Celebration & Conversation
An evening of camaraderie and connection
Event Details
- Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Cocktail Reception: 5 p.m.
- Dinner and Program: 6 – 9 p.m.
- Location: The Department at Hudson’s
-
Address: 1000 Nick Gilbert Way,
Detroit, MI 48226 - Parking: Valet
- Attire: Business
The Program
A special evening celebrating the leadership of our Board members and setting the stage for the year ahead—featuring fast-paced insider conversations at the intersection of business and policy.
Welcome Reception
Gary Torgow
Master of Ceremonies
Mary Barra and Matt Cullen
A conversation on the auto industry’s transformation, GM’s strategic direction,
and its enduring commitment to Michigan.
Dinner
Catalyst For Michigan Award
Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Timely insights and reflections rooted in his deep Michigan ties
and our state’s close relationship with Canada.
Tina Freese Decker and Ron Hall
Highlights of Michigan in a New Era — a blueprint for our state’s
long-term success in a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Carey Wright and Jeff Donofrio
Hard-won lessons and insight on how Michigan can achieve lasting,
systemic education reform.
The Honorable Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit
A timely post-election discussion on Detroit’s next chapter.
Dan Gilbert and Bill Emerson
A can’t-miss exchange on building Michigan’s future through bold ideas and big bets.
To-Go Coffee, Cider & Sweets
The Department
at Hudson’s
We are thrilled to host this year’s event at The Department at Hudson’s—part of the stunning Hudson’s Detroit development and home to GM’s new headquarters. Rising on the historic site of the iconic J.L. Hudson Company, this beautifully reimagined space embodies Detroit’s enduring innovation and resilience and the spirit of possibility we’ll be celebrating together.
Business Leaders For Michigan’s Board Chair Gary Torgow and President & CEO Jeff Donofrio welcome you to an evening of celebration, camaraderie and connections.
Gary Torgow
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Huntington Bank
Jeff Donofrio
President & CEO
Business Leaders For Michigan
Special Guest
With his deep Michigan roots and our state’s close ties to Canada, Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s perspective will be especially valuable at a time when geopolitical factors are front and center.
Ambassador Pete Hoekstra
U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Pete Hoekstra served as U.S. Ambassador to Canada and previously to the Netherlands under the first Trump Administration. He chaired the Michigan Republican Party during the 2024 elections, where his leadership helped deliver a Republican victory, and served on the board of the Council for a Secure America.
From 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra represented Michigan’s 2nd District in Congress and chaired the House Intelligence Committee from 2004 to 2007. Earlier, he was a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation and vice president of marketing at Herman Miller.
He holds degrees from Hope College (B.A.) and the University of Michigan (M.B.A.), and has received numerous honors, including from Grand Valley State University, Hope College, the Netherlands, the CIA, and the DNI. He and his wife Diane have three grown children and recently marked their 50th anniversary.
Mary Barra
Chair and CEO
General Motors
![Matt Cullen {"type":"elementor","siteurl":"https://businessleadersformichigan.com/wp-json/","elements":[{"id":"ec4f3c4","elType":"widget","isInner":false,"isLocked":false,"settings":{"content_width":"full","image":{"url":"https://businessleadersformichigan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Matt-Cullen.jpg","id":16494,"size":"","alt":"Matt Cullen","source":"library"},"width":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"space":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"align":"left","object-fit":"cover","_element_width":"initial","_element_custom_width":{"unit":"%","size":85,"sizes":[]},"_flex_align_self":"center","image_size":"large","image_custom_dimension":{"width":"","height":""},"caption_source":"none","caption":"","link_to":"none","link":{"url":"","is_external":"","nofollow":"","custom_attributes":""},"open_lightbox":"default","align_tablet":"","align_mobile":"","width_tablet":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":[]},"width_mobile":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":[]},"space_tablet":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":[]},"space_mobile":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":[]},"height":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"height_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"height_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"object-fit_tablet":"","object-fit_mobile":"","object-position":"center center","object-position_tablet":"","object-position_mobile":"","opacity":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"css_filters_css_filter":"","css_filters_blur":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_brightness":{"unit":"px","size":100,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_contrast":{"unit":"px","size":100,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_saturate":{"unit":"px","size":100,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_hue":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"opacity_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"css_filters_hover_css_filter":"","css_filters_hover_blur":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_hover_brightness":{"unit":"px","size":100,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_hover_contrast":{"unit":"px","size":100,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_hover_saturate":{"unit":"px","size":100,"sizes":[]},"css_filters_hover_hue":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"background_hover_transition":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"hover_animation":"","image_border_border":"","image_border_width":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"image_border_width_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"image_border_width_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"image_border_color":"","image_border_radius":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"image_border_radius_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"image_border_radius_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"image_box_shadow_box_shadow_type":"","image_box_shadow_box_shadow":{"horizontal":0,"vertical":0,"blur":10,"spread":0,"color":"rgba(0,0,0,0.5)"},"caption_align":"","caption_align_tablet":"","caption_align_mobile":"","text_color":"","caption_background_color":"","caption_typography_typography":"","caption_typography_font_family":"","caption_typography_font_size":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_font_size_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_font_size_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_font_weight":"","caption_typography_text_transform":"","caption_typography_font_style":"","caption_typography_text_decoration":"","caption_typography_line_height":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_line_height_tablet":{"unit":"em","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_line_height_mobile":{"unit":"em","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_letter_spacing":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_letter_spacing_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_letter_spacing_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_word_spacing":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_word_spacing_tablet":{"unit":"em","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_typography_word_spacing_mobile":{"unit":"em","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_text_shadow_text_shadow_type":"","caption_text_shadow_text_shadow":{"horizontal":0,"vertical":0,"blur":10,"color":"rgba(0,0,0,0.3)"},"caption_space":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_space_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"caption_space_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_title":"","_margin":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_margin_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_margin_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_padding":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_padding_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_padding_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_element_width_tablet":"","_element_width_mobile":"","_element_custom_width_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_element_custom_width_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_grid_column":"","_grid_column_tablet":"","_grid_column_mobile":"","_grid_column_custom":"","_grid_column_custom_tablet":"","_grid_column_custom_mobile":"","_grid_row":"","_grid_row_tablet":"","_grid_row_mobile":"","_grid_row_custom":"","_grid_row_custom_tablet":"","_grid_row_custom_mobile":"","_flex_align_self_tablet":"","_flex_align_self_mobile":"","_flex_order":"","_flex_order_tablet":"","_flex_order_mobile":"","_flex_order_custom":"","_flex_order_custom_tablet":"","_flex_order_custom_mobile":"","_flex_size":"","_flex_size_tablet":"","_flex_size_mobile":"","_flex_grow":1,"_flex_grow_tablet":"","_flex_grow_mobile":"","_flex_shrink":1,"_flex_shrink_tablet":"","_flex_shrink_mobile":"","_element_vertical_align":"","_element_vertical_align_tablet":"","_element_vertical_align_mobile":"","_position":"","_offset_orientation_h":"start","_offset_x":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_offset_x_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_x_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_x_end":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_offset_x_end_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_x_end_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_orientation_v":"start","_offset_y":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_offset_y_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_y_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_y_end":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_offset_y_end_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_offset_y_end_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_z_index":"","_z_index_tablet":"","_z_index_mobile":"","_element_id":"","_css_classes":"","e_display_conditions":"","_element_cache":"","dynamicconditions_dynamic":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"dynamicconditions_visibility":"hide","dynamicconditions_condition":"","dynamicconditions_type":"default","dynamicconditions_value":"","dynamicconditions_value2":"","dynamicconditions_date_value":"","dynamicconditions_date_value2":"","dynamicconditions_day_array_value":"","dynamicconditions_day_value":"","dynamicconditions_day_value2":"","dynamicconditions_month_array_value":"","dynamicconditions_month_value":"","dynamicconditions_month_value2":"","dynamicconditions_hideContentOnly":"","dynamicconditions_removeStyles":"","dynamicconditions_parse_shortcodes":"","dynamicconditions_prevent_date_parsing":"","dynamicconditions_hideWrapper":"","dynamicconditions_hideOthers":"","dynamicconditions_widget_id":"","dynamicconditions_debug":"","stax_visibility_enabled":"","stax_visibility_show_hide":"","stax_visibility_condition_type":"all","stax_visibility_keep_html":"","stax_visibility_user_role_enabled":"","stax_visibility_user_role_conditions":[],"stax_visibility_user_meta_enabled":"","stax_visibility_user_meta_options":"","stax_visibility_user_meta_status":"none","stax_visibility_user_meta_value":"","stax_visibility_user_meta_value_2":"","stax_visibility_date_time_enabled":"","stax_visibility_date_time_type":"date","stax_visibility_date_from":"","stax_visibility_date_to":"","stax_visibility_time_week":"","stax_visibility_time_from":"","stax_visibility_time_to":"","stax_visibility_browser_type_enabled":"","stax_visibility_browsers":"","motion_fx_motion_fx_scrolling":"","motion_fx_translateY_effect":"","motion_fx_translateY_direction":"","motion_fx_translateY_speed":{"unit":"px","size":4,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_translateY_affectedRange":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":{"start":0,"end":100}},"motion_fx_translateX_effect":"","motion_fx_translateX_direction":"","motion_fx_translateX_speed":{"unit":"px","size":4,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_translateX_affectedRange":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":{"start":0,"end":100}},"motion_fx_opacity_effect":"","motion_fx_opacity_direction":"out-in","motion_fx_opacity_level":{"unit":"px","size":10,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_opacity_range":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":{"start":20,"end":80}},"motion_fx_blur_effect":"","motion_fx_blur_direction":"out-in","motion_fx_blur_level":{"unit":"px","size":7,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_blur_range":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":{"start":20,"end":80}},"motion_fx_rotateZ_effect":"","motion_fx_rotateZ_direction":"","motion_fx_rotateZ_speed":{"unit":"px","size":1,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_rotateZ_affectedRange":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":{"start":0,"end":100}},"motion_fx_scale_effect":"","motion_fx_scale_direction":"out-in","motion_fx_scale_speed":{"unit":"px","size":4,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_scale_range":{"unit":"%","size":"","sizes":{"start":20,"end":80}},"motion_fx_transform_origin_x":"center","motion_fx_transform_origin_y":"center","motion_fx_devices":["desktop","tablet","mobile"],"motion_fx_range":"","motion_fx_motion_fx_mouse":"","motion_fx_mouseTrack_effect":"","motion_fx_mouseTrack_direction":"","motion_fx_mouseTrack_speed":{"unit":"px","size":1,"sizes":[]},"motion_fx_tilt_effect":"","motion_fx_tilt_direction":"","motion_fx_tilt_speed":{"unit":"px","size":4,"sizes":[]},"handle_motion_fx_asset_loading":"","sticky":"","sticky_on":["desktop","tablet","mobile"],"sticky_offset":0,"sticky_offset_tablet":"","sticky_offset_mobile":"","sticky_effects_offset":0,"sticky_effects_offset_tablet":"","sticky_effects_offset_mobile":"","sticky_anchor_link_offset":0,"sticky_anchor_link_offset_tablet":"","sticky_anchor_link_offset_mobile":"","sticky_parent":"","_animation":"","_animation_tablet":"","_animation_mobile":"","animation_duration":"","_animation_delay":"","_transform_rotate_popover":"","_transform_rotateZ_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateZ_effect_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateZ_effect_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotate_3d":"","_transform_rotateX_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateX_effect_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateX_effect_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateY_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateY_effect_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateY_effect_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_perspective_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_perspective_effect_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_perspective_effect_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translate_popover":"","_transform_translateX_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateX_effect_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateX_effect_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateY_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateY_effect_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateY_effect_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scale_popover":"","_transform_keep_proportions":"yes","_transform_scale_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scale_effect_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scale_effect_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleX_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleX_effect_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleX_effect_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleY_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleY_effect_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleY_effect_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skew_popover":"","_transform_skewX_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewX_effect_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewX_effect_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewY_effect":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewY_effect_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewY_effect_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_flipX_effect":"","_transform_flipY_effect":"","_transform_rotate_popover_hover":"","_transform_rotateZ_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateZ_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateZ_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotate_3d_hover":"","_transform_rotateX_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateX_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateX_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateY_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateY_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_rotateY_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_perspective_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_perspective_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_perspective_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translate_popover_hover":"","_transform_translateX_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateX_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateX_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateY_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateY_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_translateY_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scale_popover_hover":"","_transform_keep_proportions_hover":"yes","_transform_scale_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scale_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scale_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleX_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleX_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleX_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleY_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleY_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_scaleY_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skew_popover_hover":"","_transform_skewX_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewX_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewX_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewY_effect_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewY_effect_hover_tablet":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_skewY_effect_hover_mobile":{"unit":"deg","size":"","sizes":[]},"_transform_flipX_effect_hover":"","_transform_flipY_effect_hover":"","_transform_transition_hover":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"motion_fx_transform_x_anchor_point":"","motion_fx_transform_x_anchor_point_tablet":"","motion_fx_transform_x_anchor_point_mobile":"","motion_fx_transform_y_anchor_point":"","motion_fx_transform_y_anchor_point_tablet":"","motion_fx_transform_y_anchor_point_mobile":"","_background_background":"","_background_color":"","_background_color_stop":{"unit":"%","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_color_stop_tablet":{"unit":"%"},"_background_color_stop_mobile":{"unit":"%"},"_background_color_b":"#f2295b","_background_color_b_stop":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"_background_color_b_stop_tablet":{"unit":"%"},"_background_color_b_stop_mobile":{"unit":"%"},"_background_gradient_type":"linear","_background_gradient_angle":{"unit":"deg","size":180,"sizes":[]},"_background_gradient_angle_tablet":{"unit":"deg"},"_background_gradient_angle_mobile":{"unit":"deg"},"_background_gradient_position":"center center","_background_gradient_position_tablet":"","_background_gradient_position_mobile":"","_background_image":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_image_tablet":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_image_mobile":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_position":"","_background_position_tablet":"","_background_position_mobile":"","_background_xpos":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_xpos_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_xpos_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_ypos":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_ypos_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_ypos_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_attachment":"","_background_repeat":"","_background_repeat_tablet":"","_background_repeat_mobile":"","_background_size":"","_background_size_tablet":"","_background_size_mobile":"","_background_bg_width":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"_background_bg_width_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_background_bg_width_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_background_video_link":"","_background_video_start":"","_background_video_end":"","_background_play_once":"","_background_play_on_mobile":"","_background_privacy_mode":"","_background_video_fallback":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_slideshow_gallery":[],"_background_slideshow_loop":"yes","_background_slideshow_slide_duration":5000,"_background_slideshow_slide_transition":"fade","_background_slideshow_transition_duration":500,"_background_slideshow_background_size":"","_background_slideshow_background_size_tablet":"","_background_slideshow_background_size_mobile":"","_background_slideshow_background_position":"","_background_slideshow_background_position_tablet":"","_background_slideshow_background_position_mobile":"","_background_slideshow_lazyload":"","_background_slideshow_ken_burns":"","_background_slideshow_ken_burns_zoom_direction":"in","_background_hover_background":"","_background_hover_color":"","_background_hover_color_stop":{"unit":"%","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_color_stop_tablet":{"unit":"%"},"_background_hover_color_stop_mobile":{"unit":"%"},"_background_hover_color_b":"#f2295b","_background_hover_color_b_stop":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_color_b_stop_tablet":{"unit":"%"},"_background_hover_color_b_stop_mobile":{"unit":"%"},"_background_hover_gradient_type":"linear","_background_hover_gradient_angle":{"unit":"deg","size":180,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_gradient_angle_tablet":{"unit":"deg"},"_background_hover_gradient_angle_mobile":{"unit":"deg"},"_background_hover_gradient_position":"center center","_background_hover_gradient_position_tablet":"","_background_hover_gradient_position_mobile":"","_background_hover_image":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_hover_image_tablet":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_hover_image_mobile":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_hover_position":"","_background_hover_position_tablet":"","_background_hover_position_mobile":"","_background_hover_xpos":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_xpos_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_xpos_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_ypos":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_ypos_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_ypos_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_attachment":"","_background_hover_repeat":"","_background_hover_repeat_tablet":"","_background_hover_repeat_mobile":"","_background_hover_size":"","_background_hover_size_tablet":"","_background_hover_size_mobile":"","_background_hover_bg_width":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"_background_hover_bg_width_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_background_hover_bg_width_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_background_hover_video_link":"","_background_hover_video_start":"","_background_hover_video_end":"","_background_hover_play_once":"","_background_hover_play_on_mobile":"","_background_hover_privacy_mode":"","_background_hover_video_fallback":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_background_hover_slideshow_gallery":[],"_background_hover_slideshow_loop":"yes","_background_hover_slideshow_slide_duration":5000,"_background_hover_slideshow_slide_transition":"fade","_background_hover_slideshow_transition_duration":500,"_background_hover_slideshow_background_size":"","_background_hover_slideshow_background_size_tablet":"","_background_hover_slideshow_background_size_mobile":"","_background_hover_slideshow_background_position":"","_background_hover_slideshow_background_position_tablet":"","_background_hover_slideshow_background_position_mobile":"","_background_hover_slideshow_lazyload":"","_background_hover_slideshow_ken_burns":"","_background_hover_slideshow_ken_burns_zoom_direction":"in","_background_hover_transition":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_border_border":"","_border_width":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_width_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_width_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_color":"","_border_radius":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_radius_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_radius_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_box_shadow_box_shadow_type":"","_box_shadow_box_shadow":{"horizontal":0,"vertical":0,"blur":10,"spread":0,"color":"rgba(0,0,0,0.5)"},"_box_shadow_box_shadow_position":" ","_border_hover_border":"","_border_hover_width":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_hover_width_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_hover_width_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_hover_color":"","_border_radius_hover":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_radius_hover_tablet":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_border_radius_hover_mobile":{"unit":"px","top":"","right":"","bottom":"","left":"","isLinked":true},"_box_shadow_hover_box_shadow_type":"","_box_shadow_hover_box_shadow":{"horizontal":0,"vertical":0,"blur":10,"spread":0,"color":"rgba(0,0,0,0.5)"},"_box_shadow_hover_box_shadow_position":" ","_border_hover_transition":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_switch":"","_mask_shape":"circle","_mask_image":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_mask_image_tablet":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_mask_image_mobile":{"url":"","id":"","size":""},"_mask_size":"contain","_mask_size_tablet":"","_mask_size_mobile":"","_mask_size_scale":{"unit":"%","size":100,"sizes":[]},"_mask_size_scale_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_size_scale_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_position":"center center","_mask_position_tablet":"","_mask_position_mobile":"","_mask_position_x":{"unit":"%","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_mask_position_x_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_position_x_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_position_y":{"unit":"%","size":0,"sizes":[]},"_mask_position_y_tablet":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_position_y_mobile":{"unit":"px","size":"","sizes":[]},"_mask_repeat":"no-repeat","_mask_repeat_tablet":"","_mask_repeat_mobile":"","hide_desktop":"","hide_tablet":"","hide_mobile":"","_attributes":"","custom_css":""},"defaultEditSettings":{"defaultEditRoute":"content"},"elements":[],"widgetType":"image","editSettings":{"defaultEditRoute":"content","panel":{"activeTab":"content","activeSection":"section_image"}},"htmlCache":"\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t](https://businessleadersformichigan.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/cullen-headshot-scaled-e1760550767522-rd96461gfw86puxvtd8yz3sla2ujih468e35kxnuk0.jpg "cullen headshot")
Matt Cullen
Principal and Chairman of the Board
JACK Entertainment
Special Guests
Mary Barra and Matt Cullen engage in a wide-ranging conversation on the transforming auto industry, the strategic priorities defining GM’s direction, and the company’s enduring commitment to Michigan.
Mary Barra
Mary Barra is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors. She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors in 2016 and has served as CEO of GM since 2014. Under Barra’s leadership, GM is innovating and executing with agility to deliver customers vehicles they love. She’s focused on strengthening GM’s ability to provide transformative technologies such as electrification, software, and personal autonomous driving.
Prior to becoming CEO, Barra served at GM in roles including executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, and as senior vice president, Global Product Development. Barra began her career with GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1985, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1990.
Barra serves on the Board of Directors of the Business Roundtable (BRT), the Walt Disney Company, the Duke University Board of Trustees, and the Detroit Economic Club.
Matt Cullen
Matthew Cullen serves as the Chairman of JACK Entertainment and an owner of JACK Entertainment, where he has been a key leader since 2009 when he joined as a founding member. Previously, Cullen spent more than a decade leading gaming, real estate, and other initiatives for Dan Gilbert’s Family of Companies, serving most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of Bedrock. Additionally, Cullen spent 30 years in executive positions with General Motors. Cullen is an active member of his community, serving as the Chair of Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, Chairman of Invest Detroit, and Chairman of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. He is also a board member of the Penske Corporation, Detroit Regional Chamber, Hudson-Webber Foundation, and Detroit Regional Partnership and a trustee of the College of Creative Studies and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D.
State Superintendent of Schools Maryland
Jeff Donofrio
President and CEO
Business Leaders For Michigan
Special Guest
With unmatched experience and hard-won insight, Dr. Wright offers powerful lessons Michigan can use to drive bold, systemic education reform and transform its future. She’ll be joined by Business Leaders For Michigan President and CEO Jeff Donofrio for a candid, forward-looking conversation about what it will take to make lasting change.
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D.
Few leaders have transformed education like Dr. Carey Wright. Credited with the “Mississippi Miracle,” she lifted 4th grade reading from 50th to 21st in the nation—laying the foundation for Mississippi’s continued rise to 9th today.
As the state’s longest-serving superintendent, she also raised graduation rates above the national average and helped low-income students outperform peers nationwide. Now, as Maryland’s State Superintendent, she is driving one of the nation’s most ambitious education efforts, The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, to transform public education in the state into a world-class education system.
Jeff Donofrio
Jeff Donofrio is President and Chief Executive Officer of Business Leaders For Michigan, a statewide organization driven by CEOs from the state’s leading employers, all working toward a shared goal: making Michigan a Top 10 state for jobs, talent, and a thriving economy.
Under Jeff’s leadership, the organization has influenced significant policy outcomes to make Michigan a state where businesses want to invest and grow and people want to live and work, including increasing the state’s economic competitiveness, advancing K-12 education reforms, expanding talent pathways and strengthening Michigan’s business climate.
Tina Freese Decker, MHA, MSIE, FACHE
President & CEO
Corewell Health
Ron Hall
President & CEO
Bridgewater Interiors, LLC
Special Guests
At this year’s Celebration & Conversation, we’ll unveil Michigan in a New Era — a blueprint for Michigan’s long-term success that lays out the priorities and actions to position our state to lead in a rapidly changing world. Tina Freese Decker and Ron Hall will share highlights from the plan, with its themes woven throughout the evening’s dynamic conversations about what’s possible, and what’s next, for Michigan.
Tina Freese Decker
Tina Freese Decker is President & CEO of Corewell Health™, a leading integrated health system that strives to provide simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional care and health insurance coverage to millions of Michigan residents. She leads more than 60,000 colleagues who are passionate about the relentless pursuit of better health for their communities.
Known for her vision and drive, Tina was a key architect of the 2022 integration of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health, which are now unified as CorewellHealth. The system’s integrated model of care and coverage provides a robust network serving urban, suburban and rural markets. Corewell Health is comprised of 21 hospitals as well as Priority Health, the third-largest provider-sponsored health plan in the country with over one million members.
Tina is determined to tackle the health field’s greatest challenges. She is passionate about building culture and developing people to achieve their fullest potential. Tina inspires through innovation and collaboration to make health better for all. Under her leadership, Corewell Health has received numerous recognitions, including a tie for top hospital in Michigan in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, with two hospitals earning national recognition, five among the top eight hospitals in Michigan and seven recognized with high-performing specialties. Corewell Health has the most Magnet destinations for nursing excellence and Priority Health’s customer service was rated America’s Best by Newsweek in 2023.
Ron Hall
Ronald E. Hall is President & CEO at Bridgewater Interiors, LLC. Bridgewater is an automotive interiors manufacturing firm that employs more than 2,100 people at four facilities in the United States, and is one of the country’s largest Minority Business Enterprise certified firms. Hall has been with the company in various roles of increasing responsibility since 2007, succeeding his father, company founder Ron Hall, Sr., in 2015.
In addition to his work at Bridgewater, Ron serves and holds leadership positions on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards, including, among others, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch, Corewell Health, the Skillman Foundation, Grand Valley State University, Business Leaders for Michigan, and the Detroit Regional Chamber. He is a three-time gubernatorial appointee (by both Democrat and Republican governors), a member of the dBusiness Detroit Power 500 and Michigan Chronicle Power 50, and a Class XXXII graduate of Leadership Detroit.
Ron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Political Economy from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is a decorated Persian Gulf War veteran. After active army service, he earned a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Michigan Law School and then practiced corporate law for several years before beginning his automotive industry career.
Dan Gilbert
Founder and Chairman
Rocket
Bill Emerson
President
Rocket Companies
Special Guests
Dan Gilbert and Bill Emerson will wrap up the evening in a can’t-miss exchange on building Michigan’s future through bold ideas, big bets and a shared belief that doing well by doing good can transform communities, companies and lives—starting right here in Detroit.
Dan Gilbert
Dan Gilbert is the Founder and Chairman of Rocket (NYSE: RKT), which includes Rocket Mortgage, one of nation’s largest mortgage lenders. He is the owner of the Cleveland Cavalier and Chairman of the ROCK Family of Companies, a portfolio of more than 100 entities and investments dedicated to conducting business “For More Than Profit.”
Through his “For More Than Profit” philosophy, the Rocket Community Fund and the Gilbert Family Foundation committed $500 million over 10 years to Detroit through investments in organizations and programming to support housing stability, educational attainment, and economic mobility. Additionally, Gilbert and the Family of Companies have committed more than $1 billion to medical research and community initiatives around the country.
Gilbert moved his businesses to Detroit’s urban core in 2010. His investment in the revitalization of downtown led to the co-founding of Bedrock Hospitality. Since its founding, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested in more than 100 properties, including new construction of ground up developments in downtown Detroit and Cleveland, totaling more than 22 million square feet.
Gilbert is an active investor in fintech, sports-related and consumer-direct companies. He founded Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) to fund startup and early-stage technology companies and is a Founding Partner of Detroit-based private equity group Rockbridge Growth Equity. In 2016, he co-founded Detroit-based StockX, an online marketplace combining the visible, liquid, anonymous and transparent benefits of a stock market with the online consumer secondary market.
Gilbert is a fourth-generation Detroiter and a graduate of Michigan State University. He obtained his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Bill Emerson
Bill Emerson is a member of the Board of Directors of Rocket (NYSE: RKT) and is President of Rocket Companies.
Previously, Bill held the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer from June to September 2023. He was also Vice Chairman of Rock Holdings, Inc. from February 2017 until May 2023 and served in a leadership role at Bedrock from July 2020 until February 2023. In both roles, he was responsible for leadership, growth and development of the company culture. Bill was Chief Executive Officer of Rocket Mortgage from 2002 to 2017, managing a changing mortgage market and leading the company through a period of massive growth.
Bill’s extensive leadership roles in the related businesses give him a unique understanding of the company, culture and history through many economic cycles – which is particularly critical given recent executive transitions and the macroeconomic challenges. His senior leadership experience also provides the Board with valuable perspective in long-term strategy, budgeting, risk management, human capital management and succession planning.
Bill is a member of the board of the United Way of Southeast Michigan, Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Sports Organizing Committee, Housing Policy Council, Rocket Giving Fund, The Parade Company, the Detroit Children’s Fund and the Skillman Foundation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Penn State University.
With gratitude for your partnership and support
RSVP