The Big Four discussed their plans to drive southeast Michigan forward at the annual Detroit Economic Club meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans, Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson touched on a variety of topics including regional transportation, infrastructure, education, and mobility.

On Monday, February 5, 2018, U.S. Senator Gary Peters addressed the Detroit Economic Club on Michigan’s opportunity to become a hub for transformative technologies, including self-driving vehicles, artificial intelligence, and robotics, and the implications these technologies will have on our state’s economic future.

Fifth Third Investment Management Group Chief Investment Strategist and Senior Vice President Jeff Korzenik addressed the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, to discuss the labor shortage facing U.S. companies and its effect on our economy. He argued that giving a second chance to ex-offenders can extend our workforce and economic cycle. “In an environment where we are running out of labor, this is where we see an opportunity,” said Korzenik.

Kelly Services President & CEO George Corona and EY Detroit Office Managing Partner George Lenyo addressed the Detroit Economic Club on March 28, 2018 and discussed the gig economy.

John Rakolta, Jr., Chairman & CEO of Walbridge, and Doug Rothwell, President & CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, addressed the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, and discussed what needs to be done to make Michigan a ‘Top Ten’ state.

On Thursday, May 24, Blackstone’s Executive Vice Chairman Tony James addressed the Detroit Economic Club on a wide range of topics from the current state of the economy to retirement challenges.

In a June 4th meeting exclusively for DEC members and their guests, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer discussed his country’s economic transformation. Dermer described Israel’s journey from a formerly socialist country to a free-market, technology and innovation hotspot. “But I do know this, that socialism and genius do not go together. There is no greater straight jacket for genius than socialism,” Dermer said while commenting on Israel’s economic past.

Every person and company in America wants to see health care cost less and deliver more. To get there, we must unleash technology and the change it causes. We know patients will benefit because nearly every other sector in our economy either has or is experiencing massive disruption for the betterment of their consumers. Now is the time for health care.

On June 13, the Honorable Mike Rogers, former congressman & current host of CNN’s Declassified, discussed cybersecurity challenges due to today’s proliferation of data and access to technology. “Think about how much information is about every single one of you in this room today online. It would cost me 20 minutes of computer time to know what used to take me as an agent a year to develop,” said Congressman Rogers.

On Monday, June 18, 2018, in an exclusive member-only meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed the Detroit Economic Club and discussed how economic diplomacy helps build relationships that create jobs and spur economic growth.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018, the Detroit Economic Club hosted presidents from the state’s University Research Corridor (URC). Michigan State University Interim President The Honorable John Engler, University of Michigan President Dr. Mark Schlissel and Wayne State University President Dr. M. Roy Wilson shared data from the URC’s 2018 Economic Impact Report.

U.S. Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard discussed the current state and outlook for the U.S. economy on Wednesday, September, 12.