A New Leadership Era

Looking across the Detroit skyline, it’s impossible to miss the gleaming, new 45-story skyscraper that is both eye-catching and a nod to the city’s past, present, and future.
Sitting on the site of the former J.L. Hudson Department Store, Hudson’s Detroit is the long-anticipated and ambitious project spearheaded by Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock real estate company.

While it will be a few years before the full tower opens, the 12-story 400,000-square-foot office building portion of the project opened in 2025. Situated on historic Woodward Avenue, it serves as the new headquarters for General Motors and will also host the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 2026 Detroit Policy Conference on Jan. 29 in The Department at Hudson’s event space.

“We couldn’t ask for a better or more appropriate venue for this year’s Conference,” said Megan Spanitz, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer for the Chamber. “It’s General Motors, Woodward Avenue, Bedrock, Hudson’s — it’s truly a location that’s important to both the city’s past and future, and reflects our conference theme of ‘A New Leadership Era.’”

Headlining the Conference agenda are leaders in new roles, from Bedrock President and incoming Chief Executive Officer Jared Fleisher to DTE Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer Joi Harris to Life Remodeled President and Chief Executive
Officer Diallo Smith.

“Our city and region are experiencing or on the cusp of so many major leadership transitions in business and government, and we’re excited to be hosting several of the leaders who are going to chart our collective path forward,” Spanitz added.

The city’s former mayor, Mike Duggan, will also take the stage as he mounts a ground-breaking run for governor as an independent candidate – it’s just one of the major offices or elected bodies that will welcome new leadership during the 2026 election cycle.

The 2026 Conference, presented by Rocket, brings together about 800 leaders of business, government, and philanthropy from across the region and city. The Conference will focus on fostering collaboration among business, government, civic, and philanthropic leaders to propel the Detroit Region forward and drive innovation and economic growth. In addition to speakers in new roles, will be those who continue to provide stability in their current positions, including the Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County Executives, Mark Hackel, Dave Coulter, and Warren C. Evans.