Q&A: Beth Chappell on Bringing Detroit Together

This evening, the region's glitterati will gather at the Westin Book Cadillac to celebrate something amazing: the 75th anniversary of the Detroit Economic Club.

Why the Book Caddy? That is the same venue where the Club was formed in 1934. Back then, it was the “place to be in a city struggling with the Great Depression,” according to my pal Matt Friedman. The intervening years were hard on the building (and the city, to be truthful). But now, the hotel is one of the brightest spots in the D.

The same could be said for the Detroit Economic Club. Its value for our city is simple. It is a gathering space for people to meet, eat and talk about the great issues of the day. One of its founders, Allen Crow, described it this way: “Maybe if you gathered a lot of smart people in one room, on a regular basis, they could think their way out of (the Great Depression).”

Today, we have the Great Recession. And still the Club is recognized as one of the top ranked speaking forums in the world. In 75 years, it has hosted more than 1,000 speakers and seven sitting U.S. Presidents. About once a week, a prominent leader flies into Detroit just to address the DEC, bringing national attention to Detroit in news coverage as, often, companies and government departments choose to break news at the DEC.

Let me introduce Beth Chappell, DEC's President and CEO. She slipped away from her normal day-to-day power lunches to chat with the blog. And, no, before you ask…she won't say who her favorite speaker was of the past 1,000 or so. I already asked.

Q: What role does the DEC play in Detroit's recovery?

A: Right now, we're thinking a lot about the original role the Club played leading Detroit and the nation out of The Great Depression by convening top thinkers to discuss solutions. We still play an important role in thought leadership - providing strategic perspectives on the past, present and future. This year, in going through 75 years of archives (which are housed at the Detroit Public Library), we have found amazing parallels when looking back. The leaders of our country have consistently come to the Club throughout the decades to talk about cutting edge topics.  From the economy in the '30s to Civil Rights in the '60s to Women's Rights in the '70s, Wall Street's highs in the '80s, Terrorism after 9/11 and now, today, Health Care Reform and economic recovery are the themes. The Detroit Economic Club has always been ahead of the curve and leading the way toward ideas that help move America - and Detroit - forward.

Q: What are your members doing to improve the city and the Metro area?

A: Our members and our Board of Directors, represent the best of Metro Detroit. Since we are non-partisan, we are able to attract, on neutral territory, a range of true leaders who are committed to our community and doing business here. They support each other and I can testify that each one cares about the City of Detroit, this region and its future. They see their involvement with the Club as a reflection of their commitment. We really appreciate dedication of time to get to know each other, help one another and support the Club in so many ways.

Q: How do you get people to come to Detroit?

A: We routinely hear from top business leaders asking to appear at the DEC and we also invite leaders to appear at our podium. Some meetings are booked weeks in advance and some are reserved a year or more out. Senior government officials tend to book on a shorter lead time, since frequently they use the podium to make announcements, which can make national or global news. (In June of 2009, Jeffery Immelt, CEO of General Electric, announced at the DEC that GE would bring tech jobs to Michigan. It was picked up in business media nationwide and globally.) The national rankings put us as the most valued speaking forum of our kind among CEOs in America. We know from talking to them ourselves that corporate executives, top government officials and other influential leaders choose the Detroit Economic Club because of our reputation, our membership and a recognition that despite change that is around us, Detroit is still an important part of America.

Q: Who has been your personal favorite speaker and why?

A: That's a question I just can't answer because who could possibly choose a favorite among that group. But thinking back on the breadth and depth of speakers I have have met and listened to, first as a DEC member and, later, as CEO, I consider myself a fortunate recipient of a one-of-a-kind privilege.

Q: Detroit gets its share of positive and negative attention. How do you feel this affects the region?

A: All parts of the country get their share of positive and negative attention. I believe the key for the region now is to focus on the positive and work hard to solve the negatives. Here's one thing to keep in mind. Last June, the Detroit Economic Club attracted about 100 business, government and academic leaders for The National Summit, which we convened. (The National Summit included about 100 business, government and academic leaders as speakers for three days in Detroit, plotting strategy for America's future.) These top experts chose to come here because this was the place for that important conversation about the future of America. Not one of them expressed any hesitation about coming to Detroit or questioned for a second why Detroit would host such a gathering. We need to remember that Detroit has a history of innovation in the heart of America. The Detroit Economic Club has a history of bringing businesspeople coming together to focus on solutions. We plan to keep doing that for the next 75 years, and beyond. We welcome more businesspeople to join us and learn from the true experts - across a wide range of industries- and engage in a way that is comfortable for them.  That could be membership, sponsorship or just attending a meeting and listening to a speaker to learn what it's all about. You don't have to be a CEO to be at the Detroit Economic Club.