Becky Burtka, VP of member engagement for the Michigan Chamber leads the discussion on the biggest HR and employment law issues and trends affecting the workplace today and what employers need to know.

Joining her in the discussion are:
- Ashleigh Draft, Labor and Employment Attorney at Varnum - one of the state’s leading law firms
- Monica Lloyd, Founder of PeopleForward - a great HR engagement, strategy and development firm

Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on one of our signature events for the year: 2025 Chamber Day - it's all about pundits and pollsters. Policy and politics. And what the 2025 landscape looks like and what to watch in the upcoming pivotal 2026 election cycle.

Joining her in the discussion are:

• Alexis Wiley, Founder and CEO of Moment Strategies - who has worn some key past elected official and media hats
• Andrea Bitely, Dounder and Principal of Bitely Communications - who has also several front row experiences to fuel her insights.

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on a closer look at some myths and facts about something called the Corporate Income Tax or CIT, the current state of Michigan’s tax and economic climate, and how that all ties together.

Joining him in the discussion are two people steeped in all things tax policy and who’ll help us break this down: 

• Lynn Gandhi, Partner and Tax Attorney at Foley & Lardner and the Chair of the MI Chamber’s Tax Policy Committee - comprised of businesses of all industries and sizes from across the state
• Randy Gross, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs and Associate General Counsel at the Michigan Chamber

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on recent bipartisan fixes to sweeping new Earned Sick Time Act and minimum wage laws to protect business and employees alike. Joining him in the discussion is Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Chamber, who knows ALL the ins and outs and was relentless in helping inform policymakers and making this happen.

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, leads the discussion on Governor Whitmer’s 7th State of the State address before a joint session of the Michigan Legislature. What was in it? What wasn’t? And what does it all mean for Michigan’s business community?

Joining him in the discussion are:

• Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber
• Mike Alaimo, Senior Director of Legislative and External Affairs for the Michigan Chamber

Jim Holcomb, President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber, takes a closer look at the close of the chaotic 2024 legislative session and previewing what’s on deck for 2025. Joining him in the discussion are:

• Zach Gorchow, President of Gongwer News Service - one of our capitol’s go to resources.
• Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs - who was right in the thick of the action. 

Becky Burtka, VP of Member Engagement for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on unleashing courage for women leaders. Joining her are a couple of special leaders who have forged their own unique paths. They are:

• Shaquila Myers, Chief of Staff to Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate - shepherding public policy issues for one of the top elected official positions in the state.
• Tiffany Dowling, President & CEO of M3 Group - a full service marketing agency she started more than 20 years ago and publisher of 517 Magazine.

Amanda Toy, VP of membership and partnerships for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on the state of Michigan’s talent and workforce. Is it still shrinking and tighter than ever? Getting better? Evolving in different ways? Joining her in the discussion are two leaders at the forefront of the latest trends and best practices on this important issue that affects virtually every employer across industries. They are:

• Scott Ryan, Vice President, General Counsel and Sustainability Officer, @
• David Weeks, the Market Director for Southeast Michigan, Kelly Services

Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on something called carbon capture – or decarbonization – what it really is, how it works and why it’s a fast-growing part of our environmental and energy future. Joining her are are three folks at the forefront of this work:

• Rich Bowman, Director of policy for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan
• Ben Grove, the Senior Manager of Carbon Storage for the Clean Air Task Force
• Mike Alaimo, the Michigan Chamber’s Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs

Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on the 2024 election landscape and the intrinsic tie races, candidates and politics have in shaping and influencing our country and state’s economic sentiment and 2025 outlook. Joining her are two key policy and politics observers:

• Dave Eggert, the policy and politics reporter for Crain’s Detroit Business - our state’s largest business publication
• Jenell Leonard, Owner of Marketing Resource Group (MRG) - a full-service strategic communications firm