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We in intern alley, and many other young professionals in the Detroit area were given the great opportunity of listening to and speaking with a panel of distinguished Detroit businessmen and women last week.  The panel included: Bill Emerson – Quicken Loans, Chris Ilitch – Ilitch Holdings, Mike Duggan – Detroit Medical Center, Tricia Keith – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Cindy Pasky – Strategic Staffing Solutions, and the moderator, Paul W. Smith of WJR AM 760.  The event was titled, “Living, Working, and Playing in Detroit.”

Since getting used to the joys of flex time over the past month at Quicken Loans, the idea of having to get up at 4:30 a.m. to get to a presentation at 6 a.m. was a little less than palatable.  But knowing I would be able to network with well-established business people and possibly gain a little more insight into where I work and who I work for, got me going.   Having had gone to only a few networking events, it was a little intimidating showing up to a room of unfamiliar people and being expected to mingle.  Luckily a few fellow interns were there waiting as familiar life preservers.  Eventually, we either approached, or were approached by fellow young professionals.  Soon, those jitters were gone, and walking up to a complete stranger to talk about Detroit’s business renaissance was as easy as ever.

Once the panel discussion started and everyone quieted down, the speakers got down to business.  In talking about the short term, the panel spoke about getting young professionals engaged in things like the After 5 events, River Days and the like.  Getting them to feel safe, and comfortable to go out and play in Detroit.  In talking about the long term, there were some great plans being set into motion.  Mike Duggan spoke about hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on a heart hospital, a new children’s hospital, and many more things.  Chris Ilitch went on the record saying that it was his plan to bring a new hockey arena to downtown Detroit, citing that many owners that have spent the money on building new sports facilities saw their investment pay off well for the cities they reside in.

Hearing so many great ideas coming from this panel was incredible for someone who’s grown up in the shadow of Detroit.  Some of my greatest memories are based here.  When I was young I worked at the Eastern Market.  I also got the chance to sail around Michigan on a tall ship thanks to a gathering on the riverfront in 2001.  Really any good news is better than hearing about abandoned buildings, city corruption, and other things that have been plaguing this city for far too long.  I think Chris Ilitch put it best when he said that we are going to see this city as the “greatest urban turn around.”  And we will, with the help of the likes of these professionals.

As a closing to the presentation, someone in the audience asked the panel what their idea of corporate citizenship was.  Bill Emerson had the best response – “It’s what you do as a human being.”  And this ties in so well with what he, Dan Gilbert, and many other businessmen and women are doing for the city of Detroit.  They know the city needs to thrive again, and being good human beings (doing the right thing) they recognize what they need to do to make that happen.  And what they seem to recognize, from this discussion, is that their young team members will be the future of their companies and this city.

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