Global Detroit Champions Board Member on Immigration

She cited many startling statistics from a Global Detroit study, such as the fact that international students are three times as likely to major in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) than are American students. Immigrants are also three times more likely to be entrepreneurs and that more than half of all patents are filed by immigrants. Phillippi pointed out the need for a highly educated workforce, including immigrants. "If companies can't get the talent they need through American workers or internationals," she said, "then they are not going to open their businesses here." Phillippi was welcomed by Grosse Pointe Rotary President Diane Strickler and introduced by Rotarian S. Lee Johnson, of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP.