ACMP Michigan Chapter Change Summit
Driving Change: Enabling Adoption, Innovation & Impact
Friday, September 25, 2026
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MICHIGAN'S FIRST-EVER CHANGE SUMMIT!

ACMP Michigan is bringing together change leaders, practitioners, and transformation sponsors from across the state for a first-of-its-kind event. A full day of real-world insights, meaningful connections, and practical tools you can put to work right away.

This is not a conference about theory. It is a day built around what actually works when organizations navigate adoption, innovation, and measurable impact in a fast-moving world.

DATE Friday, September 25, 2026 
TIME  8:15 AM – 4:00 PM 
LOCATION  Microsoft Innovation Hub | 1 Campus Martius, Suite 500 | Detroit, MI 48377 

THREE PILLARS. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE DAY.

ADOPTION

The human and cultural side of change. How to move people from awareness to action and make change stick.


INNOVATION

How AI and emerging technologies are reshaping organizations — and what change leaders need to do about it.


IMPACT

Demonstrating value and delivering measurable results. Change management as a strategic capability.


AGENDA

Arrival 8:15 – 9:00 AM  ·  Check-in, networking & refreshments

Park in the One Campus Martius garage and follow signage to the building lobby. Check in with security at the main lobby, where you'll need to show a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport). Plan to arrive a few minutes early to allow time for parking and check-in.

9:00 – 9:45 AM

Built to Become

What two Michigan bridges teach us about change that lasts  ·  Opening keynote with April Callis-Birchmeier, CEO, Springboard Consulting

Session details

Building something new is only the beginning. The real test of change is what happens after the ribbon is cut, the system goes live, or the excitement of launch has faded. Using two iconic Michigan bridges, April Callis-Birchmeier explores the difference between building change and making it last, because organizations don't invest in change simply to launch something new. They invest in change so that, over time, the new way becomes simply the way we do things.

April is CEO of Springboard Consulting and the founding president of ACMP Michigan. She's the bestselling author of READY, Set, Change! Simplify and Accelerate Organizational Change, a recipient of the 2024 Change Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Global Guru in Organizational Culture from 2020 to 2026. She holds CCMP™, PMP, and CSP™ credentials, and her work has been featured in Time Magazine, The Associated Press, and The New York Times.

10:00 – 10:45 AM

The Missing Playbook

Six activators that turn managers into change drivers  ·  Jennifer Abler

Session details Adoption
Room A

Every change framework says managers are critical to adoption, then stops there. Jennifer Abler introduces six concrete, repeatable behaviors, drawn from her Manager Activators framework, that turn managers from passive sponsors into active drivers of change, without adding to their already full plates.

10:00 – 10:45 AM

Beyond the Playbook

Designing an AI agent ecosystem to transform how change gets done  ·  Matthew Csaki

Session details InnovationImpact
Room B

Matthew Csaki shares how Accenture's Journey and Change Management Center of Excellence built 10 specialized AI agents, each mapped to a stage of the change lifecycle, and wove them into a playbook practitioners use every day. The session includes a live demo and a practical framework attendees can use to start designing their own agent ecosystem.

11:00 – 11:45 AM

The People Stack

A human operating system for change adoption  ·  Julie Ann Whitten

Session details AdoptionImpact
Room A

Julie Ann Whitten introduces The People Stack, a framework from her new book that helps practitioners identify and address the human factors, trust, clarity, alignment, capability, belief, and sustainment, that actually drive adoption. Attendees leave with a way to diagnose where adoption is breaking down before resistance sets in.

11:00 – 11:45 AM

When Change Feels Like Loss

Helping people detach, reattach, and move forward  ·  Elizabeth Buscher

Session details ImpactAdoption
Room B

Elizabeth Buscher lived through one of the most personal and disruptive organizational changes of her career: communicating her company's move to Charlotte while quietly navigating her own grief and loss. She said no to the move early but never gave herself space to process what that meant, and like all unaddressed grief, it waited and grew. This session explores the hidden losses people experience during change, the emotional journey of detachment and reattachment, and what leaders can do to support teams through transition with compassion and intention.

Lunch 12:00 – 12:30 PM  ·  Lunch provided

Lunch is provided. Use this time to connect with other attendees at your table. Roundtable discussion prompts to follow.

12:30 – 1:15 PM

Fireside Chat

Topic to be announced

1:30 – 2:15 PM

Beneath the Standard

Reading the room on an organization's change history  ·  Victor Villegas

Session details Impact
Room A

The ACMP standard asks practitioners to assess an organization's change history before designing an approach, but most assessments stop at what's documented: the rollouts, the timelines, the official record. Victor Villegas argues the real story lives below the surface, in the unspoken fatigue, quiet skepticism, and trust or distrust that shapes how new change lands today. Reading that submerged history takes a skill most practitioners were never explicitly taught: emotional intelligence. Attendees leave with a practical lens for reading the room beneath the record, one they can use the next morning.

1:30 – 2:15 PM

When Smart People Shut Down

Neuroscience and emotional intelligence skills that actually move teams  ·  Ori Schibi

Session details Adoption
Room B

High performers under sustained pressure don't fall apart visibly. They quietly disengage, and it often reads as a performance problem when it's actually a pressure problem. Ori Schibi walks through the patterns behind team shutdown and gives leaders a diagnostic and a conversation framework they can use with their own teams right away.

2:30 – 3:15 PM

What We Got Wrong About AI Adoption

And where we're headed from here  ·  Mike McKeown

Session details AdoptionInnovation
Room A

Mike McKeown's company is deep in the messy middle of a global AI rollout, one where change management didn't have a seat at the table when it started. Pilots launched without coordination, tool access was inconsistent, and leadership messaging left employees with more questions than answers. This session is an honest account of what went wrong, how the team course-corrected, and what they're building toward: right-sized change teams, department-level messaging instead of one-size-fits-all, and a shift from reactive firefighting to anticipating what's next.

2:30 – 3:15 PM

Beyond the Org Chart

Find and mobilize your true organizational influencers for change  ·  Michelle Yanahan

Session details ImpactAdoption
Room B

Michelle Yanahan shares the strategies from her ACMP Global session on finding and empowering an organization's true influencers, the people other employees look to before deciding whether to get on board with a change. Attendees leave with practical tools to identify different types of organizational influence, recognize their own influence style, and coach a network of influencers who help change take hold.

Reflect 3:15 – 3:30 PM  ·  "Moments from today" exercise

A short, hands-on exercise inviting attendees to reflect on and capture the value they're taking from the day.

3:30 – 4:00 PM

Closing

Reflect on the day, celebrate what you've learned, and look forward to what comes next

REGISTRATION & PRICING

Registration for the ACMP Michigan Change Summit is open. Space is limited, so register early to lock in the best available rate.

Early Bird Registration & Pricing Details (pricing for the first 30 registrations up to August 14).

  • Early bird for ACMP members - $199
  • Early bird for non-ACMP members - $239

Questions about registration? Contact us at engagewithus@miacmp.org.

What Is Included

  • Full-day access to all keynote, concurrent, and panel sessions
  • Morning refreshments and lunch
  • Roundtable and networking opportunities throughout the day
  • Access to sponsor and partner tables
  • Event materials

VENUE

VENUEMicrosoft Innovation Hub
ADDRESS1 Campus Martius, Suite 500, Detroit, MI 48377
LOCATION5th Floor
DATEFriday, September 25, 2026
HOURS8:15 AM - 4:00 PM 

The Microsoft Innovation Hub sits in the heart of Campus Martius — Detroit's center of gravity for technology, business, and civic life. The space is modern, collaborative, and designed for the kind of learning and connection we are here to create.

GETTING THERE

Parking

  • Park in the One Campus Martius parking garage and follow signage to the building lobby.

Arrival & Check-In

  • Check in with security at the main lobby. All visitors need a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport) to access the building. Plan to arrive a few minutes early to allow time for parking and check-in.

HOTELS & TRAVEL

STAYING NEARBY

The Microsoft Innovation Hub is located in the heart of downtown Detroit, with several hotels within easy walking distance. We recommend booking early, especially if you are traveling in from outside Metro Detroit.

The following hotels are within a short walk or drive of Campus Martius:

Hotel

Distance from Venue

Notes

Detroit Foundation Hotel

0.2 miles (4-min walk)

Boutique hotel, highly rated

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit

0.3 miles (6-min walk)

Historic landmark hotel

Marriott at the Renaissance Center

0.5 miles (10-min walk)

Large conference-friendly property

* Hotel room block details coming soon. Check back for an exclusive group rate for Summit attendees.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

April Callis-Birchmeier

Opening keynote

April Callis-Birchmeier

CEO, Springboard Consulting

Built to Become

What two Michigan bridges teach us about change that lasts  ·  9:00 AM

Full bio

April Callis-Birchmeier is CEO of Springboard Consulting and the founding president of ACMP Michigan. For more than two decades, she has helped organizations lead change and achieve successful project outcomes, and is a contributor to the global Standard for Change Management. She's the bestselling author of READY, Set, Change! Simplify and Accelerate Organizational Change, a recipient of the 2024 Change Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Global Guru in Organizational Culture from 2020 to 2026. April holds CCMP™, PMP, and CSP™ credentials, and her work has been featured in Time Magazine, The Associated Press, and The New York Times.

Jennifer Abler

Jennifer Abler

Abler Consulting / DTE Energy · Senior Change Consultant

The Missing Playbook

10:00 AM · Room A

Full bio

Jennifer Abler is the founder of Abler Consulting, an AI adoption and change management practice. With nearly two decades of experience spanning enterprise change management and education, she helps organizations move beyond technology rollouts to the behavioral shifts that make adoption stick. Jennifer currently leads AI and Microsoft Copilot adoption at DTE Energy, where she designs cohort programs, executive training, and flagship engagement events. She holds a master's degree in organizational development and training, serves on the ACMP Michigan Chapter board, and has spoken at ACMP's global conference.

Matthew Csaki

Matthew Csaki

Accenture · Senior Manager, Strategy Lead

Beyond the Playbook

10:00 AM · Room B

Full bio

Matthew Csaki is a Human Performance Senior Manager at Accenture, specializing in large-scale change, digital adoption, and value realization. He leads key service areas within Accenture's Journey and Change Management Center of Excellence, including digital adoption platforms, end-user enablement, analytics, and agentic ways of working. With over 19 years of experience, Matt helps organizations move beyond static change deliverables to measurable outcomes, using data, behavioral insights, and practical experimentation to drive sustained adoption. A frequent speaker and facilitator, he has presented at ACMP national, regional, and virtual events, ATD International, and other industry forums.

Julie Ann Whitten

Julie Ann Whitten

Julie Whitten Consulting · Founder & CEO

The People Stack

11:00 AM · Room A

Full bio

Julie Ann Whitten is the founder and CEO of Julie Whitten Consulting, author of The People Stack: Why Change Fails (and What Actually Fixes It), keynote speaker, and a certified change management professional with more than 25 years of experience leading transformation across Fortune 500 organizations. Known for translating complex organizational change into practical, people-centered strategies, Julie helps leaders build trust, improve adoption, and navigate transformation with confidence. She has presented at the ACMP Global Conference, the Executive Council for Leading Change, Ragan Communications, and PEX Network, among other industry conferences.

Elizabeth Buscher

Elizabeth Buscher

Elevation Coaching LLC · Founder & Principal Coach

When Change Feels Like Loss

11:00 AM · Room B

Full bio

Elizabeth Buscher is a communications and change leader known for bringing clarity, compassion, and humanity to complex organizational transitions. A career guiding teams through high-stakes change, including a deeply personal relocation initiative that reshaped her own organization, gave her a firsthand understanding of the emotional journey people navigate when roles, routines, and identities shift. She blends strategic communication expertise with a grounded, human-centered perspective that acknowledges the grief, loss, and ambiguity inherent in change, and is committed to helping leaders support their teams through detachment, the messy middle, and reattachment with intention and empathy.

Victor Villegas

Victor Villegas

V Squared Productions · Chief Learning Architect

Beneath the Standard

1:30 PM · Room A

Full bio

Victor Villegas is a learning and organizational performance strategist who believes lasting change begins with people feeling seen, safe, and supported. With over a decade of experience across human resources, DEI, and learning design, he brings a deeply human lens to organizational transformation. As Regional DEI Manager at DPR Construction and founder of V Squared Productions, he partners with organizations to design change experiences grounded in psychological safety, strengths, and equity. A Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, Victor helps individuals and teams discover not just what to change, but who they already are to navigate it.

Ori Schibi

Ori Schibi

PM Konnectors · President

When Smart People Shut Down

1:30 PM · Room B

Full bio

Ori Schibi works where strategy meets reality: competing priorities, resistant stakeholders, overloaded teams, and now AI reshaping how work gets done. With more than 25 years leading complex initiatives across public and private sectors, including government, healthcare, financial services, and global organizations such as Disney and Marriott, he's known for turning abstract concepts into practical, human-centered action. He's a four-time published author and the founder of PM Konnectors. His sessions are direct and grounded in real-world stories, equipping leaders with frameworks they can use the next day.

Mike McKeown

Mike McKeown

Dynatrace · Change Management Leader, Transformation Office

What We Got Wrong About AI Adoption

2:30 PM · Room A

Full bio

Mike McKeown is a leader in change management and business transformation, with a career spanning workplace design strategy, management consulting, and technology. He currently leads enterprise change management at Dynatrace, where he built a new Change Management Center of Excellence from scratch to lead the company's largest and most complex change initiatives. He has previously partnered with global brands including Salesforce, Meta, NBCUniversal, Verizon, Nokia, and UPS, and is known for facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and an approach grounded in empathy and practical experimentation.

Michelle Yanahan

Michelle Yanahan

ChangeFit 360 · Principal and Owner

Beyond the Org Chart

2:30 PM · Room B

Full bio

Michelle Yanahan is Principal and Owner of ChangeFit 360, an organizational change management strategist and thought leader with proven expertise in enhancing and growing change management as a strategic business competency. ChangeFit 360 is recognized by ACMP, ATD, SHRM, and ICF as a qualified education provider in support of their professional certifications, and holds a customer satisfaction rate above 90 percent for the past five years running.

ADOPTION

The human and cultural side of change. How to move people from awareness to action and make change stick.


INNOVATION

How AI and emerging technologies are reshaping organizations — and what change leaders need to do about it.


IMPACT

How change management delivers measurable business value and moves from strategy to sustained results. 


SPONSORS

A huge thank-you to the organizations powering Michigan's first Change Summit.

Keynote Sponsor

Springboard Consulting Springboard Consulting

Springboard Consulting

SUV Sponsor

Amerisure Amerisure

Amerisure

Sedan Sponsor

Michigan Lean Consortium Michigan Lean Consortium

Michigan Lean Consortium

Coupe Sponsor

Crossroads of Michigan Crossroads of Michigan

Crossroads of Michigan

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

PARTNER WITH ACMP MICHIGAN!

The ACMP Michigan Change Summit brings together the people who lead transformation across Michigan's most important industries — automotive, healthcare, public sector, higher education, and beyond.

Sponsoring the Summit is an opportunity to put your organization in front of a highly engaged community of change leaders and practitioners at a moment when the profession is growing and visibility matters.

Whether you are a consulting firm, technology provider, training organization, or change-forward employer, there is a place for you at this event.

Sponsorship packages and details are coming soon.

If you are interested in learning more now or want to get ahead of the conversation, reach out directly.

Email us at engagewithus@miacmp.org with the subject line: Change Summit Sponsorship.


Association of Change Management Professionals Michigan Chapter is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

ACMP Michigan is committed to inclusive, accessible community spaces for all change leaders.


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