The Detroit Regional Chamber’s sixth annual Detroit Policy Conference will be held at MotorCity Casino Hotel on March 2. The Conference will highlight and celebrate Detroit’s ongoing economic resurgence by bringing together over 600 key business, community and political leaders from across the city and region.  

In 2013, Detroit was thrust into the national spotlight as a city in bankruptcy. We’ve remained in that spotlight because of our shared vision and passion to innovate for a brighter Detroit. The 2017 Detroit Policy Conference will highlight how unprecedented collaboration inspired countless acts that reignited our iconic city’s innovative spirit.

Agenda

• 7:30 a.m.
• Registration, Breakfast and Networking

• Location: Detroit Experience Hall

  Sponsored by: Greektown Casino-Hotel

• 8:30 a.m.
• Welcome

• Location: Sound Board

  Sandy Baruah, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber

   

• 8:45 a.m.
• Keynote Address

• Location: Sound Board

  Toni Griffin, Founder, Urban Planning for the American City

  Sponsored by: The Kresge Foundation

   

• 9:20 a.m.
• Power Perspective

• Location: Sound Board

  Rita Fields, Executive Vice President, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

  Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

   

• 9:25 a.m.
• Keynote Address

• Location: Sound Board

  Janette Sadik-Khan, Principal, Transportation, Bloomberg Associates

  Sponsored by: Delta Air Lines

• 10:00 a.m
• Power Perspective

• Location: Sound Board

  Cornetta Lane, Founder, Pedal to Porch

  Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

• 10:05 a.m.
• Refreshment Break

• Location: Detroit Experience Hall

  Complimentary copies of “Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution” by Janette Sadik-Khan are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

  Sponsored by: ITC

• 10:20 a.m.
• Concurrent Sessions

• Location: Sound Board

  Detroit’s Resurgence: Philanthropy’s Leading Role
  The philanthropic community played a significant role in Detroit’s resurgence from bankruptcy. Through contributions to projects, initiatives and programs, the philanthropic community stimulated both business and community development throughout the city. This session examines if this is a sustainable model and how the business community can take a broader role in implementation.

  Panelists:
  David Egner, President and CEO, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation
  Katy Locker, Detroit Program Director, Knight Foundation
  Faye Nelson, Vice President, DTE Energy; Board Chair and President, DTE Energy Foundation
  Chris Uhl, Vice President, Community Investments, Rock Ventures
  Moderator: Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News

  Sponsored by: DTE Energy Foundation

  
  Location: Room 1

  Skills Wanted: Building Detroit’s Talent
  A skilled workforce is vital for strong, sustainable and balanced growth. With companies moving to the region and a multitude of new projects underway the Detroit area is experiencing healthy job growth. This session highlights initiatives and organizations providing Detroiters with the skills to fill the high-demand jobs.

  Panelists:
  Marcus Jones, President, Detroit Training Center
  Dannis Mitchell, Diversity Manager, Barton Malow Co.
  Damien Rocchi, Founder and CEO, Grand Circus
  Moderator: Dave Meador, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer, DTE Energy

  Sponsored by: DTE Energy Foundation

   

  Location: Room 2

  Urban Mobility Solutions: Innovating Transportation
  Reliable transit is essential to remaining competitive as a region. However, recent setbacks have not stopped the city’s growth on the mobility front. This session will outline how innovative transportation methods are creating opportunities for Detroiters and takes a closer look at the practicality of urban mobility solutions.

  Panelists:
  Elliot Darvick, General Manager, Lyft Detroit
  Mark de la Vergne, Chief of Mobility Innovation, City of Detroit
  Lisa Nuszkowski, Founder and Executive Director, Detroit Bike Share

  Moderator: Chad Livengood, Senior Reporter, Crain’s Detroit Business

• 11:10 a.m.
• Lunch

• Pick up a boxed lunch in the Detroit Experience hall and return to the Sound Board to find a seat for the lunch session.

• 11:40 a.m.
• General Session

• Location: Sound Board

  Strengthening Detroit: Partners in Economic Development
  Growing Detroit from the inside out, the Detroit city government and leading business organizations are partners in executing an impactful economic development strategy. This session will discuss initiatives underway, challenges and opportunities on the horizon to increase business investment and create opportunities for all Detroiters. From downtown to the neighborhoods, city government and business leaders are spearheading strategies to ensure sustainable economic growth.

  Panelists:
  Maurice Cox, Planning Director, City of Detroit
  Brenda Jones, President, Detroit City Council
  Justin Robinson, Vice President, Business Attraction, Detroit Regional Chamber
  Moddie Turay, Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Financial Services, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
  

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

• 12:10 p.m.
• Power Perspective

• Location: Sound Board

  Olga Stella, Executive Director, Detroit Creative Corridor Center

  Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

• 12:15 p.m.
• A Conversation with

• Location: Sound Board

  James Craig, Chief of Police, Detroit Police Department
  Interviewer: Rochelle Riley, Columnist, Detroit Free Press

  Sponsored by: Comcast Business

• 12:45 p.m.
• Remarks

• Location: Sound Board

  Kym Worthy, Prosecutor, Wayne County

  Sponsored by: Comcast Business

• 1:00 p.m.
• Refreshment Break

• Location: Detroit Experience Hall

  Sponsored by: ITC

• 1:15 p.m.
• Concurrent Sessions

• Location: Room 1

  Farm to Table: Detroit’s Food Economy
  Facing a changing urban landscape and lack of fresh food access, Detroiters found a solution in creating a local food economy. Urban farms and neighborhood gardens are providing locally sourced fresh ingredients to residents and restaurants in the city, turning Detroit into a culinary hotspot for foodies. This session will explore Detroit’s food landscape and the opportunities spurring from the growing access to fresh food.

  Panelists:
  Devita Davison, Director, FoodLab Detroit
  Marc Djozlija, Proprietor and Executive Chef, Wright and Co.
  Tyson Gersh, President and Founder, Michigan Urban Farming Initiative
  Moderator: Dan Carmody, President, Eastern Market Corporation

   

  Location: Room 2

  Social Entrepreneurship: Purpose-Driven Business
  Drawing on its roots, Detroit has once again become a hub of entrepreneurial activity – a rising form of this being the idea that innovation goes beyond generating revenue. This session will explore social entrepreneurship and how triple bottom line entrepreneurs are doing good for both business and the community.

  Panelists:
  Jason Hall, Co-founder, Slow Roll Detroit
  Amy Peterson, Co-founder and CEO, Rebel Nell
  Marlowe Stoudamire,  Owner, Butterfly Effect Detroit; Founder, Mash Detroit
  Moderator: Vickie Thomas, Reporter, WWJ Newsradio 950

• 2:05 p.m.
• Refreshment Break

• Location: Detroit Experience Hall

  Sponsored by: ITC

• 2:15 p.m.
• Power Perspective

• Location: Sound Board

  David Alade, Co-founder, Century Partners

  Sponsored by: Grand Valley State University

• 2:20 p.m.

• Location: Sound Board

  Paul W. Smith, Host, WJR News/Talk 760 AM

• 2:30 p.m.
• Keynote Address

• Location: Sound Board

  Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO, Ilitch Holdings Inc.

  Sponsored by: MotorCity Casino Hotel

• 2:50 p.m.

• Location: Sound Board

  The District Detroit: Connecting Neighborhoods and Businesses
  The District Detroit is a dynamic entertainment district comprised of six world-class theatres, five neighborhoods and three professional sports venues. The project is expected to deliver $2.1 billion in economic impact for the city, region and state. This session will include key partners that play an integral role in the project, who will discuss the overall impact and how it has led to new opportunities for businesses and the surrounding community.

  Panelists:
  Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO, Ilitch Holdings Inc.
  Douglass Diggs, President, Diggs Group Inc.; Managing Director, Heritage Realty Services LLC
  Elmer Dixon, President and CEO, Dixon Masonry
  Thomas McGrail, Executive Vice President, Motor City Electric Co.

  Sponsored by: MotorCity Casino Hotel

• 3:10 p.m.
• Panel Discussion

• Location: Sound Board
  

  Inclusive Development: Impacts of a Prosperous Downtown
  Detroit is undergoing a record amount of new development as evident by the countless projects announced and underway. At the heart of Detroit’s revitalization are questions about inclusion and shared opportunity beyond downtown. Leading private sector developers in this session will explore the economic impact of new development projects and the value these projects can bring to all of Detroit’s residents.

  Panelists:
  Roger Basmajian, Founder and President,Basco of Michigan Inc.
  Peter Cummings, Founder, Ram; Co-founder, The Platform
  Sonia Mays, President and CEO, Develop Detroit
  Moderator: Dennis Archer Jr., President, Archer Corporate Services; CEO, Ignition Media Group

• 3:50 p.m.
• Networking Reception

• Location: Detroit Experience Hall

  Sponsored by: Wayne County Community College District

• 5:00 p.m.
• Departure

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017 
• Time: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
• Location:MotorCity Casino Hotel – Sound Board
•                2901 Grand River Ave.
•                Detroit, MI 48201

For more information, please contact Andrea Rayburn at 313-596-0340