NORWICH – Some of the area’s foremost business leaders gathered at the American Legion in Norwich Wednesday as Commerce Chenango hosted its quarterly “Good Morning Chenango” breakfast. On the table: The pressing issues challenging the efforts of present-day business, and the obstacles many businesses will continue to face in the future.

Keynote speaker Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate presented the crowd with an optimistic message of recent change in Albany that’s worked toward the advantage of business in recent years. Moreover, he addressed areas of concern in New York State and the ideals for better business opportunities in the coming years. Sampson’s role as director of Unshackle Upstate is to coordinate its political and policy agenda, advocate for reform in state government and promote the overall growth of the coalition and engagement of its partners.

The goal is simple, he said: To work toward reform in New York government that strengthens the opportunities to conduct business in Upstate New York.

“We need to address situations in Albany that have been taboo for years,” he advised the crowd, noting the political divide in recent years that kept legislators in Albany in gridlock. “It’s not about Democrat versus Republican, Left versus Right. It’s about New York doing what’s right for each other.”