{"id":324,"date":"2026-10-01T19:58:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T19:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/?page_id=324"},"modified":"2026-10-01T20:06:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T20:06:31","slug":"2025-finalists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2025-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BRILLIANT WOMAN OF THE YEAR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Catherine Ripley<\/h4>

President and CEO, Symplicity Communications, Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Tamara Rosier, PhD<\/h4>

Founder, ADHD Center of West Michigan<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Meghan Distel<\/h4>

President and CEO, Broadway Grand Rapids<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT TENACITY<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Jessica Crosby<\/h4>

CEO, Delight In Designs<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Melissa L. Neckers<\/h4>

Assisted Reproduction Attorney, Miller Johnson<\/span><\/p>\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Damaris Rodriguez<\/h4>

Business Operations Manager, Guzman Real Estate Services<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT SOCIAL CHANGE AGENT<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Tammy Myers<\/h4>

Associate Creative Director, Meijer<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Kylie Ambu<\/h4>

Inclusion Host and Producer, Mutually Inclusive, WGVU Public Media<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Kymberly Pashkowsky<\/h4>

MI Prevention Community Risk Reduction Chief, MI Prevention State of Michigan - LARA
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BRILLIANT MENTOR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Carrie Holland MD, CPT<\/h4>

Owner, FitLife with Dr. Carrie Holland, MD<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Anne Doornbos<\/h4>

Architect, TowerPinkster, AIA Grand Rapids<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div>\n
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Tarra Carson, MA, M.Ed.<\/h4>

Founder and President, HBCU Club of Muskegon<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT ENTREPRENEUR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Nichole Sadek<\/h4>

Attorney and Founder, Sadek Law, PLC<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Laura Armenta<\/h4>

Founder and CEO, Armentality Group<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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RandiLynn Talsma<\/h4>

Co-Owner, Spreader of Sparkle, Shopkeeper, Blended Furniture Market<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT EMERGING LEADER<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Kasie Pickart MPH, PMP<\/h4>

Behavioral Health Grants Project Director, Hope Network | Adjunct Professor, GVSU<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Renida Clark<\/h4>

Director of Workforce Development, West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Samantha Rutherford<\/h4>

Agency Operations Director, Leverage Marketing<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT CONNECTOR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Cynthia Owens<\/h4>

Workforce Specialist, Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Carla Flanders<\/h4>

Chief Experience Officer, CMF Marketing, LLC<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Shawn Hondorp, PhD, ABPP<\/h4>

Owner and Host, The Innovative Therapist, The Innovative Therapist Podcast<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT CHAMPION OF SERVICE<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Pam Westers<\/h4>

Owner and Founder, Profile Salon & Spa, Beautiful You by Profile<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Amy Marshall<\/h4>

Co-Owner, Management Business Solutions Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Ashley Diersch<\/h4>

Chief Advancement Officer, Paws With A Cause<\/span><\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT BEST SUPPORTING MAN<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Arlan Palmer<\/h4>

Diversity Coordinator, Wedgwood Christian Services<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Austin Roelofs<\/h4>

Vice President of Programming, Kids\u2019 Food Basket<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Rodney L. Savage<\/h4>

Vice President of Talent and Inclusion, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div>\n
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Ashley Diersch<\/h4>

Chief Advancement Officer, Paws With A Cause<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div>\n
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Arlan Palmer<\/h4>

Diversity Coordinator, Wedgwood Christian Services<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div>\n
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Tammy Myers<\/h4>

Associate Creative Director, Meijer<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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