An Unyielding Commitment to the Detroit Region

Tammy Carnrike Reflects on 20 years of Leadership

Tammy J. Carnrike

For the past 20 years, as the Detroit Region experienced ups and downs, the Mackinac Policy Conference rose to new heights, and the Chamber evolved to meet the key moments from the Great Recession to COVID-19 pandemic – there’s been a constant presence among the regional leadership ranks: Chamber Chief Operating Officer Tammy Carnrike, CCE.

As Carnrike steps away to begin a new chapter, she reflects upon the past two decades leading in the Detroit Region.

What are your favorite moments at the Mackinac Policy Conference?

Twenty years makes it difficult to narrow it down, but what I will remember most is the growth of the event, the quality of programming, and exceptional national speakers that provided this Conference a statewide and national reputation. How we all came together to pivot and execute the Mackinac Policy Conference during COVID virtually in September, then to return safely to an in-person Conference eight months later stands out. On a lighter note, the year that we brought in former House Speaker John Boehner for a conversation with WDIV’s Devin Scillian. The day before the session, Boehner made a quip about mornings are meant for bloody marys. With the help of our family from Grand Hotel, bloody marys were delivered on stage for their conversation.

Carnrike is pictured here with (left to right) Command Sergeant Major Michael A. Crosby, Michigan Capital Advisors’ Chip McClure, Gen. Murray, and the Detroit Economic Club’s Steve Grigorian.

What is your proudest moment?

Being nominated by the U.S. Army TACOM for Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, the first woman to hold this position in Michigan, followed by appointment and traveling to the Pentagon to be sworn in. This has allowed me to work with great leaders in the Army and learn about the efforts to support, protect, and recruit the men and women who protect our nation. And most importantly, to learn about the innovation the Army is developing, and how businesses in the Michigan defense sector can be supportive.

I have also had the opportunity to play a coaching role and inspire a next generation of Chamber staff who have gone on to other opportunities or have excelled within the Chamber. It’s amazing to watch them continue to grow and thrive throughout the region.

If you could do one thing for the Detroit Region or Michigan, what would it be?

A Detroit Lions Super Bowl win, obviously. Jokes aside, making this state a national leader in the defense industry would be huge. I have spent 18 years engaging in and promoting the importance of the defense sector to Michigan’s economy. We need to create a statewide, public-private partnership that will support a long-term, strategic initiative for defense, aerospace, and space to increase Michigan’s competitive advantage as a state. This involves long-term investment from all sectors, which adds to the annual state appropriations to leverage federal funding and the opportunity to compete for selection of future national programs and site selection.

What has been critical to success in your role as COO?

I have relationships with government leaders and their teams, from the governor’s office to county executives and the city of Detroit mayor’s office. The ability for the business community to work collaboratively with government leaders is essential to overcoming the challenges that will make our city and state a national leader. These relationships have been invaluable to our work to advance the Detroit Region.

What does your next chapter look like?

I am waiting to see what comes next. I have been inspired by great women who have made the decision that they have accomplished so much in their careers and now are taking the leap to reimagine who they are and what they can accomplish. Stay tuned!

Who are the leaders or leadership moments that stand out most to you over the past 20 years?

The service of the Region’s best business leaders on our board of directors will always stand out. And the collaboration of government, philanthropic, business, and judicial sectors to put together the Grand Bargain and help Detroit emerge from bankruptcy to advance the way it has was impressive. Along that lines, Arn Tellem and Tom Gores moving the Pistons to Detroit, making us the only city in the nation with all four professional sports teams in proximity in the downtown area was big time leadership.

And how can I not mention my partner and the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer Sandy Baruah. It has been an honor to work side by side with a great leader who has given all his experience, knowledge, and innovative vision to take risks on opportunities to make the Detroit Regional Chamber one of the top chambers of commerce in the nation.