BINGHAMTON, NY - The SUNY Business and Education Cooperative of the Southern Tier (SUNY BEST) will host "GLOBALFOUNDRIES: Business, Labor, Education and Beyond" at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, in room 220 at the Binghamton University Downtown Center, 67 Washington St., Binghamton. This presentation is free and open to the public.

Throughout the 1980s and '90s, guest speaker Mike Russo was a proponent of advanced manufacturing and the importance of keeping industry as an economic driver within the U.S. In his current role, Russo is responsible for government relations, regulatory affairs and strategic initiatives in the U.S. for GLOBALFOUNDRIES, developing regional, state and national public-private partnerships that improve the hard and soft infrastructure needed to build a more robust supply chain and manufacturing base.  

Founded in 2009, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the world’s second largest contract manufacturer of computer chips and is based in California with fabrication facilities in New York, Germany and Singapore.

Russo's presentation will focus on a project currently taking place in upstate New York, its importance to the regional and state economy and its relevance to national and economic security. He will also discuss leveraging strategic relationships and initiatives as part of the company’s approach to government relations.

Pre-registration for this discussion is required through the SUNY BEST website at http://ceo.binghamton.edu/sunybest. For additional information, e-mail sunybest@binghamton.edu.         

Directional signage to the meeting room will be visible for those entering the main entrance of the Downtown Center from Washington St. Parking is available in the Collier Street Ramp, the Water Street Ramp, (both within two blocks of the Downtown Center) or if available, at any of the metered parking spots in front of the building on Washington St.