Registration, Networking, and Breakfast
Breakfast Sponsor: Corewell Health
Registration Location: First Floor Lobby, The Department at Hudson’s
Breakfast Location: Rocket Exhibit Hall
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
Detroit’s First Word: Expanding Wayne County Transit
Panelists: Tiffany J. Gunter, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, SMART
Assad I. Turfe, Deputy Executive, Wayne County
Moderator: Brian J. Shoaf, Vice President, Public Policy and Business Advocacy, Detroit Regional Chamber
Location: The Kresge Foundation Theatre
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
Location: Main Theatre
A Conversation With Joi Harris
Speaker: Joi Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer, DTE Energy
Moderator: Jason Colthorp, Anchor and Reporter, WDIV-TV 4, NBC
Location: Main Theatre
The Future of Health
Panelists: Kevin 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 Emeritus, Board of Directors, Detroit Regional Chamber
Moderator: Roop Raj, Evening Anchor and Host, The Pulse, Fox 2 Detroit
Sponsor: Henry Ford Health
Location: Main Theatre
Power Perspective: Life Remodeled’s Diallo Smith
Speaker: Diallo Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Life Remodeled
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Location: Main Theatre
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
Location: Main Theatre
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
Location: Main Theatre
Keynote Address: Jared Fleisher
Speaker: Jared Fleisher, Chief Executive Officer, Bedrock
Sponsor: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Location: Main Theatre
Lunch
Sponsor: General Motors
Location: Rocket Exhibit Hall
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.
Panelists: Sarah 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
Moderator: Shatica McDonald, Managing Director, Michigan Office and Lead, Global Health and Public Service, Accenture Song
Sponsor: Accenture
Location: The Kresge Foundation Theatre
Keynote Address: David Coulter
Speaker: David Coulter, Executive, Oakland County
Sponsor: DTE Energy
Location: Main Theatre
Power Perspective: Business Leaders For Michigan’s Jeff Donofrio
Speaker: Jeff Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Leaders For Michigan
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Location: Main Theatre
“The House is on Fire” | Solving Michigan’s Education Crises
Panelists: Sarah 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
Moderator: Stephen Henderson, Executive Advisor, BridgeDetroit; Host, Detroit PBS
Location: Main Theatre
A Conversation With Duncan Aldred
Speaker: Duncan Aldred, Senior Vice President and President, North America, General Motors
Interviewer: KC Crain, President and Chief Executive Officer, Crain Communications
Location: Main Theatre
Power Perspective: BasBlue’s Ellen Gilchrist
Speaker: Ellen Gilchrist, Chief Executive Officer, BasBlue
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Location: Main Theatre
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
Location: Main Theatre
Philanthropy’s Role in Detroit’s Economic Ecosystem
Panelists: Laura Granneman, Executive Director, Rocket Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation
Kate Levin Markel, President, McGregor Fund
Sarida Scott, Vice President, Program, The Skillman Foundation
Moderator: Megan Spanitz, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber
Sponsor: The Skillman Foundation
Location: Main Theatre
Break and Refreshments
Sponsors: Enbridge, The Ideal Group
A Conversation With Warren Evans
Speaker: Warren Evans, Executive, Wayne County
Interviewer: Carol Cain, Senior Producer and Host, Michigan Matters, CBS Detroit; Columnist, Detroit Free Press
Sponsor: Comcast Business
Location: Main Theatre
Making Detroit a Destination for Tech Innovation and Investment
Speaker: André Gudger, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Eccalon
Interviewer: Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director, MichAuto; Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer, Detroit Regional Chamber
Location: Main Theatre
Power Perspective: Rebel Nell’s Amy Peterson
Speaker: Amy Peterson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rebel Nell
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Location: Main Theatre
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
Location: Main Theatre
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
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
Detroit’s Last Word With City Council
Panelists: James E. Tate 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
Moderator: Lloyd Jackson, Co-Host, JR Morning, WJR 760 AM; Voice of the Detroit People Mover
Sponsor: Airbnb
Location: Main Theatre
Reception
Sponsors: Amazon, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Enbridge, Hollywood Casino at Greektown, Lake Trust Credit Union, Moment Strategies, NAF, Sheetz
Location: Rocket Exhibit Hall
End of Event
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