Agenda details are tentative and subject to change.

7:30 a.m.

Registration, Networking, and Breakfast

Breakfast Sponsor: Corewell Health

Registration Location: First Floor Lobby, The Department at Hudson’s

Breakfast Location: Rocket Exhibit Hall

8:00 a.m.

Detroit’s First Word: NeighborHUB Announcement and Discussion

Panelists: Jay Williams, Co-Owner, Next Chapter Books 

Karlyta Williams, Founder, Mockery Zero Proof 

Moderator: Dorian Grey, Senior Director, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, Detroit Regional Chamber 

Location: The Kresge Foundation Theatre

8:15 a.m.

Detroit’s First Word: Expanding Wayne County Transit

PanelistsTiffany J. Gunter, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, SMART 

Assad I. Turfe, Deputy Executive, Wayne County

ModeratorBrian J. Shoaf, Vice President, Public Policy and Business Advocacy, Detroit Regional Chamber

Location: The Kresge Foundation Theatre

8:45 a.m.

Conference Welcome

Speaker: Megan Spanitz, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber

Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber

LocationMain Theatre

9:00 a.m.

A Conversation With Joi Harris

SpeakerJoi Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer, DTE Energy

ModeratorJason Colthorp, Anchor and Reporter, WDIV-TV 4, NBC

LocationMain Theatre

9:30 a.m.

The Future of Health

PanelistsKevin M. Guskiewicz, President, Michigan State University

Bob Riney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Ford Health

Arn Tellem, Vice Chairman, Pistons Sports and Entertainment; Chair EmeritusBoard of Directors, Detroit Regional Chamber 

ModeratorRoop Raj, Evening Anchor and Host, The Pulse, Fox 2 Detroit

Sponsor: Henry Ford Health

LocationMain Theatre

10:05 a.m.

Power Perspective: Life Remodeled’s Diallo Smith

Speaker: Diallo Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Life Remodeled
Sponsor: University of Michigan
LocationMain Theatre

10:10 a.m.

A Conversation With Mark Hackel and John Paul Rea

Speakers: Mark Hackel, Executive, Macomb County

John Paul Rea, Deputy County Executive, Macomb County

Sponsor: HNTB

LocationMain Theatre

10:30 a.m.

A Conversation With Mike Duggan

Speaker: Mike Duggan, Independent Gubernatorial Candidate for Michigan
Interviewer: Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber
Sponsor: Rocket
LocationMain Theatre

11:05 a.m.

Keynote Address: Jared Fleisher

Speaker: Jared Fleisher, Chief Executive Officer, Bedrock

SponsorBlue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

LocationMain Theatre

11:35 a.m.

Lunch

Sponsor: General Motors

Location: Rocket Exhibit Hall

11:50 a.m.

Leading With Human-Centered AI: From Skills to Scale

As AI reshapes the business landscape, organizations must evolve to harness its full potential while preserving human trust and impact. This dynamic panel will examine leading with human-centered AI to drive innovation and growth in the year ahead, considering the macro view as well as looking through a local Detroit metro lens.  

PanelistsSarah Dugan, Lead, Global IT Change and Adoption, Accenture

Ronia Kruse, President and Chief Executive Officer, OpTech, LLC; Co-Founder, Digital Lakes 

Dana L. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

ModeratorShatica McDonald, Managing Director, Michigan Office and Lead, Global Health and Public Service, Accenture Song 

Sponsor: Accenture

Location: The Kresge Foundation Theatre

12:35 p.m.

Keynote Address: David Coulter

Speaker: David Coulter, Executive, Oakland County

Sponsor: DTE Energy

LocationMain Theatre 

12:50 p.m.

Power Perspective: Business Leaders For Michigan’s Jeff Donofrio

SpeakerJeff Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Leaders For Michigan

Sponsor: University of Michigan

Location: Main Theatre

1:00 p.m.

“The House is on Fire” | Solving Michigan’s Education Crises

PanelistsSarah Anthony, Michigan Senator (D-Lansing)

Jeff Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Leaders For Michigan

Greg Handel, Chief Education and Talent Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber

Donald B. Taylor, President, University of Detroit Mercy

ModeratorStephen Henderson, Executive Advisor, BridgeDetroit; Host, Detroit PBS

LocationMain Theatre

1:25 p.m.

A Conversation With Duncan Aldred

SpeakerDuncan AldredSenior Vice President and President, North America, General Motors

Interviewer: KC Crain, President and Chief Executive Officer, Crain Communications

LocationMain Theatre

1:50 p.m.

Power Perspective: BasBlue’s Ellen Gilchrist

Speaker: Ellen Gilchrist, Chief Executive Officer, BasBlue

Sponsor: University of Michigan

LocationMain Theatre

2:00 p.m.

A Conversation With Mark de la Vergne and Ned Staebler

Speakers: Mark de la Vergne, Director, Economic Innovation and Policy, Michigan Central

Ned Staebler, Vice President, Economic Development, Wayne State University; President and Chief Executive Officer, TechTown

LocationMain Theatre 

2:15 p.m.

Philanthropy’s Role in Detroit’s Economic Ecosystem

PanelistsLaura Granneman, Executive Director, Rocket Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation

Kate Levin Markel, President, McGregor Fund

Sarida Scott, Vice President, Program, The Skillman Foundation

ModeratorMegan Spanitz, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber

Sponsor: The Skillman Foundation

LocationMain Theatre

2:40 p.m.

Break and Refreshments

 Sponsors: Enbridge, The Ideal Group

3:00 p.m.

A Conversation With Warren Evans

SpeakerWarren Evans, Executive, Wayne County

InterviewerCarol Cain, Senior Producer and Host, Michigan Matters, CBS Detroit; Columnist, Detroit Free Press 

Sponsor: Comcast Business

LocationMain Theatre

3:15 p.m.

Making Detroit a Destination for Tech Innovation and Investment

SpeakerAndré Gudger, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Eccalon

Interviewer: Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director, MichAuto; Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber 

LocationMain Theatre

3:35 p.m.

Power Perspective: Rebel Nell’s Amy Peterson

SpeakerAmy Peterson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rebel Nell

Sponsor: University of Michigan

LocationMain Theatre

3:40 p.m.

The Importance of Data Centers in Michigan’s Economy

Speaker: Ambassador John Rakolta Jr., Chairman, Walbridge 

Interviewer: Sandy K. Baruah, President and Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber 

LocationMain Theatre

4:10 p.m.

A Message From Mayor Mary Sheffield

Mayor Mary Sheffield will be attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 28-30, and will not be able to attend the Detroit Policy Conference in person. Pre-recorded remarks from the Mayor will be shared with the business community during the Conference. 

Location: Main Theatre 

4:15 p.m.

Rise Higher Detroit: The Transition to Detroit’s New Leadership 

Speaker: Melvin “Butch” Hollowell, Board Chairman, Rise Higher Detroit, Mayor’s Office, City of Detroit; Managing Partner, The Miller Law Firm – Detroit 

Interviewer: Chuck Stokes, Director, Editorial and Public Affairs, WXYZ-TV

Location: Main Theatre

4:35 p.m.

Detroit’s Last Word With City Council

Panelists: James ETate Jr., President, Detroit City Council, District 1

Latisha Johnson, Member, Detroit City Council, District 4

Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Member, Detroit City Council, District 6

Coleman A. Young II, President Pro Tem, Detroit City Council

ModeratorLloyd Jackson, Co-Host, JR Morning, WJR 760 AM; Voice of the Detroit People Mover 

Sponsor: Airbnb

LocationMain Theatre

5:00 p.m.

Reception

Sponsors: Amazon, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Enbridge, Hollywood Casino at Greektown, Lake Trust Credit Union, Moment Strategies, NAF, Sheetz

LocationRocket Exhibit Hall

6:15 p.m.

End of Event

Investing in Innovation Panelists DPC25

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