On the last full day of the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, the Detroit Regional Chamber announced Tina Freese Decker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Corewell Health™, as the Chair of the 2027 Mackinac Policy Conference. Decker’s term as Conference Chair follows Bob Riney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Ford Health.
Detroit Regional Chamber Names Tina Freese Decker the 2027 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair
May 28, 2026
“It takes all of us to build a stronger Michigan – leaders and perspectives from across all industries,” “I’m looking forward to further collaboration in 2027 to ensure we are a destination for people to live, work, learn, and play well into the future.”
– Tina Freese Decker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corewell Health
Freese Decker is no stranger to leading complex operations and navigating transformational change. She was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Health in 2018 and played an influential role in its merger with Beaumont Health to create Corewell Health. Freese Decker leads more than 60,000 professionals, 21 hospitals, and Priority Health, the third-largest provider-sponsored health plan in the country.
As a Chamber Board Member and top health care executive, her leadership is rooted in fostering a collaborative culture, driving innovation, and nurturing talent. Under her leadership, Corewell Health is a nationally recognized health care system and has been celebrated as a top system in Michigan in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, with two hospitals earning national recognition, five among the top eight hospitals in Michigan, and seven recognized with high-performing specialties.
“Tina and the Corewell team have been instrumental partners of the Chamber and stewards of community health across the Detroit Region and state for many years. Her many years of executive experience at the intersection of health care, policy, and business will serve her well as chair of the 2027 Mackinac Policy Conference. “As the force behind one of – if not the largest employer in Michigan, I look forward to seeing how next year’s event takes shape under Tina’s leadership and unique vision.”
– Sandy K. Baruah, Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer
In addition to her Board of Directors role at the Detroit Regional Chamber, Freese Decker is a board member of Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Regional Partnership, and Gerald R. Ford Foundation, as well as a current board member and past board chair of The Right Place and The Economic Club of Grand Rapids. She also served as the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees Chair in 2025 and is a current board member.
Planning for the 2027 Conference will commence this summer. Freese Decker will lead an advisory committee of Michigan-based Chief Executive Officers and Chamber leadership to develop the theme and agenda for next year’s event, which will take place from Tuesday, June 1, to Friday, June 4, 2026, at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
The Mackinac Policy Conference – the Chamber’s annual statewide event – convenes Michigan’s most influential audience to engage in collaborative dialogue on the state’s economic future. Since 1981, the Conference has provided a unique-in-the-nation experience for Michigan’s top business, government, civic, philanthropic, and entrepreneurial leaders. As Michigan’s premier policy event, the Conference attracts more than 1,500 attendees annually to discuss key issues facing the state. To learn more, visit detroitchamber.com/mpc.