Michigan Matters: Conventions proliferate as Shining Light Awards to light up Ford Field
Detroit's become one of the hottest destinations in the country for big-time conventions. What's driving the interest?
Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit, Robert Pliska of Sperry Property Investment Counselors, and Eric Larson, CEO of Downtown Detroit Partnership, who have worked behind the scenes to make it happen, appear on Michigan Matters this Sunday to discuss the sudden interest in the Motor City.
Two influential global events — Move America and the national gathering of Real Estate Counselors — will be held in Detroit in the next few weeks, which the trio talks about.
The success of the 2024 NFL Draft was one catalyst, they added.
Plus, Nicole Avery Nichols, editor of the Detroit Free Press, Thomas Linn, board member of the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), and John Perkins Jr., of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, appear to discuss the 2025 Shining Light Awards, taking place Oct. 7 at Ford Field.
Nichols talked about the genesis of the awards, which were launched by MAC and the Detroit Free Press. Dozens of people were nominated for the three awards to be given out: the Neal Shine Lifetime Achievement Award, the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award, and the Dave Bing Future Leader Award.
Linn, chairman emeritus of Miller Canfield, talked about the start of the annual awards and how it revolved around the late publisher Neal Shine.
And they talked about the event, which attracts hundreds from across the region, as many leaders from business, politics, and the community are on hand for the festivities.
(Watch Michigan Matters at its new time: 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and 9:30 a.m. Sundays on CW Detroit 50 WKBD).
(Carol Cain is the 13-time Emmy-winning senior producer and host of Michigan Matters).
