Tricia Keith, the President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state’s largest health insurer, will speak at the Annual Economic Justice Conference hosted and organized by The PuLSE Institute, Detroit’s national and non-partisan anti-poverty think tank.
Keith, one of the region’s top business leaders and the first woman to serve as President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, will join several CEOs of major companies willing to address the crisis of poverty for the virtual poverty-themed conference which will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 8:30am-12:30noon. The conference will feature solution-oriented keynote presentations and cutting-edge discussions about how to tackle the salient issues of poverty and inequality in urban America including Detroit, one of the nation’s largest Black cities, and one of the most impoverished in the country.
The Institute is led by distinguished Attorney Tina M. Patterson, Esq., the President and Director of Research and one of the few women leading a prominent think tank in the country.
The October meeting is The Institute’s annual racial and economic justice conference for policy makers, scholars, industry captains and community advocates working towards creating an ethical economy that guarantees equality for all.
The theme for the 2025 conference is “Fostering An Inclusive and Sustainable Economy in America: The Mandate for Effective Leadership.” The conference is being held the week of Oct. 17, which is officially United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty as part of efforts and events being held to recognize the day and to work towards addressing economic justice issues. To obtain tickets to the conference visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/henry-ford-ceo-bob-riney-joins-top-ceos-at-pulse-oct-14-conference-tickets-1711394169029?aff=oddtdtcreator
Keith is set to introduce the Plenary Session of captains of industry, which will formally kick off this year’s conference focused on the Value and Impact of Effective Corporate Citizenship. The Plenary Speakers are Bob Riney, the President and CEO of Henry Ford Health System, Jerry Norcia, the Executive Chairman of DTE Energy and Karen Harbert, the President and CEO of the American Gas Association. All three business leaders will discuss the significance of creating and fostering inclusive workplaces and accelerating the economic mobility of the communities in which their companies serve. Norcia will serve as the moderator.
“Poverty is a universal issue that we, as business leaders and stewards of our organizations, must be mindful of as we consider our impact and opportunities within our communities,” Keith said in a statement. “This virtual forum reinforces the importance of social responsibility as corporate citizens in the business community.”
Bankole Thompson, the nationally acclaimed journalist, cultural critic and standard-bearer for economic justice issues, who is the founder and dean of The PuLSE Institute, said Keith’s participation is part of efforts to convene major business leaders and CEOs to the table of economic justice and discuss how to attack the endemic levels of poverty ravaging communities.
“I come from the school of thought that we must engage all stakeholders in the battle for economic justice from the grassroots level to the corporate boardroom,” Thompson said. “That is why this conference is unique because of its incredible convening power to assemble advocates, policy makers and business leaders discussing an issue that cuts across the socioeconomic spectrum of society.”
Keith took the helm on Jan. 1, 2025, of the $41 billion diversified enterprise of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan serving more than 5 million health insurance members across the country. With nearly two decades at BCBSM in senior leadership roles, Keith focuses on driving innovation, enhancing affordability and reinforcing the company’s role as a trusted partner in improving health care outcomes. Under her leadership, BCBSM continues to expand its market reach, advance member-focused health insurance and technology solutions, and strengthen its longstanding commitment to Michigan’s communities.
Keith most recently served as executive vice president, chief operating officer and president of BCBSM’s Emerging Markets division. In that role, she led the enterprise’s government markets and property and casualty businesses, which includes AF Group, an A-rated property casualty insurance company; Senior Health Services, the seventh-largest Medicare Advantage plan and largest single-state plan in the industry; Emergient, which maintains Medicare Advantage joint ventures in states outside of Michigan; as well as oversight of BCBSM’s investments in Medicaid via AmeriHealth Caritas and Blue Cross Complete of Michigan. Together, they comprise a more than $22 billion business unit that leads the market in innovative insurance, data and technology strategies.
More speakers about the conference later this month will be announced in the days and registration for the conference will be made available soon. For inquiries email info@thepulseinstitute.org.
