Policy conference to focus on regional collaboration
Leadership matters. Later this month, more than 1,500 business, government, civic and community leaders will gather for the2006 Detroit Regional Chamber'sannual Mackinac Policy Conference. This year more than ever before, our leaders must focus their attention on what benefits our region and our state for our collective future.
While there are many challenges facing us, the scent of optimism in the air is as strong as the distinct smells of Mackinac Island as people prepare for this year's conference.
Michigan, particularly the 10-county region of southeastern Michigan, has been severelyimpacted by the rapidly changing, disruptive information and technologically driven global economy.
Thomas L. Friedman, in his national best seller, tells us The World is Flat. Well, the world may be flat, but many in Michigan feel flattened and run over by the economic tsunami that has hit our shores. Yet the leaders of the region are following the advice of my old football coach when he bellowed, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
Michigan put the world on wheels and, with the right vision and leadership, we are capable of putting the region and the state back in the economic driver's seat of the 21st century.
At a time when our region was crying forfocus and leadership, the Detroit Regional Chamber stepped up, and under the leadership of Cindy Pasky, president and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions and chairman of the Chamber, convinced the able and energeticEdsel Ford to champion a 10-county regional planning process -- Design Regional Detroit -- with the support of former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, the incoming chamber chairman, who also serves as chairman ofDickinson-Wright law firm.
Design Regional Detroitis dedicated to creating and executing a regional plan that will lead to improved economic prosperity and quality of life for residents in southeastern Michigan.
Under the "get it done" leadership of Ford, I am confident that an actionplan (with the emphasis on the word action) will emerge with the active input of business, labor, civic and religious leaders, community members both young and old and cities and suburbs across this region. This plan will be a road map to guide us, not merely to survive, but to thrive in the 21st century knowledge economy.As amember of theadvisorycouncil to Design Regional Detroit, Ford has promised me, and the other members of theadvisory group,that this plan will not simply be written and placed on the shelf. It will be a workingdocument demanding continuous effort to make it come alive for every citizen in our metropolitan area. Having seen him in action, I am a believer.
The goals for Design Regional Detroit are to:
Design Regional Detroit needs your input. TheChamber realizes that our economic future is too important to be the sole responsibility of the business community. The goal is to engage the skills, intelligence, imagination and commitment of every stakeholder in the region, plus our trading and economic partner, Windsor, Canada.Interested members of the community can provide input and insights by completing a questionnaire located at http://www.designregionaldetroit.com/
The results of aDesign Regional Detroit opinion poll has also been added to the Web site. This poll asked 400 adult residents of the 10 counties their thoughts on the region's assets, future and need for regional collaboration. An overwhelming majority of respondents believe that stronger regional collaboration is necessary to enhance all residents' quality of life.
The Chamber is also scheduling community conversations across our region. The focus will be to listen to concerns,identify priorities and strategies and tap into new emerging leadership. These meetings will be across sectors, including business, nonprofit and faith-based groups. This is the beginning of engaging the community -- something that will be a common thread throughout Design Regional Detroit process.
As Clyde Prestowitz concludes in his must-read book, Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East, "Essentially, a true leader strives to discover facts, connect the dots, follow where they lead, and determine how best to face the problems they present, and then shape events and persuade people to embrace the results." This is what Design Regional Detroit is all about.
The 10-county region of southeast Michigan is rich in natural beauty, is blessed with great public and private leaders and educational institutions, has anoutstanding quality of life and a solid economic foundation on which to build. Our future lies in our ability to be creative, innovative and to imagine and invent.
Together, we are truly better. We are capable of developing a shared vision and common agenda that will drive us forward.
Thank you Edsel Ford, Cindy Pasky, Dennis Archer and retiring Chamber Executive Dick Blouse foryour leadership --it does matter.
TomWatkins is a member of theAdvisory Council for Design RegionalDetroit. He is a business and education consultant. He served as Michigansuperintendent of schools from 2001-05 and president and CEO of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, Fla., 1996-2001. He can be reached at tdwatkins@aol.com.
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