2024 BRILLIANCE AWARDS FINALISTS
BRILLIANT WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Keli Christopher, Ph.D.
Founding Chief Executive Officer, STEM Greenhouse
Top Honoree
Lauren Davis
President - West Michigan Region, Huntington Bank
Finalist
Ileana McAlary
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, SpartanNash
Finalist
BRILLIANT TENACITY
Mandy Fidler
Emergency Recovery Coordinator, Paul Davis of West Michigan
Top Honoree
Yeli Romero
Founder & Co-Owner, Acceso VIP
Finalist
Carrie Smith
Director of Communications, SpartanNash
Finalist
BRILLIANT SOCIAL CHANGE AGENT
Ebony Crane, LMSW
Owner & Founder, Resilience Therapy LLC; Resilience Empowerment Services Inc; CRGR Property Management
Top Honoree
Jacqueline Scherer, LMSW, RPT
Founder & Executive Director, THE PLAYGROUNDgr
Finalist
Sasha Wolff
Founder, Executive Director, Still I Run
Finalist
BRILLIANT MENTOR
Jackie Brewster
Program Director, Wedgwood Christian Services
Top Honoree
Christy Knetsch
Executive Director, New City Kids
Finalist
Heather Zak
Chief Financial Officer, Hope Network
Finalist
BRILLIANT ENTREPRENEUR
Mercedes Lopez-Duran
Owner & CEO, El Granjero Mexican Grill
Top Honoree
Tiffany Neuman
Founder, Your Legacy Brand
Finalist
Zenobia Taylor-Weiss
Founder & Co-Owner, Cellar Door Preserves
Finalist
BRILLIANT EMERGING LEADER
Ashley Fermina Soto
Project Coordinator, Social Innovation, Steelcase
Top Honoree
Haley Abbas Wilbur
Marketing and Communications Manager, Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Finalist
Heather Gill Fox
Strategic Communications Manager, Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Finalist
BRILLIANT CONNECTOR
Danielle Williams
Director of Economic Opportunity, Amplify GR
Top Honoree
Angela Schalow
Founder, SWAN (Strong Women Arise Network); Client Executive, Hylant
Finalist
Monica Mendez
Director of Talent & Leadership Programs, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Finalist
BRILLIANT CHAMPION OF SERVICE
Rebecca McDonald
President, Women At Risk International (WAR)
Top Honoree
Sonja Forte
Executive Director, Baxter Community Center
Finalist
Jenna Arcidiacono
Founder & Owner, Food Hugs, Amore Trattoria Italiana
Finalist
BRILLIANT BEST SUPPORTING MAN
Matt Biersack, MD
President, Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Top Honoree
Dan Gowdy, Ed.D.
President & CEO, Wedgwood Christian Services
Finalist
Neil Carlson, Ph.D.
Founder & Principal Consultant, DataWise Consulting
Finalist
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Jenna Arcidiacono
Founder & Owner, Food Hugs, Amore Trattoria Italiana
Top Honoree
Yeli Romero
Founder & Co-Owner, Acceso VIP
Finalist