Thursday will be the busiest of the week at Mackinac Island with current Governor Rick Snyder speaking and six hopefuls to take over his seat in Lansing debating later in the evening.
Here's the lineup for Thursday, May 31st:
7:45 a.m. Upping Michigan's Talent Game: Attracting and Retaining STEM Professionals
Summary: From agriculture to automotive to everything in between, Michigan has career opportunities for nearly every walk of life. Additionally, the state’s quality of life — culture, outdoor adventure, dining, etc. — rivals national competitors. To attract and retain talent and turn Michigan’s “brain drain” upside down, the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development will discuss work underway to position the Great Lakes State at the forefront of the national consciousness regarding jobs and opportunity.
Speaker: Roger Curtis, Director, Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development
7:45 a.m. Can Detroit Transform America's Health? The Context Is Decisive
Summary: How can Michigan rethink the current public health paradigm to produce substantially different outcomes for Detroit’s vulnerable populations, and at the same time serve as a transformative, transportable, and scalable model for the nation’s vulnerable urban populations? This session will reimagine a health care infrastructure that redeploys existing resources in a coordinated and applied research framework with providers, payers, government leaders, nonprofit and community stakeholders in order to develop a proof of concept in Detroit over the next year for transforming health outcomes in the next decade.
Panelists: Jessica Black, National Vice President, Community Health American Heart Association, David Hefner, Vice President, Health Affairs, Wayne State University, Joneigh Khaldun, Director and Health Officer, Health Department, City of Detroit, M. Roy Wilson, President, Wayne State University, Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Senior Vice President, Community Health and Equity, Chief Wellness and Diversity Officer, Henry Ford Health System
9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks and 2019 Chair Announcement
Speaker: Stephen Polk, President and CEO, Highgate LLC; Chair, Detroit Regional Chamber Board of Directors, Ray Telang, U.S. Automotive Leader, Detroit Managing Partner, PwC; Chair, 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference
9:15 a.m. Keynote Address: John Boehner
Speaker: John Boehner, Former Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
Interviewer: Devin Scillian, Anchor WDIV-TV 4, NBC
10:05 a.m. Is Michigan Prepared? Challenges and Opportunities for Future Growth
Location: Theatre
Summary: The presence of high-growth, large-scale companies is often regarded as a positive sign of a city or region’s economic health and overall attractiveness. Featuring a panel of statewide experts, this session will examine some of the critical areas Michigan must address now — an educated workforce, high-skilled talent, infrastructure, reliable transit and urban development — to sustain the state’s upward trajectory and competitive advantage in the future.
Panelists: Tonya Allen, President and CEO, The Skillman Foundation, Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place Inc., Patti Poppe, President and CEO, Consumers Energy and CMS Energy
Suzanne Shank, Chairwoman and CEO, Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co. LLC
11:10 a.m. Keynote Address: Peggy Noonan
Introduction: Patti Poppe, President and CEO, Consumers Energy and CMS Energy
Speaker: Peggy Noonan, Columnist, The Wall Street Journal; Best-selling Author
Interviewer: Daniel Howes, Business Columnist and Associate Business Editor, The Detroit News
11:55 a.m. The Women's Wave: Breaking the Silence
Summary: Gender parity at the C-suite level is key to business success. Building on the #MeToo movement and national discussion around political, social and economic equality, this panel will explore how businesses across all industries can engage in transformative, sustainable practices that create a culture of inclusion, fosters diversity of thought, encourages everyone to have a voice, and energizes women to strive toward leadership opportunities in the workplace.
Panelists: Carolyn Cassin, President and CEO, Michigan Women Forward; General Partner, BELLE Michigan Impact Fund, Debbie Dingell, U.S. Representative (D-MI 12), La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ray Telang, U.S. Automotive Leader, Detroit Managing Partner, PwC; Chair, 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference
Moderator: Patti Solis Doyle, Political Commentator, CNN; President, Solis Strategies
12:35 p.m. Mackinac Moment: Salvador Salort-Pons
Speaker: Salvador Salort-Pons, Director, President and CEO, Detroit Institute of Arts
12:45 p.m. Talk Transit with Warren Evans
12:45 p.m. The Future of Work in Michigan: Partnerships Pave the Way to Prosperity
The future of Michigan’s economy relies on a workforce with the skills to meet demand today, and a pipeline with capable workers for tomorrow. From the C-suite to the shop floor, discussions about how automation and artificial intelligence will change work are taking place across the state. This session will explore strategies to tackle Michigan’s talent challenges including business and education collaboration to build a pipeline of skilled workers; aligning investments between workforce, economic and community development partners; and addressing employment obstacles.
Panelists: Heidi Kaplan, Senior Community Development Analyst, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve Board, David Meador, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer, DTE Energy
Bill Pink, President, Grand Rapids Community College
Moderator: LaJune Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
12:45 p.m. Small Business Leading Detroit's Big Comeback
Summary: Small businesses play a significant role in driving Michigan’s economy. Of those businesses, minority and underserved entrepreneurs are amongst the fastest growing sector, yet they continually face barriers to access capital, receive technical assistance, and reach new customers. This session will examine how small businesses and entrepreneurs are driving neighborhood revitalization and wealth in communities of color. It will also highlight JPMorgan Chase’s support for the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund and its impact, and will provide innovative solutions to support minority businesses.
Remarks: Tosha Tabron, Vice President and Program Officer, Global Philanthropy. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Panelists: Pamela Lewis, Director, New Economy Initiative, Wendy Jackson, Managing Director, Detroit, The Kresge Foundation, Carla Walker-Miller, President and CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services
Moderator: September Hargrove, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1:00 p.m. PlanetM: Disruptor Discussion
Featuring: Elliot Darvick, General Manager, Michigan and Ohio, Lyft
2:00 p.m. Detroit's New Era of Collaboration on Education
Introduction: Gerry Anderson, Chairman and CEO, DTE Energy
Panelists: Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit, Sonya Mays, President and CEO, Develop Detroit Inc.; Treasurer, Board of Education, Detroit Public Schools Community District, Mark Schlissel, President, University of Michigan, Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District
Moderator: Rochelle Riley, Columnist, Detroit Free Press
2:45 p.m. Keynote Address: John B. King Jr.
Speaker: John B. King Jr., Former U.S. Secretary of Education; President and CEO, The Education Trust
Interviewer: Paul W. Smith, Host, WJR NewsTalk 760 AM
3:15 p.m. Keynote Address: Rick Snyder
Introduction: Dan Loepp, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Speaker: Rick Snyder, Governor, State of Michigan
Interviewer: Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber
4:00 p.m. PlanetM: Disruptor Discussion
Featuring: Tarun Kajeepeta, Founder, Condor Detroit
4:00 p.m. Making the Suburban Case for Regional Transit
Summary: For decades, conversations surrounding the development of a transit system in Southeast Michigan have been heavily characterized as Detroit-centric. The lack of a robust transit system is a regional issue. In Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties, employers struggle to attract and retain workers who rely on public transportation. As the results of the Amazon HQ2 bid confirmed, nationally competitive development opportunities will continue to pass by the region if this longstanding issue is not solved.
Panelists: LeRoy Burcroff, Mayor, City of Romulus, Andy Meisner, Treasurer, Oakland County, Barbara Rossmann, President and CEO, Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals
Moderator: Rip Rapson, President and CEO, The Kresge Foundation
4:00 p.m. The Future is Now: Are You Ready?
Summary: Remember “The Jetsons” or “Back to the Future”? Well, that future is now. People are living to be 100 years old. This session will explore how well Michigan is prepared for technology, autonomous vehicles and telehealth, and the impact on how we live and age.
Panelists: John Dingell, Former U.S. Representative, Nancy McKeague, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Melissa Seifert, Associate State Director, Government Affairs, AARP Michigan
Moderator: Paula Cunningham, State Director, AARP Michigan
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Gubernatorial Debate: Detroit Regional Chamber 2018 PAC Reception
Democratic Candidates:
Abdul El-Sayed, Former Executive Director, Health Department, City of Detroit
Shri Thanedar, Author and Entrepreneur
Gretchen Whitmer, Former Senator, State of Michigan
Republican Candidates:
Brian Calley, Lieutenant Governor, State of Michigan
Patrick Colbeck, Senator, State of Michigan
Bill Schuette, Attorney General, State of Michigan
Moderated by “MiWeek” Hosts:
Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News
Stephen Henderson, Host, Detroit Public Television and WDET 101.9 FM
Christy McDonald, Anchor, Detroit Public Television
6:00 p.m. The Grandest Hour
7:00 p.m. On the Island. Off the Record.
9:00 p.m. A Toast to Your Health