Ann Arbor SPARK Annual Meeting

Spark / Ann Arbor SPARK Annual Meeting

Ann Arbor SPARK Annual Meeting & Regional Economic Forum

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the 2021 Ann Arbor SPARK annual meeting where we presented the results of our 2020 work as well as its work to date to support the business community during COVID-19.

2020 Highlights

Business attraction and retention of 13 successful projects, resulting in $80 million in new investment commitments and 700 announced jobs.

Assistance to 267 startups that employ more than 650 people, and support to 50 startups created last year.

Distribution of $16 million in COVID-related grant funding to 2600 business owners.

Special thanks to Wagner Design and Russell Video for their support in the production of our annual report and the annual meeting.

Annual Meeting Award Winners

Workit Health: Entrepreneurial Services Company of the Year Award

Wacker Chemical: Business Development Project of the Year Award

Cynthia Wilbanks: Legends Award

Keynote Guest

John Tuttle, NYSE Group
Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer

Join us as John Tuttle, NYSE Group vice chairman and chief commercial officer, sits down for a fireside chat with David Ruud and shares his perspective on topics ranging from how startups can position for IPO to how the pandemic has impacted capital markets. Additionally, John will discuss how the stock market has helped the economy during COVID-19 and answer questions during a live Q&A session.

As member of the senior leadership team, Tuttle leads NYSE’s global listings, capital markets, and exchange traded products businesses, and is responsible for managing the Exchange’s relationships with more than 2,200 NYSE-listed companies and with the investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and legal communities.

In addition, he leads the NYSE’s business development efforts for initial public offerings (IPOs), direct listings, exchanges traded funds (ETFs), structured products, closed-end funds, and REITs listing on NYSE or NYSE-American.

Since joining NYSE in 2007, Tuttle has served in a succession of roles including global head of listings, chief of staff, head of corporate affairs, and as managing director of global affairs and government relations for NYSE Euronext, then-parent company of the New York Stock Exchange as well as five other financial exchanges in Europe. Prior to joining the organization, Tuttle held various roles in the United States government, including at the United States Department of State and at the White House.

John holds a MBA from the University of Notre Dame and BBA from Eastern Michigan University.

The NYSE Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE).

Fireside Chat Host

David Ruud, DTE Energy
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

David Ruud joined DTE in 2005 and has served in several senior leadership roles across the organization, accumulating deep experience across DTE’s various businesses. He brings a strong combination of financial, strategic, operational, and engineering experience to the role of CFO.

Prior to his current position, Ruud was senior vice president, corporate strategy and development of DTE Energy. In this role, Ruud worked with DTE’s executive team to shape company strategy and drive key strategic initiatives. Focused on identifying trends and themes in the industry, Ruud was instrumental in evaluating and pursuing value-enhancing growth opportunities and overseeing the company’s long-term planning.

Upon joining the company, Ruud led the Power & Industrial business, and was responsible for DTE’s cost reduction initiative and continuous improvement program.

Prior to joining DTE Energy, Ruud was vice president and partner at L.E.K. Consulting, an international consulting firm focused on delivering results for clients in the areas of strategy, mergers & acquisition, and value management. While at L.E.K., Ruud led the North American Energy practice where he directed consulting engagements involving corporate and financial strategy, growth options, and performance improvement opportunities for energy clients.

Ruud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State University and an MBA with distinction from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is the vice chairman of the Board of Directors for Ann Arbor SPARK and is on the Board of Directors for American Iron and Steel Institute.