Editor’s Note: Below is the full text of the introductory remarks that Tricia Keith, the President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan delivered as chairperson of the Plenary Session on the Value and Impact of Corporate Citizenship which kicked off The PuLSE Institute’s 2025 Economic Justice Conference. The Plenary Session speakers were Bob Riney, the president and CEO of DTE Energy, Karen Harber, the president and CEO of the American Gas Association and Jerry Norcia, the Executive Chairman of DTE Energy. The Oct. 14 virtual conference organized by The Institute each year brought together captains of industry, policy makers and advocates to discuss solutions around the issues of poverty and inequality.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of The PuLSE Institute’s National Economic Justice Conference, which centers on the issue of poverty and the associated economic disparities that impact people across the U.S.
Today’s event, titled “Fostering An Inclusive and Sustainable Economy in America: The Mandate for Effective Leadership,” is a topic that has been a focal point of the leadership and advocacy of our host and PULSE founder, Bankole Thompson, whose impactful, and insightful writing about poverty and economic inequality in the city of Detroit have been a clarion call to action against inequity.
Thanks to you and PuLSE president and director of research, Attorney Tina Patterson, for the invitation today, Bankole, and thanks for all you do for our communities.
How BCBSM is Making a Difference
Today’s theme is also an area where I’m proud to say Blue Cross is leading. We are making a difference in our communities through a variety of impactful programs, including:
. Our Strengthening the Safety Net grant program
. Building Healthy Communities program in Michigan schools
. Grants to community clinics providing medical, dental and mental health care
. Innovative partnerships with nonprofit organizations to help Michigan’s residents that are most in need, driving access to care and offering resources to improve health.
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we know much more must be done to improve access and affordability to high-quality health care. All health care stakeholders must work together to improve that access and affordability for everyone — especially those who are most in need.
Effective Corporate Citizenship: ‘It’s on Us’
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. As Bankole has said, it is a mandate where we, as leaders and corporate citizens, must be engaged and intentional as we effectively address these everyday disparities across our business sectors. Now it’s my pleasure to introduce our panel, featuring some very engaged corporate citizens, and leaders who have done so much to address economic disparities in their communities.
Joining us for today’s plenary panel are my friend Bob Riney, the President and CEO of Henry Ford Health, and Karen Harbert, the President and CEO of the American Gas Association.
Bob was appointed CEO of Henry Ford Health in 2022 — with more than 45 years of service there — and has been instrumental in spearheading some of Henry Ford Health’s most ambitious projects to date, including its Destination: Grand project.
He is a Wayne State grad and serves on a long list of boards of organizations making an impact in southeast Michigan, including the Detroit Regional Chamber, Business Leaders for Michigan and the Detroit Economic Club.
Bob is joined by Karen Harbert, who in 2019 was named CEO of the American Gas Association — which represents more than 200 local energy utilities and 189 million Americans. She previously served as the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute, as well as serving in the Dept. of Energy and USAID. Karen is a graduate of Rice University, and has been named to Washingtonian Magazine’s top 500 Most Influential People of 2025.
Our moderator today is someone who knows our panelists very well, Mr. Jerry Norcia, the Executive Chairman of DTE Energy Board of Directors, who also serves on the boards of both the American Gas Association and Henry Ford Health (among many others), and has been a leader in the energy industry for more than three decades.
So without further ado, let’s formally and warmly welcome these three to the virtual stage.
