CNY Leadership Symposium 2026 "When The Going Gets Tough..."

Description

Breakfast and Lunch will be provided by local restaurants.
Door prizes will be announced...

We will have over 50 local leaders attending the symposium. This will be a great networking event! 

Jeff Knauss – Entrepreneur, AI Strategist & Visionary Leader

Jeff Knauss is a serial entrepreneur, AI strategist, and investor with a proven track record of building, scaling, and exiting high-growth businesses.

As the CEO & Co-Founder of Arcovo AI, he is redefining business automation by building AI agents that act as digital employees, helping organizations streamline operations, increase efficiency, and drive growth.

Previously, Jeff was the CEO & Co-Founder of Digital Hyve, a full-service digital marketing agency that grew into an 8-figure powerhouse, ranking 52nd on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Under his leadership, Digital Hyve became one of the most successful independent agencies in the country.

In 2021, Jeff orchestrated a highly successful financial exit, selling the company to an independent agency and securing a lucrative return after 7 years of scaling the business. Equally important, he structured the deal to ensure all 56 employees became employee-owners in the acquiring company through an ESOP, creating lasting financial benefits for his team.

Jeff is also the CEO & Founder of Opin, an education-focused platform providing real-world entrepreneurial insights to high school and college students.

He has been recognized and featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Adweek, Inc. Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Facebook Success Stories, and more.

Beyond his ventures, Jeff is an investor and advisor to multiple companies across AI, fintech, commercial real estate, and hospitality—including ownership of XO Taco, Hidden Fish, and Clover’s. 

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) and the SUNY Oswego Foundation, with past board roles at Byrne Dairy, United Way, Food Bank of CNY, and other major organizations.

Jeff’s achievements have earned him widespread recognition. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from SUNY Oswego and was the youngest honoree of the prestigious Crystal Ball Award, recognizing exceptional business leadership and community impact.

In 2021, Jeff and his wife launched the Knauss Family Foundation, dedicated to breaking cycles of generational poverty through education, children’s health, and career development.

A sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, leadership, AI, and business strategy, Jeff captivates audiences with his insights on scaling companies, leveraging AI, and navigating the future of work.

He lives in Skaneateles, NY, with his wife, Heta, and their two children, Max and Lila.



Steve Axtell - Head Coach of the Cortland Men’s Soccer Team 
Steve Axtell has been the head coach of the Cortland men’s soccer team since 2012. In 13 years and 12 seasons at the helm, Axtell has guided the Red Dragons to a record of 170-57-24(.725), including eight appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament and six trips to the national “Sweet 16.”

Axtell is the owner and director of NYid Camps, the largest youth soccer camp series in New York State. He is also the owner of OnePlus Performance Coaching, a leadership and coaching business. As a member of United Soccer Coaches, Axtell also travels throughout the country teaching courses as the Leadership Curriculum Coordinator. He is also the National College Advisory Director for Rush Soccer, where he helps guide over 3,000 students and their families through the college process.

Axtell has a long history of athletic coaching. Outside of soccer, Axtell has worked in cardiac rehabilitation and owned an outdoor adventure company. He is also certified as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Axtell earned his master's degree in Kinesiology from Cortland State in 2014, where he was also an all-conference goalkeeper for the Red Dragons.



Karen Lynn Kaplan - Business Strategist and Coach
Karen Lynn Kaplan brings over 30 years of global, cross-sector experience helping leaders and organizations turn complexity into results. Born and raised in Central New York, Karen has led high-stakes work for the U.S. government during the Arab Spring in Tunisia and directed a regional workforce development initiative with CenterState CEO, alongside partnering with organizations ranging from large bureaucracies to startups. Today, as a keynote speaker and strategic partner, she equips leaders to cut through competing priorities, make confident decisions, and move from uncertainty to clear, coordinated action. Through her keynotes, leadership development, and advisory work, she helps organizations transform “business as usual” into meaningful, measurable impact.

Logan Knowles - Paralympic Athlete and Entrepreneur
Logan Knowles is a Paralympic athlete, entrepreneur, and speaker known for his resilience, determination, and ability to perform under pressure.
Born with cerebral palsy, Logan has spent his life defying expectations—competing at the highest levels of adaptive sport and pushing beyond perceived limitations. His journey gained international attention after being featured in a widely viewed film by Casey Neistat, documenting his experience running the New York City Marathon.
Beyond athletics, Logan co-founded a company focused on advancing rehabilitation technology, working to bring innovative solutions into clinical settings to improve how people recover and move. After helping build the company and its early momentum, Logan faced an unexpected and defining turning point that ultimately reshaped his path.
This year he also launched the American Para Athlete Foundation that’s focused on providing Paralympic athletes with the support they need to chase Paralympic dreams.
Today, Logan speaks to organizations and leaders about resilience, navigating adversity, and making decisions under pressure. His message challenges audiences to rethink how they respond when things don’t go as planned—and to recognize that while we don’t always control what happens, we always control what we do next.
Through his story, Logan delivers a powerful reminder that setbacks don’t define us—our response does.
 
 Watch Logan's marathon story here:
https://youtu.be/-jCQerxzF48?si=hckrKNdsmyQL6O3J



Amanda Cave Jackson - Family Travel Enthusiast
Parents of school-age kids often feel frustrated when weekends vanish in errands, practice, and chores, leaving only one big vacation a year to make memories that matter.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Amanda Cave Jackson is the guide busy families need. As the founder of TripIdeaMom.com, she finds and tests short, driveable trips across NY and the Northeast so you don't have to. She also leads small-group trips into NYC for families who want the experience without the overwhelm.

A full-time engineer, wife, and mom of two middle-school daughters, Amanda built this because she felt time slipping away as her kids were growing up. She knew there had to be a better way to turn ordinary weekends into something worth remembering.

Her formula: pick the trip, show up, and build inside jokes that last.

See more here:
TripIdeaMom.com





Missy Benner - Coffee Mania Leadership
Missy Benner has made quite the impact on our community as the smiling face fueling us with our coffee of choice for over 15 years. Now she operates behind the scenes, running some of the day-to-day operations that make our favorite coffee huts run so smoothly!