Elevate Forum 2026

Join EGI’s Elevate Forum for actionable insights in AI, manufacturing, workforce, and economic development. Choose your track!
About this Event

Elevate Forum is Back — Now Featuring Specialized Tracks

Join EGI for our 3rd annual gathering of Michigan’s leaders, innovators, and decision-makers. This year, choose the track designed specifically for your goals:

Track A, Business Leaders: AI in Action (Remaining seats limited to Manufacturers only) — Cut through the hype with a clear 4-stage adoption roadmap, real manufacturer case studies (quoting, finance, sales), an enterprise scaling guide for autonomous workflows, and a live workshop to build a solution for your actual workflow bottlenecks.

Track B, Community Development Professionals: Economic & Talent Strategy — Explore actionable strategies to drive regional growth alongside Michigan’s leading workforce and economic developers.

The event is free to attend but space is limited so registration is required.

Breakfast and lunch provided.

For questions, please contact Brooke Sweeney at (734) 998-6521 | [email protected]

Agenda
TRACK A: BUSINESS LEADERS (Remaining seats limited to manufacturers only)
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast
🕑: 08:30 AM - 08:40 AM
Opening Remarks
🕑: 08:40 AM - 08:50 AM
Transition Time
🕑: 08:50 AM - 09:30 AM
(A) The AI Roadmap: Define Your Company’s Path
Host: Vikesh Chandrashekar
🕑: 09:35 AM - 09:55 AM
(A) Funding & Resources for Michigan Manufacturers
🕑: 09:55 AM - 10:15 AM
Networking Break
🕑: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
(A) Manufacturers Using AI in Practice
Host: Cheryl Thompson
🕑: 11:20 AM - 12:00 PM
(A) AI Workshop: From Bottleneck to Built
Host: Cheryl Thompson
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Transition Time

Info:

🕑: 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch Remarks
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Lunch & Keynote Speaker
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Closing Remarks
TRACK B: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Registration and Breakfast
🕑: 08:30 AM - 08:40 AM
Opening Remarks
🕑: 08:40 AM - 08:50 AM
Transition Time
🕑: 08:50 AM - 09:00 AM
(B) Shared Challenges, Local Solutions: Lessons from 11 Communities
Host: Carmen Wells Quigg
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM
(B) What's Next: Michigan's Mobility & Energy Trends
Host: Jeffrey Hoang
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:55 AM
(B) From Planning to Progress: Lessons from Community Leaders
Host: Naomi Okanlawon
🕑: 09:55 AM - 10:15 AM
Networking Break
🕑: 10:15 PM - 10:25 PM
(B) From Ideas to Impact: Tools and Success Stories
Host: Jeremy Kailing
🕑: 10:25 AM - 11:10 AM
(B) From Community Vision to Workforce Strategy
Host: Darryl Folks II
🕑: 11:10 PM - 11:50 PM
(B) Community Challenge Lab: From Ideas to Action
Host: LaTricia Mitchell
🕑: 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM
(B) Moving Forward: Resources & Next Steps
Host: Mary Ammerman
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Transition Time
🕑: 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch Remarks
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Lunch and Keynote Speaker
Host: Angela Accurso
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Closing Remarks