Creative Day Partners with Detroit Regional Chamber for 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference

Serving Michigan’s most populous region, the Detroit Regional Chamber (DRC) is one of the US's largest, most tenured, and most respected chambers of commerce. At its core, the Chamber’s services offer the business community a trusted advocate, partner, and thought leader and provide crucial resources for data and support. 

Established over 100 years ago, the DRC continues to act as the voice of business leaders from around the country. It has hosted the Mackinac Policy Conference annually since 1981 to support a business-friendly climate and provide value for its members. 

The Mackinac Policy Conference is a signature event among Michigan’s leading business and political leaders. The four-day event at Mackinac Island’s historic Grand Hotel serves as a space to discuss the state’s economy and other community-related matters. 

Since 2004, Creative Day team members have been involved in the behind-the-scenes transformation of this historic site for this prominent event.

Behind the Scenes of the Mackinac Policy Conference 

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This year, the theme “Bridging the Future Together” brought political leaders like Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, together with business leaders like Bob Riney, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Ford Health, and Rachel Stewart, the Chief Executive Officer of Gardner White, to the picturesque island to discuss timely events affecting Michigan and the country’s business community. 

The conference speakers and educational sessions were specially focused on key themes to support Michigan’s future, such as - 

• Attracting businesses and jobs
• Improving education outcomes to ensure workforce readiness
• Strengthening infrastructure
• Leading with innovation and equity

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Over the 4 days, attendees participated in sessions and panels like “Solving Michigan’s Housing Crisis” and “The Importance of Racial Equity in Michigan’s Population Growth” while making connections for mutual growth and success. 

In the evenings, special events and receptions are held to honor Women in Leadership, PACs, and, of course, going “off the record” at a final reception that even featured a sing-along with local news media anchor Devin Scillian.

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Creative Day at Mackinac Policy Conference 2024 

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2024 is the fifth year Creative Day Technologies (CDT) has participated in supporting the prestigious event. Our team members have been integral to the event since the early 2000s, giving us the annual opportunity to plan and execute the live production meticulously. 

This year involved CDT’s transformation of the Grand Hotel’s historic theater, built in 1885, into the event’s main stage. In addition to offering a variety of services to make the event as memorable and smooth-running as the last, including - 

• Designing 3D CAD and Previsualization
• Project Management
• Technical Direction
• Crew Fulfillment Logistics
• AV Support for the general sessions, which feature a serpentine LED display with over 12 million pixels
• Support for multiple breakout meeting areas

“This year’s event was like no other - being an election year, there was an unmatched energy, and our team couldn’t have been more thrilled to be a part of it,” says Mark Wilson, Creative Director at Creative Day, who designed the show. 

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Event Success with Creative Day 

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All in all, event planning is no simple feat, and for an event as distinguished as the Mackinac Policy Conference, it takes an extra eye for detail and expertise to support flawless execution. No matter the event, from the prestigious Mackinac Policy Conference to the innovative first annual Stellantis Dealer meeting, CDT’s team of creatives and AV experts is experienced in executing. Our Metro-Detroit-based group specializes in supporting the technological and A/V needs of - 

• Corporate Meetings  
• Live Events
• Content Production

vents, and content creation, Creative Day is versatile in supporting every stage of the event planning process, well beyond the technology.

Our team of industry veterans will tell you that no two events are the same. That’s why Creative Day approaches events, like the Mackinac Policy Conference, with a fresh eye to achieve customized events sure to succeed. From handpicking the best engineers and crew from around the country and ditching cookie-cutter proposals, we make each event unique to your brand and messaging.