Talk CNY: Season 1, Episode 3 - Dominic Robinson and Aimee Durfee - Talk CNY

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Talk CNY: Season 1, Episode 3 - Dominic Robinson and Aimee Durfee

February 22, 2023 • 20 mins

Today's guests of Talk CNY presented by NBT Bank are Dominic Robinson and Aimee Durfee of CenterState CEO.

Finding skilled workers and attracting talent to fill open positions at all levels is a challenge faced by many Central New York companies. So this month we’ll take a closer look at what business and community leaders are doing to address the talent challenge. Through this episode we’ll explore how CenterState CEO is acting as a convener to uncover hidden talent, connect local talent to opportunities and helping to address issues of generational poverty and under-employment.

Dominic Robinson is Senior Vice President of Inclusive Growth for the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO). CenterState CEO is a regional economic development and business leadership organization and chamber of commerce, based in Syracuse and representing Central Upstate New York. In this role he is responsible for driving positive impact and outcomes in the region. Robinson oversees the majority of the organization’s direct programs, services and initiatives, including core areas of business expansion, retention and attraction; business incubation and acceleration (including The Tech Garden); workforce development; community investment and prosperity; and cluster development. Robinson previously served as the organization's vice president of Economic Inclusion.

Aimee Durfee serves as Vice President of Workforce Innovation at CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), based in Syracuse, New York. CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region.

In this role, Durfee leads her team to create partnerships with businesses and community organizations to build industry sector training pipelines in construction, technology, manufacturing and health care. She also convenes employers and educational partners to advance job quality and diversity, equity and inclusion through targeted strategies and co-investment.

Durfee has been working on poverty issues for over 20 years, as a technical assistance provider, direct services program leader, public speaker, policy advocate and grant maker. Her areas of expertise include workforce development, public benefits, asset building and community economic development, as well as racial/gender equity and employment discrimination issues.