What ideas are shaping the future of West Michigan—and what happens when the people behind those ideas come together?
That’s the question at the heart of Confluence’s fifth annual Thought Series, taking place Sept. 17–18 at Kendall College of Art and Design. This year’s theme, Born from Innovation, brings 24 visionaries from the worlds of technology, business, science and beyond to Grand Rapids for two days of conversations about the forces reshaping our region and our world.
The program will explore West Michigan’s role in the Artemis moon missions, the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and healthcare, sustainable design, restoration of the Grand River and the ongoing debate over data center development. And the conversations won’t end when attendees leave the stage: Each half-day concludes with a behind-the-scenes field trip offering a closer look at the teams and places where transformative ideas are taking shape.
It’s an ambitious look at what’s next—and at the people helping build it here in West Michigan.
Confluence 2026 Thought Series
Born from Innovation
Sept. 17–18 | Kendall College of Art and Design
Confluence’s fifth annual Thought Series brings 24 visionaries to the stage for conversations exploring the people, platforms, technologies and ideas shaping our future.
Thursday, Sept. 17
8:30 a.m. — Future Ready: How Advanced Tech Is Changing Higher Ed
West Michigan’s higher education institutions are reinventing themselves to harness the power of advanced technologies.
Greg Gogolin (Ferris State University), Samah Mansour (Grand Valley State University) and Jonnathan Resendez (Grand Rapids Community College) in conversation with Joe Chrysler (Atomic Object).
9:15 a.m. — Smart Medicine: Advancing Healthcare With AI
The convergence of artificial intelligence with biomedical research and clinical practice is transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance and driving the next era of digital health.
Eric Swindell (Van Andel Institute), Dr. Kristin Jacob (Corewell Health) and Kevin Maupin (Grand Valley State University) in conversation with Rob Campbell (Instrumentum).
10:15 a.m. — Next Stop – The Moon: Getting Artemis Off the Ground
West Michigan’s aerospace industry is fueling space missions and more—spurring innovation, investment and jobs along the way.
Mark Ignash (MEDC), Sara McMurray (DornerWorks) and Stacy Paul (Array of Engineers) in conversation with Aaron Johnson (AIAM).
11:30 a.m. — Field Trip: Array of Engineers
The day concludes with a catered networking lunch and tour of Array of Engineers’ new headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids.
Friday, Sept. 18
8:30 a.m. — Sustainability at Scale: Designing Systems That Work
Sustainable design is transforming how products are built, packaged and distributed—proving that good business can be good for the planet.
Erik Petrovskis (Meijer) and Gabe Wing (MillerKnoll) in conversation with Gayle DeBruyn (Ferris State University).
9:15 a.m. — Reclaiming the Grand River: Mapping the Frontiers of Restoration Science
How can human intervention return ecosystems to a healthy state? This conversation explores the science and strategies behind restoring the Grand River.
Matt Chapman (GR WhiteWater), Tim Dekker (LimnoTech) and Eric Kehoe (Progressive Companies) in conversation with Kim Crawford (Atomic Object).
10:15 a.m. — Does It Compute? West Michigan’s Data Center Strategy
Leaders in economic growth and environmental activism weigh in on data center development—and the fierce debate it has inspired.
Mike Alaimo (Michigan Chamber), Steve Skripnik (LimnoTech) and Janet Zahn (Grand Rapids Climate Coalition) in conversation with Christine Simon (Grand Rapids Chamber).
11:30 a.m. — Field Trip: Grand Rapids Chamber
The series concludes with a catered networking lunch and an inside look at the Grand Rapids Chamber’s efforts to address the region’s housing shortage.
Tickets & More Information
Tickets and complete details for the 2026 Thought Series are available at www.confluencefest.com.
