Yes, right here in Detroit

Sometimes the way to ESCAPE the day-to-day challenges of our business is to get immersed in the challenges and opportunities of other businesses. Businesses beyond our agency's clients. I'm so fortunate to be able - once a month - to meet with the heads of a fascinating, diverse set of area businesses. A set of businesses that represent the dynamism and creativity inherent in the "D". To keep confidences I can't name the companies or their CEOs, but I can run down the types of businesses that are innovating and producing results. Every day.

Picture a meeting room with a company that sells prosthetics, orthotics and home medical gear; a company that collects and refurbishes mobile phones (millions of them); a company that sells and services motor homes and travel trailers; a company that makes instruments (microscopes) that can see down to the level of individual atoms!; a company that supplies steel and tubing to global automakers; a company that enables real-time, virtual prototyping with photo-realistic digital files; a marketing services company for independent retailers; a mobile security services firm; an urban fashion designer/manufacturer; oh, and a mid-sized advertising agency. Spend five minutes in that room and it's impossible not to be inspired by what's happening across the metro Detroit region.

Than you to the Chief Executive Forum team for inspiring me.