SWE-Detroit Member Summit
September 19th, 2026 | 1100 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236
About
SWE Detroit is excited to host an engaging conference-style event designed to bring together members of the SWE Section for an inspiring day of networking, professional development, and collaboration. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, enhance their skills through workshops, and gain valuable insights into the mission and initiatives of SWE Detroit.
Registration
Registration includes:
- Breakfast, Lunch, and a Sweet Treat during Networking Hour
- Keynote & breakout sessions
- Professional Headshot
- Photo Booth at the SWE Detroit Aspire Wall
- On-site custom embroidery
- And more!
For Groups of 5+, please contact swedetroittreasurer@gmail.com for single invoice options and a 5% discount off the Non-Member Pricing.
Schedule
|
Start |
End |
Event |
|---|---|---|
|
9:00 AM |
10:00 AM |
Registration & Check-in, Headshots & Light Breakfast |
|
10:00 AM |
10:10 AM |
Introduction & Agenda Review |
|
10:10 AM |
11:00 AM |
Keynote Speaker: Cheryl Thompson |
|
11:00 AM |
12:00 PM |
Building Resilient Professional Relationships & Speed Networking |
|
12:00 PM |
12:45 PM |
Lunch & State of SWE Detroit |
|
1:00 PM |
1:45 PM |
Breakout Session #1 |
|
2:00 PM |
2:45 PM |
Breakout Session #2 |
|
2:45 PM |
3:30 PM |
Networking Mixer |
Session Details
Keynote Speaker: Cheryl Thompson
Session Overview: This session meets the audience where they are. The landscape for women in engineering is shifting on two fronts at once. The institutional support that built up over the last five years is being pulled back, and the pace of change inside companies on AI and the future of work is faster than anything we have seen. Both shifts hit women in engineering harder than most.
Speaker Info: Cheryl Thompson is the founder of Cheryl Thompson Advisory, where she helps engineers and manufacturing organizations build practical AI capability. She started her career washing dishes in the basement cafeteria at Ford World Headquarters, completed a tool and die apprenticeship, and worked her way up from the floor into global manufacturing leadership at Ford and American Axle. She founded and led CADIA, an industry organization serving 70-plus companies, before closing it to focus fully on AI advisory work. She is a 2025 Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee.
Building Resilient Professional Relationships & Speed Networking
Speaker: Ari Lavette Gooden
For women particularly, it is difficult to form the kinds of relationships that lead to promotions or a lengthy tenure in a position because most of the gatekeepers to those relationships in manufacturing are men. This session discusses options for women to overcome the hurdle.
Learn from Ari and enjoy a Speed Networking activity led by the SWE-D FY27 Executive Council.
Is this Thing On? The Science Behind Public Speaking
Speaker: Sabrina Ridenour
Abstract: Have you ever lost your voice after presenting all day long? How can you make sure the person sitting in the back of the room can hear you? Why doesn’t this microphone work? Your presentation is already fantastic, but you want to make sure your voice is truly heard by all in the room! Learn from engineer and soprano, Sabrina Ridenour, on how understanding the science of acoustics and anatomy can help improve your public speaking! This interactive session will cover topics such as the anatomy of the voice, how to speak effectively, room acoustics, amplification technology, and vocal health as well as give you some vocal exercises to practice at home for your next speaking gig.
Learning Outcomes:
- Practice vocal exercises commonly used by professional singers to work on breathing technique, projection, and enunciation skills.
- Identify acoustic challenges of the venue and use amplification technology to combat them.
- Learn the anatomy of the voice and vocal health tips to prevent losing your voice.
Leading Through Change:
Building Confidence, Quality, and Influence as Women in Engineering
Speaker: Chelsea Keithly
Abstract: In engineering, leadership is not only about technical knowledge. It is also about how we communicate, solve problems under pressure, build trust across teams, and create an environment where people can succeed. In this session, I will share lessons from leading in fast-paced manufacturing and quality operations, where decisions have to be made quickly, standards must remain high, and teamwork directly impacts results.
This session will focus on practical ways women in engineering can strengthen their leadership presence, navigate challenges with confidence, and use their voice to drive improvement. Attendees will walk away with relatable examples and actionable strategies they can apply in their own roles, whether they are early in their careers or already leading teams.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify how quality and problem-solving skills can strengthen leadership presence and decision-making in engineering and manufacturing environments.
- Apply strategies for showing up consistently, communicating effectively, and adjusting with resilience when facing challenges in cross-functional teams.
- Evaluate ways to build confidence, contribute at different levels, and help create stronger team outcomes through collaboration and accountability.
The Invisible Infrastructure:
How Standards Shape Innovation
Speakers: Jessica Swan
Abstract: Engineering standards quietly shape nearly every product and system we use, from vehicles and consumer electronics to manufacturing and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Yet many engineers interact with standards daily without understanding how they are developed, why they matter, or how they influence innovation, safety, and interoperability.
This session explores the history, purpose, and future of engineering standards through relatable examples from automotive, technology, and everyday life. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the organizations, industries, and regulatory bodies involved in creating standards, as well as the difference between standards, regulations, and best practices.
The session will include historical case studies, current examples affecting the automotive industry, and discussion of future challenges involving electrification, cybersecurity, software-defined systems, and artificial intelligence. The content is designed to be accessible to engineers across industries and experience levels.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the purpose of engineering standards and distinguish between standards, regulations, and best practices.
- Identify major standards organizations and describe how industry, government, and technical experts influence the development of standards.
- Evaluate how current and emerging standards impact innovation, safety, interoperability, and future technologies across industries, including the automotive sector.
Revisiting the Leaky Pipe
Speaker: Lin van Nieuwstadt
Abstract: The workshop aims to collectively examine the various streams of the leaky pipe. The percentage of women in engineering continues to increase yet it is not where it should/could be. We would look into retention challenges via dialogue and discussions of corporate policies, includes policies for parental leave and part-time work.
Learning Outcomes: The long term outcome of this session would be the increase of women engineering to a third of those in the profession.
- Examine and identity individual ‘leaky pipe’ – what factors would lead you to exit the engineering field
- Build your ‘retention’ tool box – work culture, home-life balance, continuing education, support community, what else?
- Plan for returning to work – engineering skills to retain and build, preparing to shift to another engineering discipline or industry.