2008 RENAISSANCE AWARDS

Detroit Economic Club Luncheon
December 2, 2008

Remarks by Doug Rothwell and Jonathan Wolman

left to right: Detroit News Editor and Publisher Jonathan Wolman, U-M President Mary Sue Coleman and Detroit Renaissance President Doug Rothwell.

DOUG ROTHWELL

Good afternoon and thank you for giving us the opportunity to be here with you today.

Detroit Renaissance is a leadership organization composed of our region’s most significant corporate and university chief executives. Our mission is to transform the economy of this region.

We accomplish our work by serving as a catalyst to develop growth strategies, advocating for those strategies and serving as a champion for specific initiatives that accelerate growth.

Our work is divided into three categories:

• We work to help improve the competitiveness of our state.
• We work to help transform the economy of the region.
• And, we work to redevelop the City of Detroit.

This year, we partnered with The Detroit News to recognize an individual or organization that has shown outstanding leadership in reinventing the region’s economy. Our region is facing extreme challenges that no one person or organization can address alone.

But all of us in this room know that there are many who are working hard to make a difference. We wanted to recognize those who are taking bold steps to transform the region’s economy.

Jonathan Wolman, publisher and editor of the Detroit News will review the criteria we used to select today’s honorees.

JONATHAN WOLMAN

Thank you. I am proud to stand alongside Doug today and recognize these honorees that have each made tremendous impacts on our region. To be eligible for this award, a nominee must have:

• Developed innovative solutions to move the region forward.
• Helped build positive momentum for change through strong leadership.
• And, produced results that show the potential for lasting impact on the way the region is viewed or how it operates.

Priority was give to those whose work has or will create or retain jobs, attract or retain talent, improve the region’s economic competitiveness, successfully work through collaborative partnerships or advance public advocacy for the region. Extra consideration also was given to significant work in one or more of Detroit Renaissance’s six priorities outlined in their Road to Renaissance plan.

Initially, we were only going to select one winner, but after receiving many nominations and reviewing the achievements and contributions of all our nominees, we decided to award one individual and one organization.

Our honorees have not only built positive momentum for change, but the work they have been engaged in will have a lasting impact on our region’s future.

DOUG ROTHWELL

Our first honoree is an individual who has served in Congress for more than half a century. No one has fought harder for this region than John Dingell. Many know him for the work he had done writing some of the best known laws protecting our health, environment the rights of workers and consumers. But the work we want to recognize him for is his tireless advocacy for policies to help Michigan attract jobs, especially his support for the industry that made this state what it is — Michigan’s automotive industry.

I am very pleased to present this award to Congressman John Dingell and accepting on his behalf today is his son, Chris Dingell.

JONATHAN WOLMAN

Our second award goes to Michigan’s University Research Corridor, a two-year-old alliance of Michigan’s three leading research institutions: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. The goals of the alliance are to align the three institutions’ collective resources to accelerate economic development, put a spotlight on the state’s powerful R&D assets, and encourage a greater level of collaboration among the institutions and the business sector to become a major catalyst for economic growth.

Last year, the URC universities generated $1.38 billion dollars in research, generated more than 69,000 jobs, educated 136,000 students, and created a net economic impact of $13.3 billion in the state of Michigan.

I’m very pleased to present this award to the University Research Corridor and accepting this award on behalf of the URC is Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan.

DOUG ROTHWELL

Thank you again for allowing us to recognize these leaders today. For a list of finalists and full bios on our honorees, please visit our website at www.detroitrenaissance.com. All of the information will be posted by Friday of this week and there is a story in today’s Detroit News as well