2017 Conference

• Conference Attendees Put Civil Discourse to the Test During Interactive Session

  During the “Bring It to the Table” interactive session with award-winning documentary filmmaker Julie Winokur, executive director of Talking Eyes Media, Mackinac Policy Conference attendees were tasked with learning to listen and understand the “other side.”

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• Photos from the 2017 Mackinac Policy Conference

  Check out photos from the 2017 Mackinac Policy Conference, held May 30 – June 2 at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

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• Early Childhood Education Is an Investment in Michigan’s Future Economy, Talent

  The argument for increased investment in early childhood education is often positioned as an ethical and moral imperative, but panelists at the “Closing the Opportunity Gap for Michigan’s Children” session passionately articulated that, even more importantly, it is an economic …

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• Detroit Regional Chamber Announces Ramesh “Ray” Telang as the 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair

  MACKINAC ISLAND, June 1, 2017 – Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber announced PwC Greater Michigan Market Managing Partner and U.S. Automotive Leader Ramesh “Ray” Telang as Chair of the 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference. Highgate LLC President and CEO and 2017 Conference Chair Stephen Polk made the announcement from the main stage.

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• 2016 To-Do List Results

  During the 2017 Mackinac Policy Conference, Dennis Archer Jr., president of Archer Corporate Services, CEO of Ignition Media Group, and Detroit Regional Chamber Board president, took to Michigan’s Center Stage on Thursday, June 1 to highlight the results of last year’s To-Do List.

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• Julie Winokur: Civil Discourse Begins with Willingness to Listen

  Calling on Conference attendees to set aside their own partisan differences, award-winning documentary filmmaker Julie Winokur, executive director of Talking Eyes Media, built on the pillar of restoring civility in American politics by sharing her experiences traveling the country and breaking down political barriers.

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• AARP: Consider Retirees to Improve State’s Economy

  40 percent of U.S. employers report difficulty filling jobs due mainly to candidates lacking technical competencies and workplace competencies. Michigan’s chapter of AARP hosted a discussion focused on the talent gap retired workers …

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• New School Year, New Era Set to Begin for Public Education in Detroit

  Public education in Detroit stands on the precipice of a new era. With a financial fresh start, thanks to a package of bills passed last year by the Michigan Legislature, local school board control restored, and under the leadership of …

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• CS Mott Foundation: More Funding for Local Municipalities Critical to Michigan’s Economic Competitiveness

  Michigan’s system of funding for local municipalities is not sustainable and approaching a breaking point panelists said during the session “Funding Michigan Cities: The Path Forward” hosted by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Addressing the challenges of properly funding emergency …

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• MICHauto Roundtable: Technology Innovation Will Augment Workforce Transformation

  In an age where automation and machine learning is increasingly becoming commonplace, technological innovation should not be viewed as a hindrance to job creation but rather a driver for how organizations consider how to design jobs, organize work and plan …

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