Detroit’s Mobility Success Isn’t Happening in a Vacuum with John McElroy, President of Blue Sky Productions and Host of Autoline

Detroit’s Mobility Success Isn’t Happening in a Vacuum with John McElroy, President of Blue Sky Productions and Host of Autoline

John McElroy sat down with Jeannine and Bernard at The Mobility Table to discuss the ways the Detroit region mobility ecosystem can overcome global competition. The conversation explores the resources, capabilities and knowledge that sets the Detroit region apart and will drive innovation in the future. John is an influential journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur, having created Autoline an outlet dedicated to the reporting, discussion and dissection of the automotive industry and its products. He is an automotive expert, sharing his insights through radio segments, blogs and appearances on major outlets across the country.

The Importance of Having Allies in Electrification with Brandon Bordenkircher, Campaign Manager for EVNoire supporting Electrifying Michigan

Brandon Bordenkircher joined Jeannine and Bernard at The Mobility Table to discuss the Detroit region’s multimodal capabilities. The conversation explored the role of allies, including trusted connectors, organizations, and individuals who advocate for electrification, as well as the importance of consumers in supporting its growth. Brandon’s work at EVNoire is focused on an organization called Electrifying Michigan. Prior to his position at EVNoire he has inhabited roles across advocacy, public policy, and operations including Deputy Program Director for Midwest Government Affairs at Airbnb and a Lobbyist at Daimler. He also co-founded 12 Tone Matrix, pioneering AI-driven text analysis.

Finding Resources in the Mobility Ecosystem with Bret Scott, Director of WSU Open at Wayne State University

Bret Scott sat down with Jeannine and Bernard at The Mobility Table to discuss getting connected to resources in the mobility industry. They explored the challenges in navigating the mobility industry’s assets and explored the way WSU Open acts as a connector for mobility stakeholders to navigate the knowledge and support available in the Detroit region’s advanced mobility ecosystem. Bret Scott is the Director of WSU Open at Wayne State University. He is also the Mayor of Pleasant Ridge, a position he has held since 2019. Prior to his position at Wayne State, he worked in roles across the automotive industry and at mobility-related startups.

Retraining the Mobility Workforce with Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Talent at the Detroit Regional Partnership Sarah Gregory

Sarah Gregory took a seat at The Mobility Table next to Jeannine and Bernard to discuss the Detroit region’s mobility workforce. Together they covered: adapting the region’s talent to emerging technologies and needs, the benefits of being a strong learner, stackable credentials and how the ecosystem approaches connecting employers with the talent in the Detroit region. Sarah Gregory is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Talent at the Detroit Regional Partnership. She previously served as Director of Talent Development at Workforce Intelligence Network.

Retooling Mobility Businesses with Voltava Executive Director of Operations Craig Leek

Craig Leek joined Jeannine and Bernard at The Mobility Table to discuss how companies are retooling and adapting to the growing shift towards electrification across the mobility industry, along with the limitations, challenges and successes that come with the transition. Craig Leek is the Executive Director of Operations for Voltava (formerly Detroit Manufacturing Systems), where he oversees Ford operations. Craig has more than 40 years of experience in the automotive sector, including over three decades at Ford.