SIM Detroit Leaders Summit 2026

SIM Detroit Leadership Summit

October 21st, 2026

Days

Hours

Minutes

About Event

Making a Difference in Metro Detroit

On behalf of SIM Detroit, the summit steering committee, and our advisory board, we invite you to the SIM Detroit Leadership Summit on October 21, 2026. Hosted in the stunning “Elevate” space at One Campus Martius, the event will bring together Michigan’s premier IT leaders and thinkers to network, explore the latest technology trends, and share ideas.

While there are many tech conferences to choose from, this summit is unique: all profits are reinvested directly into our community. By attending, you support SIM Detroit’s charitable initiatives, including STEM scholarships and educational programming. Together, we can strengthen Metro Detroit’s technology workforce and empower individuals who have the desire—but lack the means—to pursue a career in tech.

Agenda

SIM Detroit Leadership Summit Agenda

Main Check-In for Attendees

Breakfast & Networking

Welcome, Introduction & Sponsor recognition

TBD

Keynote - Leading Rapid Change with poise and presence

Rob Salafia, Speaker, Executive Coach, and Facilitator

networking break

Weaponizing AI for Cyber Defense - Journey to the Agentic SOC

Guy Raz, Principal Solutions Architect, DropZone AI

Quantum-Proofing Your Business: The $15 Billion Migration No One has Started

Michael LaVista, CEO & Founder, Caxy Interactive

networking break

Stellantis - AI Case Studies

Eugene Nikolavsky, NA CIO and Ken Cronander, VP ICT & Digital – Global Product Lifecycke Management & Design Office

Lunch, Speakers/Presentations

The State of the MI Economy

Professor Paul Isley, Grand Valley State University

Keynote Panel - Data Centers & the Grid: Navigating Demand, Regulation, and Public Interest

Eric Paul Dennis, PE (Citizens Research Council), Consumers Energy, Shaquilla Myers (MI Public Services Commission), Tabice Ward (Walker-Miller Energy Services) – Moderator

Networking Break

Comcast/ChoiceTel (security)

TBD

Presentation - Drones: City of Detroit

TBD

Closing Remarks & Raffles

Cocktail Hour

Speakers

Keynote Speaker

ROB SALAFIA Speaker, Executive Coach, and Facilitator

Rob is an authority on executive presence and transformative learning experiences. He combines two decades of experience as a top leadership development executive with a successful career in the performing arts. He is the author of – Leading from Your Best Self: Develop Your Executive Poise, Presence and Influence to Maximize Your Potential (McGraw-Hill).

As a learning partner and workshop facilitator, Rob has worked with dozens of Fortune 500 companies. In January 2026, Rob was a part of an MIT Executive Education teaching team working with the top 40 leaders at Infosys in India. He is about to fly out to work with the top 120 of Singapore Airlines delivering a program titled: Leading with Inspiration. Additionally, he has delivered learning programs and provided executive coaching services for Astra Zeneca/Alexion Pharmaceuticals, TJX, PepsiCo, Publicis Sapient, ING Bank, NNGroup, JustEatTakeAway, YahooInc, Suffolk Construction, American Express, Sony Music Entertainment, Discover Financial, Fidelity, and Merrill Lynch.

As an executive coach, Rob guides leaders through transitions to more senior roles and works with senior executives and leadership teams to enhance team effectiveness, prepare for strategic presentations, and to lead critical AI initiatives with courage and conviction. What is unique about Rob is that for the first half of his career he was a performing artist where he traveled the globe delivering his unique, one-person variety show. Rob is a lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management and an MIT Leadership Center Master Executive Coach. Rob has a Master’s degree from Boston University in Administration and Organizational Policy, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from William James College. He is certified in the PRINT and Agile Brain assessments.

Coming soon.

ABOUT SIM DETROIT

Building a Strong Network through Shared Interests and Values

SIM Detroit offers senior-level IT leaders the unique experience of networking with peers in their own region via educational, networking, and other special events throughout the year. An active philanthropic effort engages with various local charitable and educational organizations through volunteerism and other support.

The Chapter strives to strengthen professional communications among members who direct and lead information technology in private and public organizations. Chapter activities include:

Meeting to share innovative ideas and real-world experiences which address enterprise information needs. We have excellent speakers from our membership, industry executives and subject matter experts from many sources.
Networking with peers and other IT professionals in the local chapter, and with SIM International.
Social activities to enhance member relationships, such as our popular annual Golf and Holiday events.

Common topics of discussion include:

Considerations of the purpose, nature, form, and structure of information technology systems as they relate to the needs of the enterprise
Applications of IT, both proven and prospective, primarily in connection with their significance to executive management performance
Rapidly advancing IT
Financial, management, and personnel topics relevant to the membership

Event Venue

Sitting high atop One Campus Martius is Bedrock’s newest event space. With expansive views of downtown Detroit, this 16th floor venue is perfect for events like ours.

Parking

Parking will be provided in the One Campus Martius Garage. Final event information and logistics, including details on parking, will be provided via email to participants approximately one week before the event.