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