Mi Business Matters

Jim leads the exploration on the recently launched Michigan Alliance for Legal Reform as we talk with the organization’s inaugural Director Zach Rudat about the state of our legal climate and what led to more than 30 organizations already jumping on board.

This episode is part 2 of our special three-part series – “Restoring Balance: Michigan’s Case for Legal Reform.”

Becky Burtka, VP of member engagement at the Michigan Chamber, takes you inside an energizing initiative: the National Civics Bee. It’s a fast-growing, nationwide competition that helps middle schoolers strengthen their civic knowledge, think critically about real community issues and build their problem-solving skills.

Joining her in the discussion are:
- Hilary Crow, vice president of civics at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - who oversees this national effort and brings a front-row view of how the Bee is taking off across the country.
- Thomas Paden, president of the Canton Chamber of Commerce - whose team helped bring schools and students into this year’s competition – and helped Michigan lead the nation in student essay submissions.
- Ashley Tall, Michigan’s 2025 National Civics Bee state champion - who is now a freshman at Huron High School in Ann Arbor and just represented Michigan on the national stage in Washington, D.C.

Becky Burtka, VP of Member Engagement for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion on something most leaders are dealing with – whether they say it out loud or not: how stressors or mental health are showing up at work, and what effective leadership looks like in that environment. Joining her in the discussion is Julia Isaacs, Director of Behavioral Health Strategy and Planning for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Amanda Toy, VP of Membership and Partnerships for the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion about artificial intelligence or AI – not in the abstract or five years down the road. We’re focused on what AI actually means for your business today, and how small businesses across Michigan are already using it to save time, reduce costs and work smarter.

Joining her in the discussion are:
- Chan Park, Head of U.S. and Canada Policy and Partnerships at OpenAI - the company behind ChatGPT
- Mike Pomerantz, Head of National Policy Engagement for Door Dash

Joining Wendy is Sherman “Tiger” Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association, to unpack what makes a fair and balanced legal system – and why Michigan has fallen behind.

This episode is part 1 of a special 3-part series – “Restoring Balance: Michigan’s Case for Legal Reform.” We’ll be taking a closer look at how Michigan’s legal climate impacts job creation, innovation and the cost of doing business in our state as well as to our families and communities.

Jim leads the discussion on the issues shaping Michigan’s economy and the workplaces that drive it. We take a look at one of the fastest-moving parts of doing business in Michigan: HR and employment law and what to watch along with the latest trends. Joining him in the discussion are:

- John Below, an employment law attorney with Bodman
- Jodi Schafer, a certified HR professional and the principal/owner of HRM Services
- Becky Burtka, from our very own Michigan Chamber team, who’ll share some resources to help businesses stay compliant and confident.

Jim leads the discussion on one of the fastest-emerging opportunities for Michigan’s energy and manufacturing future — carbon capture and storage. Michigan’s unique geology and strong industrial base could put our state at the center of a new wave of energy innovation. We’ll unpack what carbon capture is, what it could mean for jobs, investment and energy independence – all while balancing environmental safeguards with economic growth. Joining Jim in the discussion are:

- Bob Mannes, president & CEO of Core Energy – a leader and early adopter in this space
- Robert Joerg, director of government affairs for the Michigan Laborers District Council
- Mike Alaimo, senior director of legislative and external affairs at the Michigan Chamber and our environmental and energy policy lead.

Jim is joined by Congresswoman Lisa McClain, who represents Michigan’s 9th Congressional District and is also the 4th highest ranking member of Republican leadership in the U.S. House as the chair of the House Republican Conference. As the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week and the One Big Beautiful Bill reshapes tax and economic policy, we’ll talk about what it all means for Michigan’s businesses, workforce and families — and how to find solutions in a divided Washington.

Jim leads the discussion Michigan’s new state-federal tax split – officially known as ‘decoupling’ – and what it means for employers and our Great Lakes State. Joining him in the discussion are:

- Sean Cook, partner and tax attorney at Warner Norcross + Judd - who also spent nearly a decade as a CPA
- Tyler Theile, VP, COO and Director of Public Policy at Anderson Economic Group - one of our state’s leading economics and market research firms
- Randy Gross, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs and Associate General Counsel at the Michigan Chamber - and our tax policy lead

Jim leads the discussion on Michigan’s FY ’26 state budget: how we got here, key changes and what it means for employers – from taxes, roads, talent funding, and competitiveness. Joining him are several members of our Business Advocacy team:

• Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy and lead lobbyist
• Becky Burtka, VP of Member Engagement and overall budget lead
• Randy Gross, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs and Associate General Counsel and our tax policy lead