FOCUS Forums are a series of engaging public discussions featuring expert panelists who discuss a range of topics that impact Central New York residents, including education, environment, local government, business, health, public service, and more. Each forum consists of insightful presentations followed by a moderated Q&A session that encourages community participation. We aim to create an inclusive space for residents to learn and contribute to the issues that matter most in our community.
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026 | Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Doors Open at 11:45 a.m.)
Registration & Location: In-Person & Zoom. Registration: Free and Open to Everyone.
This FOCUS Forum FOCUS Forum was be held in-person at One Group, with the option of virtual participation via Zoom.
FOCUS Forums are always free and open to everyone, because we believe civic conversations shouldn’t come with a price tag! Forums like this are made possible by generous sponsors and community donors. If you’d like to be a part of that, a gift of $10 helps us keep the doors open! Make your optional $10 donation today!
Topic: FOCUS hosted a hybrid public forum on workforce development and the future of work in Central New York, exploring how the region is preparing residents, employers, and educational institutions for a period of economic transformation that has not been seen here in generations. Panelists from Center State CEO, the MACNY – The Manufacturers Association of Central New York, and Le Moyne College’s Erie 21 program discussed the programs, pipelines, and partnerships working to connect everyday people to construction, manufacturing, and technology careers, and named the barriers, including transportation, childcare, and awareness, that continue to keep those opportunities out of reach for too many residents.
Language Access: FOCUS Forums are presented in English. Zoom provides optional, automated live captions and translation features that participants may choose to enable. These tools are generated by Zoom and are not professionally interpreted.
How We Built This Conversation: This topic was shaped by community input and informed by data from the CNY Vitals Life Needs Assessment, which tracks the issues impacting Central New York most. Have a topic you’d like to see at a future FOCUS Forum? Suggest a topic or panelist here.
Agenda:
11:45 – Doors Open
12:00 – Welcome
12:05 – Panelist Presentations (#3 panelists, 8 minutes each)
12:30 – Moderated Q&A
12:55 – Closing Remarks
Panelists:
Aimee Durfee, Vice President of Workforce Innovation, CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity
Michael Frame, Executive Director of the Manufacturers Talent Institute (MTI) and Executive Vice President of MACNY, MACNY, The Manufacturers Association
Michael Frame serves as the Executive Director of the Manufacturers Talent Institute (MTI) and Executive Vice President of MACNY, The Manufacturers Association. In this dual role, he leads MTI’s strategy and execution by leading the development and delivery of talent development initiatives, while serving as a key member of MACNY’s Executive Leadership Team.
Mike drives talent development innovation through MTI’s continuum of workforce development programs, advancing its mission to power the advancement of manufacturing by connecting talent, training, and industry to build a skilled workforce and create pathways to high-impact careers. His work strengthens the manufacturing talent pipeline by building a connected system of career exploration, pre-apprenticeship, and Registered Apprenticeship, creating clear, accessible, and industry-driven pathways into advanced manufacturing careers.
His leadership has been recognized with the Business Council of New York State’s Workforce Innovation Award, the NYATEP New York State Workforce Program Award, the On Point for Jobs Award, and selection by City & State Magazine as a “40 Under 40” honoree.
Michael’s career reflects years of experience across higher education and public research institutions, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. He has also held leadership roles at Florida State University, SUNY System Administration, Binghamton University, and within the California State University System.
A graduate of Syracuse University, Cornell University, and Cayuga Community College, he remains actively engaged in advancing regional economic and educational initiatives through service on several nonprofit boards, including Mohawk Valley EDGE, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, and the Cayuga Community College Foundation. He previously served as Chair of On Point for College, Chair of Fuller Road Management Corporation (NY CREATES), and Chair of the Council on Government Affairs for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
A native of Upstate New York, Michael is a devoted Syracuse Orange fan and avid t-shirt collector. He resides in the Mohawk Valley with his wife, three children, and two dogs.
Tylah Worrell, Program Director, ERIE21 at Le Moyne College
Learn more about Tylah!
Tylah Worrell was raised in Syracuse and serves as the Program Director of ERIE21 and HARC at Le Moyne College. She is a workforce development program director and community systems builder working across workforce development, education, and community investment. Her work centers on advancing economic equity through durable systems that expand access, stability, and opportunity, and she designs and leads initiatives that dismantle structural barriers, align institutions, and create pathways to financial freedom and long-term prosperity.
Through ERIE21, a multi-generational workforce development and STEAM education initiative, she leads programming that serves families from youth through adulthood across Central New York. She also directs HARC, the Healthcare Advancement Resource Center, which supports internationally medically trained graduates through mentorship and career navigation as they build pathways into the healthcare workforce.
A 2023 graduate of Citizens Academy through FOCUS, Tylah credits the program with changing the trajectory of her career, helping her find alignment and purpose in civic engagement. Today she invests her time, talent, and treasures in contributing to her community in meaningful ways.
At the core of her work is connection: connecting people to opportunity, institutions to strategy, and systems to the communities they serve.
