Our esteemed university Presidents will discuss how their institutions are collaborating to lead groundbreaking research and attract and support companies across four key industry areas:
• artificial intelligence
• advanced manufacturing
• life and health sciences
• sustainability
The universities, which make up the University Research Corridor (URC), are critical competitive assets for the state’s economy.

Exclusively for DEC Members and Accompanied Guests

SOLD OUT - Exclusively for DEC Young Leader Members

Small acts of courage matter. Sometimes, they change the world. Our history books are filled with the stories of those who fought for democracy and freedom―for idealism itself―against all odds, from Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. These iconic struggles for social change illustrate the importance of engagement and activism and offer a template for the battles we are fighting today. But using the right words is often easier than taking action; action can be hard, and costly.

Exclusively for DEC Members and Accompanied Guests

The 10th Annual Young Leader Conference is a must-attend professional development opportunity for those under the age of 40. This one-day conference is designed by Young Leaders (YL) exclusively for Young Leaders, focusing on the theme of Using the Past to Drive the Future.

Lael Brainard will discuss actions the Biden-Harris administration is taking to strengthen the U.S. auto industry.

Join David Burritt, the president and CEO of U. S. Steel, for a wide-ranging conversation on the industry’s past, present, and future. Burritt, who has led the 123-year old iconic American steel champion since 2017, will discuss steel’s role in the automotive industry, the energy transition, and national security. He will also share his views on U. S. Steel’s recently announced intention to merge with Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker, the benefits of the transaction and the controversy which has ensued.

SOLD OUT - Exclusively for DEC Members and Accompanied Guests

Exclusively for DEC Young Leaders and Guests

Join us for an unforgettable evening on the water at our Boating Networking Event, exclusively for Young Leaders!

Save the date for the 2024 Chair’s Dinner! Join DEC Board Chair Sandy Pierce, Tom Pierce, the DEC Board of Directors, and Club Members for an evening full of networking, Club updates, silent auction, dinner, and music.

The Detroit Tigers 2024 Season is Underway.

Don’t miss the excitement as new General Manager Jeff Greenberg, select players and team broadcasters are scheduled to attend!

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is a once-in-a-generation undertaking. Not only will the project deliver much-needed transportation improvements for international travelers, it will also provide jobs and opportunities for growth to the Windsor-Detroit region and includes features that make this project truly distinctive.

Join DEC members for an exclusive private tour and presentation of this game-changing project before its scheduled 2025 public opening. After the bridge tour, members will enjoy a MDOT Traffic Control Center tour and networking with light food and refreshments.

It takes specific leadership skills to put on massive events like America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade presented by Gardner White, Ford Fireworks and Hob Nobble Gobble presented by Ford, and The Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot. Parade Company President & CEO Tony Michaels will share how he leads his team and community partners to deliver world-class events that bring families together year in and year out.

Spartan student-athletes had remarkable success on and off the field in the recently concluded academic year. Leading MSU teams are an AD and head coaches that are the envy of many college athletic programs around the country. They are doing so while facing the headwinds of transformative change in college athletics.

The automotive industry is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation to electric, autonomous and software-defined vehicles. Join General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra for a look at how she’s guiding GM into its next century. Barra will discuss GM’s strategic bets on the future and how the company is driving technology advancements and improving the customer experience with the potential to create a better world for all.

Join us for a late afternoon of fun at the Spring Swing Putt-Putt Networking Event! Step onto the lush green course and unleash your inner golfer.

Whether you’re a seasoned putt-putt pro or just looking to have some fun, this event offers the perfect opportunity to mingle with like-minded individuals.

Ticket price includes 18-holes of putt-putt, refreshments, pizza, and networking!

In a rapidly changing world, connectivity is critical to every aspect of our lives. T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert will discuss the company’s most exciting, disruptive and customer-loving chapter yet.

American society is more polarized than ever before. We are strategically being pushed apart by disinformation—the deliberate spreading of lies disguised as truth—and it comes at us from all sides: opportunists on the far right, Russian misinformed social media influencers, among others. It’s endangering our democracy and causing havoc in our electoral system, schools, hospitals, workplaces, and in our Capitol.

The manufacturing industry is fueling a transition to a low-carbon economy. In a fireside chat, Fitterling will discuss how the U.S. and other countries can support this much-needed transition with smart policies. He’ll also outline the ground-breaking steps Dow is taking to be a leader in decarbonization at an industrial scale and how the company is demonstrating that sustainability is both possible and profitable.

The DEC hosted West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin on Monday, February 26, at the Masonic in Detroit. In an exclusive meeting for DEC members and accompanied guests, FOX 2 Detroit’s Roop Raj moderated the fireside chat as Senator Manchin continued his listening tour for Americans Together and answered questions from the audience.

The DEC hosted Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday, February 14, at the Huntington Place in Detroit. In an exclusive meeting for DEC members and accompanied guests, the Governor shared remarks regarding her administration’s FY ’25 budget priorities. She was later joined on stage by U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for a fireside chat.

The DEC hosted Jerry Norcia on Tuesday, February 6, at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. In a conversation moderated by DEC Board Chair Sandy Pierce, Jerry discussed “Advancing the Energy Backbone of Michigan’s Economy – Utilizing all the Tools in the Toolbox” and answered questions from the audience.

The DEC hosted the 2024 Michigan Economic Outlook Meeting on Tuesday, January 16, at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. In a conversation moderated by Daniel Howes, Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer of the State of Michigan, Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Gabriel Ehrlich, Director of Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics at the University of Michigan, shared their insights and more.