Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, MBN was on the road at the Hudson’s site in Detroit, for this year’s Detroit Policy Conference, put on by the Detroit Regional Chamber. The event centered on the “New Leadership Era,” featuring discussions on the city’s future, economic development, and regional policy.
Watch Megan Spanitz discuss the 2026 Detroit Policy Conference, new leadership priorities, and regional collaboration shaping Detroit’s future in the YouTube video shared below:
This interview was with Megan Spanitz, the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Strategy Officer for the Detroit Regional Chamber, as of July 2025, taking over for long-time leader Tammy Carnrike. She shared how the rest of 2025 had gone, what she’s focusing on for 2026, and highlights of what was going on that day with the conference.
Spanitz moderated a key panel on philanthropy at the 2026 Detroit Policy Conference, which focused on the region’s new leadership era, economic growth, and cross-sector collaboration.
2026 Role: Spanitz, as COO and Chief Strategy Officer, provided leadership and context for the 2026 conference, which was a sold-out event. The conference brought together approximately 1300 regional leaders to address crucial economic and community challenges in the Detroit region.
2026 Detroit Policy Conference: A New Leadership Era
Recently, the 2026 Detroit Policy Conference convened business leaders, government officials, and community changemakers to drive meaningful conversations and actionable solutions for a more prosperous and equitable Detroit Region.
Held at The Department at Hudson’s, the Conference explored the leadership transitions underway and on the horizon for the Region and state and featured the bold, adaptive leaders at the helm.
Explore highlights from the Conference below.
Detroit’s New Era: Mayor Sheffield’s Future-Focused Leadership
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., and was unable to attend the Conference. However, in a pre-recorded video, Sheffield emphasized that building strong partnerships between businesses and neighborhoods will remain at the heart of Detroit’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
Following her video remarks, Melvin “Butch” Hollowell, who is leading Mary Sheffield’s transition, took to the stage to discuss where the committees’ work stands and how the administration is progressing.
“The House is on Fire”: Solving Michigan’s Education Crises
Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Business Leaders for Michigan’s Jeff Donofrio, the Chamber’s Greg Handel, and University of Detroit Mercy’s Donald B. Taylor discussed Michigan’s challenges in K-12 performance and per capita income, emphasizing equity-centered policy and innovation.
Detroit’s First Word: Industry Leaders on Expanding Wayne County Transit
During a panel moderated by the Chamber’s Brian J. Shoaf, Wayne County Deputy Executive Assad I. Turfe and SMART’s Tiffany J. Gunter shared how they are changing the conversation around the expansion of transit in the Detroit Region.
Mike Duggan: Unity is Needed for Michigan to Succeed
During the Conference, Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Duggan spoke about the inspiration behind his bid for governor and discussed the hot-button topics that Michigan’s next leader will need to address.
