meetup for the entrepreneurship community in the Capital Region. Attendees include entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, mentors, students, employees of startups, service providers to startups, and anyone else who wants to be involved or is curious.
What to Expect:

Connect + Engage. Start with networking and then get introduced to startups through pitch sessions.
No cost to attend, however RSVP is required.
Light refreshments will be provided. Cash bar available.
5:30pm Networking | 6:00 – 7:00pm Pitch Sessions

REGISTER TO ATTEND
If you’re interested in pitching, you can apply here.
If you’re interested in sponsoring, you can reach out here.

Knowledge @ Noon: Leverage AI Enabled Dozuki Platform
2026-03-10 12:00 - 13:00
Join us for this free Knowledge @ Noon webinar and learn how the AI-enabled Dozuki platform is helping manufacturers empower frontline teams for stronger performance and greater productivity.
Designed for manufacturing organizations of all sizes, Dozuki bridges the gap between frontline operations and existing manufacturing systems—driving real efficiency gains where it matters most.
How to Modernize Manufacturing—Without a Massive Team
Discover how leading manufacturers are transforming operations by giving their workforce the right tools, training, and knowledge—without relying on a large engineering staff or months of IT support. In this session, we’ll explore how Dozuki helps organizations standardize work, reduce turnover, and scale expertise across multiple sites with a platform that’s fast to deploy and easy to maintain.

Register Here

Presenting Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsors:

Startup Tech Valley
2026-03-17 17:30 - 20:00 | ETEC Building – University at Albany, SUNY, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12206, United States
Join us for Startup Tech Valley at UAlbany ETEC Building in Albany, NY on Tuesday, March 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. SUTV is Capital Region’s premier startup event. Connect with the entrepreneurship community. Free and open to all.

Startup Tech Valley is a meetup for the entrepreneurship community in the Capital Region. Attendees include entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, mentors, students, employees of startups, service providers to startups, and anyone else who wants to be involved or is curious.
What to Expect:

Connect + Engage. Start with networking and then get introduced to startups through pitch sessions.
No cost to attend, however RSVP is required.
Light refreshments will be provided. Cash bar available.
5:30pm Networking | 6:00 – 7:00pm Pitch Sessions

If you’re interested in pitching, you can apply here.
If you’re interested in sponsoring, you can reach out here.

Register Here

Knowledge @ Noon: Intelligent Automation in Manufacturing: Enhancing ERP Systems for Smarter Operations
2026-04-14 12:00 - 13:00
Join this free Knowledge @ Noon webinar Intelligent Automation in Manufacturing: Enhancing ERP Systems for Smarter Operations to explore how intelligent automation and ERP integrations are reshaping operations within manufacturing organizations.
We’ll examine how intelligent document processing solutions, like Quidi, can be applied within supply chain transactions to reduce manual effort, improve data visibility, and surface valuable insights related to parts, materials, and sourcing trends. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how automation can support more efficient workflows and more informed decision-making.
Designed with manufacturing environments in mind, this session will walk through practical examples of how ERP systems can be enhanced through thoughtful integration strategies. The focus will be on operational improvement, measurable impact, and how teams can shift time away from repetitive tasks toward higher-value work.
Shayne Pendergast, Solutions Architect at Garnet River, will share real-world use cases and lessons learned from implementing intelligent automation within ERP ecosystems, along with considerations for organizations evaluating similar initiatives.

Shayne’s Bio:
Shayne is Garnet River’s Solutions Architect, responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and scalability of the Quidi suite across manufacturing and distribution industries and leading a team of skilled professionals who drive innovation in applications which automate strategies that deliver client value. Shayne joined Garnet River in 2020, spearheading numerous RPA projects and collaborating across Garnet River’s practice groups to integrate RPA initiatives with broader business objectives to grow and maintain what is now the product division.

Register Here
