DETROIT – Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber announced that Penske Corporation founder and Chairman Roger S. Penske and The PNC Financial Services Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James E. Rohr are joining an impressive list of headliners at the 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference. The Conference, held Tuesday, May 29 through Thursday, May 31, is focused on innovation, collaboration and positioning Michigan to succeed in the 21st century global market.
Penske and Rohr will conduct a moderated discussion about the turnaround of Detroit and Pittsburgh as both cities continue to progress and become more economically competitive. This session builds off the dialogue from the 2010 Mackinac Policy Conference, which resulted in the Detroit Regional Chamber sending a delegation of business, civic and political leaders on a tour to see Pittsburgh’s economic turnaround.
“Detroit and Pittsburgh are resilient and can continue to learn from each other about adapting and staying competitive in the global economy,” said Henry Ford Health System CEO Nancy Schlichting, who is Chair of the 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference. “These two cities are making great progress in re-inventing themselves and rely on committed leadership by high-profile leaders like Roger Penske and Jim Rohr to help guide their recovery. Both men can speak to the importance of coupling industries like automotive and steel with other emerging sectors like medical and bio-sciences.”
Penske is the founder and Chairman of Penske Corporation, a diversified transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate in a variety of industry segments, including retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics, component manufacturing and professional motorsports.
Rohr leads one of the largest diversified financial services companies in the U.S. He joined the company’s management training program in 1972, progressed to the position of Chief Executive Officer in May 2000, and Chairman in May 2001. Under Rohr’s leadership PNC has expanded from a regional bank to one of America’s largest financial institutions.
Penske and Rohr join a lineup that already includes New York Times Foreign Affairs Columnist and best-selling author Thomas L. Friedman, noted print and broadcast journalist Fareed Zakaria and former Utah Governor and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt.
The 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference’s three pillars are innovation, collaboration and the 21st century global market. To learn more about how the Conference aims to increase economic development and create a globally competitive, financially attractive business environment in Michigan, visit mpc.detroitchamber.com.
