a special column from
a special column from the EDITOR More than mingling on Mackinac Island I have been attending the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Mackinac Policy Conference since the early 1990s. I have missed about two in that time period. It is known as the premier networking event in the state. During the second conference I attended, my former Vanessa denha-garmo boss at WJR, Dick Haefner, editor in chief told me that I would be co-publisher able to network with more people in three days that I could in an entire year. Every year that is proven true. This year was a little different than in past years because the legislators did not attend; they were still in session but for most years policy makers, political leaders, business leaders, community organizators and educators attend the annual event. It is well worth getting stuck on an island listening to the trollop of horses, feeling the breeze off the water and enjoying an old English-style setting with floral wallpaper and swirling patterned carpet. People are out of their element — much more relaxed among the island goers, whose clocks seem to move much slower. In this setting, people are much more receptive to the approach from a stranger. The first 10 years I attended, I wore a reporter’s hat for both Women’s Health Style magazine and WJR AM 760. Then I spent seven years wearing the hat of a press secretary attending for Wayne County and now I attend with my entrepreneurial hat on as the co-publisher of the Chaldean News and the founder of Denha Media and Communications. My company had clients on the island this year. We produced several news packages for YNN Logan Network — a Detroit Regional News Hub project. I set up meetings and interviews for clients. I was also able to chat on the porch with potential clients. A fun highlight was recapping the conference with Channel 7’s Steven Clark on WDET’s Craig Fahle show. As I mentioned to Fahle, a topic of interest to Chaldeans discussed on the island was small business — noting that small business owners are the largest employer base for the state. The Grand Hotel, the site of much conference networking. Just as they have in the past, the Detroit Regional Chamber ended the conference with a todo list and three of the five things on the list are definitely of interest to business owners. The Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce plans to engage businesses in an effort to help Detroit-based businesses cut through local government red tape to help promote business start-ups and success. They also plan to lead a delegation of Detroit-area business leaders on a lesson-learned trip to Washington, D.C. in partnership with Whole Foods Market and former Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams. Lastly, the Detroit Regional Chamber will follow up by developing a program to support promising entrepreneurs and businesses with access to coaching in best practices and capital. Meanwhile, the small business association participated in an announcement about business leaders collaborating to enhance early childhood development. Over the years, the conference has been packed with sessions on education, economic development and transportation. With two serious issues in the region — Detroit’s consent decree and Wayne County’s ongoing FBI investigation — there was busybody buzz in back rooms as well as on the porch of the Grand Hotel. In typical L. Brooks Patterson style, a joke at the expense of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano was not spared. The “Tale of Two Cities” session focused on how Detroit is really two cities — one that focuses on economic development by trying lure chain stores like Whole Foods and another whose school system is failing, crime is up and blight is everywhere. The conference is much more than a time to mingle with old friends while meeting new contacts; it is an opportunity to get quality face time with people who are often too busy at work to chat. Even if it is just a five-minute conversation planting a seed for future discussions, the time spent is invaluable. Whether it’s Devon Scillian (Channel 4) Paul W. Smith (WJR), Steven Clark (Channel 7), Chucks Stokes (Channel 7) Lloyd Jackson (WJR) or Vickie Thomas (WWJ) moderating a panel, you know the questions will be timely and on the minds of everyone else in the room. Issues are discussed in depth, with seriousness and sometimes muchneeded humor. As the producer of YNN Logan Network and editor in chief of the Chaldean News, I spent most of my time in the media room sitting next to Dave Leval from Channel 20 and across from an AP reporter. We were among dozens of reporters and media outlets from around the state. One of my favorite moments this year was the unveiling of the docu-series “Motor City Rising” produced by my friend Joe Gaugh, which is an Ovation new original series featuring the lives of artists, creative entrepreneurs and dreamers. The annual Detroit Regional Mackinac Policy Conference is much more than just mingling on the porch, eating fudge and taking a horse-driven taxi ride to a ferry boat. It is an opportunity to make news, tell stories, and hopefully make a positive impression on those new people you will inevitably meet. Alaha Imid Koullen (God Be With Us All) Vanessa Denha-Garmo vdenha@chaldeannews.com Experience why we were voted 1 ST PLACE HONOR FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR in the Daily Tribune’s “Best of the Best” Credit Union. New used or refinanced vehicles as low as 1.99% APR for 60 months. Existing loans not eligible for this offer. Special ends August 31, 2012 Clawson Community Credit Union 625 N. Main Street • Clawson • (248) 435-0950 www.clawsoncreditunion.com Randall Mansour Attorney & Counselor at Law Disability Attorneys of Michigan 888-886-6400 www.damichigan.com 8 CHALDEAN NEWS JULY 2012
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