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Jewish chair brings Israel to the
state's policy conversation.
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18
A New Topic
At Mackinac
Conference
Ryan Fishman
Contributing Writer
chairs pointed out in this role I could
do something uniquely important to
me, leaving my own thumbprint, and I
t the Detroit Regional
decided that was Israel.
Chamber's 2015 Mackinac
"As we developed the underlying
Policy Conference — an
pillars of the conference, we had the
annual event typically reserved for
idea to bring [best-selling author and
conversations on economic growth in
expert] Dan Senor to talk about start-
the state of Michigan, which took place ups in Michigan the way he's talked
last week — eyes and ears turned
about startups in Israel. The topic real-
to Israel, with business leaders from
ly cuts across our pillars — attracting
across the state learning
talent from an entrepreneurial
about successes in entre-
perspective, urban revitaliza-
preneurship and innova-
tion and cohesion — the notion
tion thousands of miles
that we'll take the best ideas
away in the homeland of
from all over and deploy them
the Jewish people. That's
here in Michigan:'
due, at least in part, to
President and CEO of the
the influence of this year's
Detroit Regional Chamber,
Conference Chair Mark
Sandy Baruah, has been work-
Davidoff, the first Jewish
ing side-by-side with Davidoff
Mark Davi doff
chair in the event's 35-year
over the last year to develop
history.
those fundamental pillars.
"There's a long history
"The role of the chair is
of Jewish leadership in business, com-
multifold — first is to chair the CEO
munity, foundations and culture in
advisory committee that puts together
Michigan," said Davidoff, Michigan
the outline of the conference, includ-
managing partner of Deloitte LLP.
ing the theme and the supporting pil-
"You can't walk into any institution in
lars, to guide our team on selection of
this state and not see a historic mem-
speakers and panelists, consistent with
ber of our community — whether
those themes he helped to establish,
that's Max Fisher, David Page, Alfred
but his unofficial job is to really push
Taubman, Alan Schwartz. If you look
those of us who are paid staff to ensure
where this state is going from an eco-
that we're not resting on our laurels —
nomic development perspective and
that we're thinking differently, bring-
at the individuals leading some of the
ing new ideas to the conference — and
most important efforts, the Jewish
Mark's been absolutely fabulous at
community has an important role to
that," Baruah said.
play now, as we always have:'
The challenges addressed in this
Davidoff sees his role in leading the
year's pillars of talent, urban revitaliza-
conference as an important seat for
tion and cohesion hit home for the
the Jewish community to hold, and
state's Jewish community, and require
among his responsibilities was setting
members of the community to lend
the agenda many of Michigan's key
their unique perspective on how to
movers and shakers discussed over the
address them.
course of the conference, giving him
"You can't replace the Alfred
the opportunity to incorporate Israel
Taubmans of the world, so the ques-
into that conversation.
tion is how do we take the leadership
"I spent 12 years at Federation and
we have both coming up the ranks and
learned a lot about stewardship and
already at the table and inspire this
respecting history, so I took the time
generation of leaders to be active and
to speak to every past chair of the
involved in a way our more historic
conference and get their insight, sort
leaders have been involved," Davidoff
of looking back before I could look
said.
forward," Davidoff said. "One of those
"There are about 70,000 open jobs
A