During the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, “Live From Mackinac Brought to You by DTE Energy” featured on-air discussions with Michigan legislators and key leaders from both parties on current political and economic issues. Sponsored by DTE Energy, this popular three-day program was hosted throughout the Conference in the Parlor at Grand Hotel, with the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Brian J. Shoaf as emcee.
Live From Mackinac Brought to You by DTE Energy, May 26, 2026
June 4, 2026
Richard Czuba on Issues of the Moment
Kicking off the 2026 series, Richard Czuba of The Glengariff Group, Inc. talked with David Eggert of Crain’s Detroit Business on the data found in the Chamber’s latest Michigan Voter Poll. Among the most surprising results of the study was the conversation among data centers in Michigan, to which Czuba continues to encourage industry leaders to be explicitly clear about the need for data centers, especially as technology use continues to increase.
“What we found was 59% of voters say their own [technology] use has no impact on the need for data centers and I laugh because …the highest number was amongst those under the age of 30 who are most using data,” Czuba said. “They don’t equate their use of equipment … computers, cell phones, with having anything to do with data centers. And I think it behooves everyone to have a most honest conversation about [how] this is why we need data centers.”
Detroit Region Mayors: When We Invest in Energy, It Works
David Eggert of Crain’s Detroit Business also sat with Livonia Mayor Maureen Brosnan and Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight to discuss their respective cities’ grid systems and the growing, productive partnership with DTE Energy.
“If you can clearly outline where that solution is going to make a difference in people’s lives and be able to explain it to them upfront before it happens, [then] that makes the biggest difference of all,” Brosnan said. “So in the city of Livonia, we found that engaging early on with [DTE Energy] in understanding where they were going [to trim trees] … really helped getting folks off of that high level of anxiety that exists around protecting the trees.”
“The change we’ve seen is the responsiveness from DTE,” McCreight said. “It’s been more of a partnership and a collaborative effort to maintain that service and make sure our residents have reliable power. So it’s really been about that open communication [and] that responsiveness we’ve seen from DTE.”
David Eggert of Crain’s Detroit Business also spoke with Grand Hotel’s David Jurcak and Mission Point Resort’s Mark Ware about the most recent issues and legislation regarding the Mackinac Island ferry services and the potential impacts it could bring to the Island.
“This is a jewel of Michigan, something that should be treasured by Michigan, something that … people all across the state believe that this is an important topic that they even though it doesn’t necessarily impact their district … because it’s that important to the state,” Jurcak said.
“We want to make sure that we’re protecting the business, we’re protecting the residents, and we’re protecting our customers that are coming over [to the Island],” Ware said, “And that we want people to make sure that this is the crown jewel of Michigan and people are still coming to the Island, and understanding that this is a really important part of Michigan.”