2015 Agenda

Sponsor: Quicken Loans – Opportunity Detroit

Sponsors:
Consumers Energy
General Motors Co.

Special Guest: Debbie Stabenow, Senator, U.S. Senate

Sponsors:
Accenture
Crain’s Detroit Business
General Motors Co.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Media Row features prominent media from around Michigan covering the Conference live. Attendees can get a first-hand look at thought-leaders and experts interviewing with top media personalities from across the state in the Grand Hotel Main Dining Room. A breakfast bar featuring hot and cold selections will be available beginning at 6 a.m. Breakfast ends at 9 a.m., however Media Row will remain open for broadcasts throughout the day.

Sponsor: Quicken Loans – Opportunity Detroit

Hosted by Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Visit the Audubon Bar and rest up and recharge with a free complimentary cup of coffee.

Hosted by The Skillman Foundation

Panelists:
Tonya Allen, President and CEO, The Skillman Foundation
John Rakolta Jr., CEO, Walbridge

Moderator: Mary Kramer, Vice President and Group Publisher, Crain Communications

The co-chairs of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren, Tonya Allen, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation, and John Rakolta Jr., CEO of Walbridge, will lead an in-depth conversation on why they believe the Coalition’s sensible and straightforward plan is the best way to move Michigan to the head of the class.

Sponsor: St. Joseph Mercy Health System

Special Guest: Lila Lazarus, Owner, Lila Productions LLC

Ready for a powerful Conference?  Rid yourself of any stress and get re-energized in the Geranium Bar. Join Lila Lazarus for a restorative yoga practice that gently stretches the body and relaxes the mind.

Sponsor: Ilitch Holdings Inc.

Sponsor: Consumers Energy

Learn more about FIRST Robotics and watch high school state championship teams demonstrate their robots.

NOTE: Students will not be at their robots during the Dean Kamen Keynote Address.

Sponsor: Conway MacKenzie

Entertainment: Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra

Introduction: Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber

Speaker: Mark Davidoff, Michigan Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP.; Chair, 2015 Mackinac Policy Conference

Speaker: Rick Snyder, Governor, State of Michigan

Gov. Snyder kicks off the 2015 Conference, setting the stage for the important statewide conversation to take place throughout the three days of main stage programming and welcoming attendees to engage in Michigan’s continued reinvention.

Sponsor: Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Founder of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and host of CNN’s “Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” Mike Rowe will provide insight on the importance of providing training for skilled trades professions and the need for such programs to close the skills gap. Drawing on his years of experience as host of “Dirty Jobs,” Rowe will amplify the need for diverse career pathways in helping Michigan fully leverage its talent resources to support key industries and accelerate economic growth.

Sponsor: Consumers Energy

Dean Kamen, founder of DEKA Research and Development Corp. and inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, will highlight the future of innovation and the desperate need for new technology.

With more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents, Kamen will share his passion for the importance of hands-on curriculum accessible by all students that can inspire young people to develop technology, robotics and engineering solutions.

A tireless advocate for science and technology, Kamen is the founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Three winning teams from the FIRST Michigan robotics team will put their innovation on display, demonstrating their projects and technology on the Grand Hotel porch, gallery and parlor on Wednesday afternoon.

Sponsor: AAM

Panel:
Stephanie Comai, Director, Talent Investment Agency, State of Michigan
David Dauch, Chairman, President and CEO, AAM
Bill Pink, Vice President and Dean, Workforce Development, Grand Rapids Community College
John Russell, President and CEO, CMS Energy and Consumers Energy

Moderator: Chris Holman, Founder and CEO, Michigan Business Network

A panel of industry experts will explore the importance of promoting STEM education, the opportunities and challenges of preparing students for careers science and technology-based industries, and what strategies companies are deploying among their current workforce to prepare them to fill the talent pipeline in order for Michigan to maintain its global leadership position in the 21^st century.

Sponsor: Beaumont Health

Keynote: Walter Robb, Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market

Panel:
Craig Edsill, President, Clemens Food Group
Walter Robb, Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market
Debbie Stabenow, Senator, U.S. Senate
Dave Zilko, Vice Chairman, Garden Fresh Gourmet

Moderator: Chuck Stokes, Editorial and Public Affairs Director, WXYZ-TV 7

Whole Foods Co-CEO Walter Robb kicks off a session focused on the need for business to be good corporate citizens by driving social and economic change to increase Michigan’s and the nation’s global competitiveness based on the overarching ethos of “doing well by doing good.” Following Robb’s remarks, a panel of experts will discuss the growing impact of the food economy to Michigan’s overall economy, the increased international demand for agriculture exports and strategies for success.

Sponsor: PNC Bank

Introduction: Richard DeVore, Executive Vice President and Regional President, PNC Bank

Keynote: John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO, Operation HOPE Inc.; Founder, Bryant Group Ventures

As founder of Operation Hope Inc., best-selling author, businessman and philanthropist John Hope Bryant will speak to the importance of regional collaboration, promoting financial empowerment, and inspiring entrepreneurship, which ultimately add to the sustainability of metro areas throughout Michigan.

Sponsor: Meijer

Introduction: Mark Murray, Co-CEO, Meijer

Interviewed by: Carol Cain, Senior Producer and Host, “Michigan Matters”; Columnist, Detroit Free Press

Mayor Mike Duggan will highlight the steps needed to continue Detroit’s post-bankruptcy momentum and improve city services, as well as short and long-term plans in order to position Detroit for success and the support needed from the rest of the state to make this happen.

Sponsors:
Detroit Medical Center
EY
Greektown Casino-Hotel
Lilly USA
Miller Canfield

Entertainment: Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra

Hosted by Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Unwind from the day’s events at the Audubon Bar with complimentary beverages or an MHA signature mojito.

Sponsor: Quicken Loans – Opportunity Detroit

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Media Row features prominent media from around Michigan covering the Conference live. Attendees can get a first-hand look at thought-leaders and experts interviewing with top media personalities from across the state in the Grand Hotel Main Dining Room. A breakfast bar featuring hot and cold selections will be available beginning at 6 a.m. Breakfast ends at 9 a.m., however Media Row will remain open for broadcasts throughout the day.

Hosted by JPMorgan Chase

Introduction: Alexis Wiley, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, City of Detroit

Panel:
William Jones Jr., CEO, Focus: HOPE
Pamela Moore, President and CEO, Detroit Employment Solutions Corp.
Faye Nelson, Vice President, Public Affairs, DTE Energy; President, DTE Energy Foundation

Moderator: Chauncy Lennon, Managing Director, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase

A panel of experts will explore strategies for training providers and employers to work collaboratively to cultivate a pipeline of skilled workers, and opportunities for creating a demand-driven workforce system that meets the demands of jobseekers and employers. The panel will also discuss the recently released skills gap report, “Driving Opportunity in Detroit: Building a Middle-Skill Workforce to Strengthen Economic Recovery and Expand the Middle Class.”

Speaker: Henry Cooney, President and CEO, Plunkett Cooney

Speaker: Rip Rapson, President and CEO, The Kresge Foundation

Sponsor: DTE Energy

Panel:
Kevyn Orr, Former Emergency Manager, City of Detroit
Steven Rhodes, Former Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division
Gerald Rosen, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation

Moderator: Mariam Noland, President, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The architects of Detroit’s historic Grand Bargain will share their insight on the challenges facing a post-bankruptcy Detroit, keys for success and how the city is poised for prosperity moving forward.

Hosted by Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Visit the Audubon Bar and rest up and recharge with a free complimentary cup of coffee.

Sponsor: SME

Sponsor: Ford Motor Co.

Interviewed by: Daniel Howes, Associate Business Editor, The Detroit News

Best-selling author and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will draw on decades of research and her knowledge of executive leadership to provide insight on key traits successful political leaders have in common. She will also discuss what we can learn from past U.S. presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson, about how to effectively handle urban crises.

Sponsor: Deloitte LLP.

Sponsor: Comcast Business Solutions

Interviewed by: Harold Ford Jr., Former U.S. Representative; Political Analyst, MSNBC and CNBC

A nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and investor education, Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments LLC and chair of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., will share her insight on the role of building a new economy through entrepreneurship and the role business plays in talent development.

Introduction: Mark Davidoff, Michigan Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP; Chair, 2015 Mackinac Policy Conference

Best-selling author and geopolitical expert Dan Senor will share key lessons on entrepreneurship, drawing on years of research on Israel’s legacy of innovation and success in building a transformative start-up culture that attracts investment from around the world. Senor will discuss the tools needed to leverage the entrepreneurial impact on Detroit’s ongoing transformation and the role startup companies play in bolstering Michigan’s economic advantage over other global regions.

Hosted by The Kresge Foundation

Panel:
Michael Ford, CEO, Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
Carlos Monje, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Transportation
Peter Varga, CEO, The Rapid

Moderator: Paul Hillegonds, CEO, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, The Kresge Foundation

A panel of state and national transportation experts will discuss the Regional Transit Authority’s opportunity to secure a world-class transportation system in Southeast Michigan and how transit drives economic competitiveness and opportunity across the state.

Hosted by W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Speaker: Eugene Robinson, Columnist, The Washington Post

Moderator: Jennifer White, Host, “All Things Considered,” Michigan Radio

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson will explore the social and economic benefits of advancing racial equity and investing in early childhood education, which are critical to attracting talent and increasing cohesion in Michigan.

Sponsor: Delta Air Lines

Interviewed by: Devin Scillian, Anchor, WDIV-TV 4

Best-selling author, renowned political prognosticator and founder of FiveThirtyEight.com, Nate Silver will shed light on using data to make predictions and analyze the local and national political landscape. As today’s leading statistician, Silver’s data analytics correctly predicted the results of the 2008 presidential primary and the presidential winner in 49 states.

Sponsor: Plunkett Cooney

Speaker: Ron Kitchens, CEO, Southwest Michigan First

Panel:
Harold Ford Jr., Former U.S. Representative; Political Analyst, MSNBC and CNBC
Dan Senor, Best-selling Author, “Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle”

Moderator: Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News

Best-selling author Dan Senor and former U.S. representative and renowned political expert Harold Ford Jr. will share their insights on the 2014 midterm election and offer an outlook for the 2016 national election.

Sponsor: PwC

Interviewed by: Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber

Ford Motor Co. executive chairman Bill Ford will highlight the automaker’s transformation story, Ford’s vision for the future and the opportunities and challenges for Michigan as a leader in next generation mobility.

Sponsor: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Introduction: Daniel Loepp, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Interviewed by: Tom Walsh, Business Columnist, Detroit Free Press

Announcement: Mark Davidoff, Michigan Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP.; Chair, 2015 Mackinac Policy Conference

The Governor will share his vision and priorities for pushing Michigan to the forefront as a national leader in effective, pragmatic policy that drives economic prosperity and development that ensures Michigan can reach its full economic potential.

Hosted by Bank of America

Panel:
Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News
Devin Scillian, Anchor, WDIV-TV 4

The rebirth of Detroit’s downtown and Midtown and the city’s emergence from bankruptcy have raised questions about inclusion, racial equity and economic opportunity for all Detroiters. Since December 2014, Nolan Finley, editorial page editor for The Detroit News, has been heightening awareness of this issue and as a result, formal and informal dialogues among the community are occurring. Finley and Devin Scillian, anchor for WDIV-TV 4, will lead an interactive solutions-based discussion on how the region can coalesce and bridge the two Detroits. This session offers an opportunity for attendees to come together, elevate ideas and share what they believe needs to happen to unite Detroit.

Sponsor: Conway MacKenzie

Panel:
Kevin Cotter, Speaker, Michigan House of Representatives
Lisa Howze, Chief Government Affairs Officer, City of Detroit
Brenda Jones, President, Detroit City Council
Arlan Meekhof, Majority Leader, Michigan Senate

Moderator: Mike McGee, CEO, Miller Canfield

Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones and Lisa Howze, chief government affairs officer for the city of Detroit, will join Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) and Michigan Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) for a moderated conversation regarding the dynamic and evolving relationship between city and state government following Detroit’s exit from bankruptcy. A separate ticket is required for this event. Proceeds will support the Chamber’s Political Action Committee.

NOTE: This requires a separate ticket. Click here to download the registration form.

Sponsor: Henry Ford Health System

Hosted by Michigan.com

Speakers:
Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News
Stephen Henderson, Editorial Page Editor, Detroit Free Press

Unwind with bourbon and banter that highlights each year’s Conference. Nolan Finley, editorial page editor of the The Detroit News, and Stephen Henderson, editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press, will host the event featuring top-shelf bourbon tasting, no-holds-barred sketching by editorial cartoonists from The News and Free Press, savory small plates and Michigan.com’s Off the Record awards ceremony.

Hosted by Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Unwind from the day’s events at the Audubon Bar with complimentary beverages or an MHA signature mojito.

Sponsor: Quicken Loans – Opportunity Detroit

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Media Row features prominent media from around Michigan covering the Conference live. Attendees can get a first-hand look at thought-leaders and experts interviewing with top media personalities from across the state in the Grand Hotel Main Dining Room. A breakfast bar featuring hot and cold selections will be available beginning at 6 a.m. Breakfast ends at 9 a.m., however Media Row will remain open for broadcasts throughout the day.

Hosted by Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Visit the Audubon Bar and rest up and recharge with a free complimentary cup of coffee.

Sponsor: Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

Remarks: Doug Rothwell, President and CEO, Business Leaders for Michigan

Panel:
Gregory Ioanidis, Vice President, Business Unit Finance and Rates, ITC Holdings Corp.
Joseph Lehman, President, Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Eric Lupher, President, Citizens Research Council of Michigan
S. Evan Weiner, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Edw. C. Levy Co.
William Wild, Mayor, City of Westland

Moderator: Christy McDonald, “MiWeek” Anchor, Detroit Public Television

Sponsor: ITC Holdings Corp.

Panel:
Debbie Dingell, U.S. Representative, (D-Dearborn)
Brenda Lawrence, U.S. Representative, (D-Southfield)
Dave Trott, U.S. Representative, (R-Birmingham)

Moderator: Paul W. Smith, Host, WJR 760 AM

With the retirement of several of Michigan’s long-time congressional leaders, the 2014 midterm election brought in a wave of new members committed to carrying on Michigan’s legacy of leadership. This bipartisan panel will share their insight into what is needed in the short and long-term to position Michigan for sustainability within the 21st century global economy and discuss the issues critical to the state’s economic growth.

Panel:
U. Renee Hall, Deputy Chief, Detroit Police Department
La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Andre Spivey, District 4, Detroit City Council
Frank Venegas Jr., Chairman and CEO, The Ideal Group Inc.

Moderator: Stephen Henderson, Editorial Page Editor, Detroit Free Press

Speakers:
Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber
Mark Davidoff, Michigan Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP.; Chair, 2015 Mackinac Policy Conference
Rick Snyder, Governor, State of Michigan