July 8, 2026
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —
The use of AI, moon exploration, knowledge heart technique, and sustainability are amongst
the subjects deliberate for Confluence’s fifth annual Thought Series.
Born from Innovation will current conversations with the area’s most influential
leaders in tech, enterprise, science, and extra. Dates are Sept 17 and 18 at Ferris State
University’s Kendall College of Art and Design.
Confluence, based in 2021, is a multi-dimensional ideas pageant that connects the
worlds of artwork, music, science and know-how via packages and shared experiences.
The crew produces a variety of programming all through the 12 months.
The occasion attracts hundreds of holiday makers to downtown Grand Rapids for a voyage of discovery
throughout artwork, music, science and know-how. The various vary of programming contains
esports, robotics, makers and extra. The pageant kicks off with an AI-powered opening
evening get together that includes artwork, music, tech, trend and culinary experiences. Confluence
can be the capstone expertise for Tech Week GR.
The occasion’s Thought Series presents in-depth conversations with CEOs, technologists,
philanthropists and visionaries from throughout the nation.
The collection brings 24 world-class visionaries to the stage to discover crucial frontiers.
From West Michigan’s pivotal position in the Artemis moon missions to superior tech revolutionizing
healthcare to the heated battle over knowledge heart improvement, Confluence is diving
deep into the ideas reshaping our world.
Beyond the stage, Confluence presents unparalleled entry to visionary groups of their
personal environments. Each half-day of periods culminate in a curated subject journey that
permits attendees to go behind-the-scenes in the areas the place transformative ideas
come to life. Tickets and full particulars are out there at confluencefest.com.
Thursday, Sept 17 8:30 a.m. “Future Ready: How Advanced Tech is Changing Higher Ed”
West Michigan’s greater training establishments are reinventing themselves to harness
the energy of superior applied sciences. Greg Gogolin of Ferris State University, Samah
Mansour of Grand Valley State University, and Jonnathan Resendez of Grand Rapids Community
College might be in dialog with Joe Chrysler of the Atomic Object.
Sept. 17, 9:15 a.m. “Smart Medicine: Advancing Healthcare with AI”
The convergence of synthetic intelligence with biomedical analysis and scientific follow
is reworking care supply, strengthening monetary efficiency and driving the
subsequent period of digital. Speakers are Eric Swindell from Van Andel Institute, Kristin
Jacob from Corewell Health, and Kevin Maupin, from Grand Valley State University in
dialog with Rob Campbell of Instrumentum.
Sept. 17, 10:15 a.m. “Next Stop – The Moon: Getting Artemis Off the Ground”
West Michigan’s aerospace trade is fueling area missions and extra – spurring innovation,
funding and jobs. Mark Ignash of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,
Sara McMurray of DornerWorks, and Stacy Paul of Array of Engineers are in dialog
with Aaron Johnson of AIAM.
Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m. “Field Trip: Array of Engineers”
Catered networking lunch and tour of AoE’s new headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids.
Friday, Sept. 18, 8:30 a.m. “Sustainability at Scale: Designing Systems that Work”
Sustainable design is reworking how merchandise are constructed, packaged and distributed
— proving good enterprise may be good for the planet. Erik Petrovskis of Meijer and
Gabe Wing of MillerKnoll are in dialog with Gayle DeBruyn of Ferris State University.
Sept. 18, 9:15 a.m. “Reclaiming the Grand River: Mapping the Frontiers of Restoration Science”
How human intervention can return ecosystems to a wholesome state. Matt Chapman of GR
WhiteWater, Tim Dekker of LimnoTech, and Eric Kehoe of Progressive Companies are in
dialog with Kim Crawford of Atomic Object.
Sept. 18, 10:15 a.m. “Does It Compute? West Michigan’s Data Center Strategy”
Leaders in financial development and environmental activism weigh in on knowledge heart improvement
– and the fierce debate they encourage. Mike Alaimo of the Michigan Chamber,
Steve Skripnik of LimnoTech, and Janet Zahn of the GR Climate Coalition are in dialog
with Christine Simon of the Grand Rapids Chamber.
Sept. 18, 11:30 a.m. “Field Trip: Grand Rapids Chamber”
Catered networking lunch and inside have a look at the Chamber’s efforts to tackle the area’s
housing scarcity.
Ferris State is amongst the occasion’s sponsors. Others are Atomic Object, MillerKnoll,
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, Grand Valley State University, Meijer,
Corewell Health, Grand Rapids Chamber, Madcap Coffee, and Trellis.