.png)
.png)
Economic Strategy Session II: The Future of Work - Remote, Hybrid, or Back to the Office?
Date and Time
Wednesday Jun 17, 2026
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
8:30 AM Registration Opens
9:00 - 10:30 AM Program Duration
Location
Traverse City Country Club
1725 South Union St.
Traverse City, MI 49684
Fees/Admission
$50 - Traverse Connect Investor & Special Guests
$75 - Future Investors
Buffet Breakfast included
Please Note: Tickets cannot be refunded 1 week prior to the event. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause - thank you for understanding.
Contact Information
Abby Seitter
Send Email
Event Sponsors
Presenting
(1).png)
Supporting
Description
Economic Strategy Session Two: The Future of Work
Remote, Hybrid, or Back to the Office?
About the Economic Strategy Sessions:
The Economic Strategy Sessions are an initiative by Traverse Connect to engage high-level investors and community leaders with the key pillars of our Strategic Plan, and to provide clear and transparent leadership and guidelines for our region's economic development activity. Held three times annually, each Economic Strategy Session focuses on one core strategy for Traverse Connect's economic development leadership. The 2026 Economic Strategy Session event series is Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Supported by Munson Healthcare.
Register now to secure your spot!
About this Session:
As organizations across the country reevaluate workplace expectations, the conversation around remote, hybrid, and in-office work has never been more complex or more critical.
This Economic Strategy Session will explore the evolving landscape of work, bringing together regional insights and real-world business perspectives to examine what’s working, what’s not, and what comes next.
The session will begin with a data-driven overview from Networks Northwest, highlighting key findings from recent employer and workforce focus groups across Northern Michigan. From there, a moderated panel of local business leaders will share firsthand experiences navigating workplace models - offering a balanced look at the opportunities and challenges across remote, hybrid, and in-person environments.
What You'll Gain:
- Understand how remote, hybrid, and in-office work models are impacting Northern Michigan employers and workforce dynamics
- Evaluate the benefits and challenges of each model, including productivity, accountability, and operational performance
- Explore how workplace strategies influence company culture, collaboration, and employee engagement
- Examine the impact on talent attraction and retention in a competitive labor market
- Gain practical insights from regional employers to help inform and shape your organization’s approach to the future of work
Learn More About the Panel Here:
Janie McNabb is the Chief Executive Officer of Networks Northwest, where she leads regional workforce, business, and community development initiatives serving the 10 counties of northwest Lower Michigan. With more than 18 years of experience at Networks Northwest, including serving as Chief Operating Officer of Northwest Michigan Works!, McNabb brings extensive expertise in workforce development, organizational strategy, communications, and public policy.
Before returning to Networks Northwest as CEO in 2024, McNabb worked as a workforce and strategy consultant affiliated primarily with Strategic Policy Consultants. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Development and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. Known for her collaborative leadership style and strategic vision, McNabb is focused on strengthening regional partnerships and expanding access to high-quality programs and services that support economic and community growth across northwest Michigan.
Kelsey Fox is a marketing and client strategy professional with more than a decade of experience helping businesses and organizations achieve their goals while creating meaningful social impact. As a Senior Client Solutions Manager at LinkedIn, she partners with strategic accounts to develop and execute innovative marketing solutions that leverage the power of LinkedIn’s platform and products.
Drawing on experience across a wide range of industries—including e-commerce, nonprofit, and B2B sectors—Kelsey brings a collaborative, results-driven approach to every client relationship. Known for combining strategic insight with a deep understanding of audience engagement, she is committed to helping organizations grow their brands, strengthen connections, and drive measurable impact.
Gretchen Overbeek serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Hagerty. In this role she oversees the strategy and execution of recruiting, global compensation, payroll, benefits, wellness, team member relations and performance management programs. Working closely with other leaders in the business, Gretchen ensures our team members continue to evolve and grow with the enterprise while keeping a strong, people-focused culture.
Over 25 years prior to joining Hagerty, Gretchen gained experience in a number
of management positions in Human Resources. She has been responsible for managing recruitment, payroll, compensation, policy, international human resource mergers, benefits, safety and workers compensation. She has also held roles related to employee development and culture management.
Gretchen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Secondary Education, with a Business Administration minor from Adrian College. She also holds a Certification in Coaching for Performance Training, a yellow belt certification in Six Sigma, as well as Targeted Selection: Interviewing Training.
Madison Partak is passionate about connecting people with meaningful opportunities through an intentional and people-focused recruitment process. She values taking the time to understand what motivates candidates, where their passions lie, and how to align those strengths with the right opportunities. From seasonal hiring and leadership recruitment to unique workforce programs, Madison finds fulfillment in helping individuals discover their next adventure.
Beyond recruiting, Madison is dedicated to fostering employee engagement and retention by building genuine relationships and creating opportunities for growth. She enjoys getting to know employees on a personal level and empowering them to utilize their innate strengths in the workplace. For Madison, the most rewarding part of her work is building strong connections with candidates, employees, and community members who share similar values.
