
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8:00-9:00am    Breakfast & Networking 
 
9:00-9:05am    Welcome – Doug Rothwell, President & CEO, Business Leaders for Michigan 
  
9:05-9:25am    The Accelerated Pace of Change in the Marketplace: Surviving & Thriving 
      There are many ways to move forward but one sure way to fall behind… complacency.  An  
      experienced, global CEO shares what businesses can do to outperform their competition in today’s  
      fiercely competitive marketplace. 
Jeff Fettig, Chairman & CEO, Whirlpool Corporation  
 
9:25–9:40am    Where does Michigan Rank? A Preview of the 2014 Economic Competitiveness Report  
Learn how Michigan stacks up to its competitors.  Are we thinking big enough to become a Top Ten 
state?  Are we taking advantage of our greatest strengths?  
Doug Rothwell, President & CEO, Business Leaders for Michigan  
 
9:40-10:00am    Are You Using Big Data to Fuel Innovation? 
Companies that foster innovation tend to keep ahead of their competitors. To be truly innovative, 
you must be ready to “forecast the future.” Learn how to use “big data” to drive innovation in your 
company to the next level.   
James Hackett, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Steelcase, Inc.  
 
10:00-10:20am    20 minute break 
 
10:20–10:50am    Growing Innovation through Collaboration  
Growing new products and services happens faster in environments that encourage creative 
thinkers to collaborate. This panel showcases how collaboration can occur at any level and how to 
benefit from it.   
      Blake Krueger, Chairman, President & CEO, Wolverine World Wide – GRid70 
Matt Clayson, Director, Detroit Creative Corridor Center  
Moderator: Mary Kramer, Publisher, Crain’s Detroit Business 
 
10:50-11:20am    How Successful Entrepreneurs Maintain Their Edge  
Hear how CEOs and entrepreneurs propel their businesses from startup to profit, from one stage of 
growth to the next, while navigating the changing demands of their customers. 
Miles Jones, Co-Chairman, Dawn Food Products, Inc. 
Florine Mark, President & CEO, Weight Watchers Group 
William Pickard, Chairman & CEO, Global Automotive Alliance, LLC 
Moderator: Stephen Henderson, Editorial Page Editor, Detroit Free Press 
   
11:20-11:50am    Getting Your Business Off the Ground  
Get the inside track on how to tackle the challenges of building your company from the ground up.  
Jaeson Brown, Partner, Root4Creative 
Amy Proos, Chief Executive Officer, Proos Manufacturing 
Brian Royster, Founder & CEO, AskSupportNow 
Ryan Vaughn, Founder, Varsity News Network 
Moderator:  Sam Valenti, Chairman, TriMas Corporation 
 
 
 
 
 
Michigan CEO Summit 
Thursday, November 13, 2014 
8:00am-3:00pm;  The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit 
Event Agenda