{"id":373,"date":"2026-10-06T16:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/?page_id=373"},"modified":"2026-10-06T16:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:48:18","slug":"2024-finalists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2024-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 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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Keli Christopher, Ph.D.<\/h4>

Founding Chief Executive Officer, STEM Greenhouse<\/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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Lauren Davis<\/h4>

President - West Michigan Region, Huntington Bank<\/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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Ileana McAlary<\/h4>

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, SpartanNash<\/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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Mandy Fidler<\/h4>

Emergency Recovery Coordinator, Paul Davis 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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Yeli Romero<\/h4>

Founder & Co-Owner, Acceso VIP<\/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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Carrie Smith<\/h4>

Director of Communications, SpartanNash<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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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Ebony Crane, LMSW<\/h4>

Owner & Founder, Resilience Therapy LLC; Resilience Empowerment Services Inc; CRGR Property Management<\/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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Jacqueline Scherer, LMSW, RPT<\/h4>

Founder & Executive Director, THE PLAYGROUNDgr<\/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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Sasha Wolff<\/h4>

Founder, Executive Director, Still I Run
Learn more<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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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Jackie Brewster<\/h4>

Program Director, 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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Christy Knetsch<\/h4>

Executive Director, New City Kids<\/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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Heather Zak<\/h4>

Chief Financial Officer, Hope Network<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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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Mercedes Lopez-Duran<\/h4>

Owner & CEO, El Granjero Mexican Grill<\/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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Tiffany Neuman<\/h4>

Founder, Your Legacy Brand<\/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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Zenobia Taylor-Weiss<\/h4>

Founder & Co-Owner, Cellar Door Preserves<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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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Ashley Fermina Soto<\/h4>

Project Coordinator, Social Innovation, Steelcase<\/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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Haley Abbas Wilbur<\/h4>

Marketing and Communications Manager, Gerald R. Ford International Airport<\/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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Heather Gill Fox<\/h4>

Strategic Communications Manager, Grand Rapids Community Foundation<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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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Danielle Williams<\/h4>

Director of Economic Opportunity, Amplify GR<\/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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Angela Schalow<\/h4>

Founder, SWAN (Strong Women Arise Network); Client Executive, Hylant<\/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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Monica Mendez<\/h4>

Director of Talent & Leadership Programs, 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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BRILLIANT CHAMPION OF SERVICE<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Rebecca McDonald<\/h4>

President, Women At Risk International (WAR)<\/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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Sonja Forte<\/h4>

Executive Director, Baxter Community 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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Jenna Arcidiacono<\/h4>

Founder & Owner, Food Hugs, Amore Trattoria Italiana<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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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Matt Biersack, MD<\/h4>

President, Trinity Health 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><\/div>\n\n
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Dan Gowdy, Ed.D.<\/h4>

President & CEO, Wedgwood Christian Services<\/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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Neil Carlson, Ph.D.<\/h4>

Founder & Principal Consultant, DataWise Consulting<\/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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Jenna Arcidiacono<\/h4>

Founder & Owner, Food Hugs, Amore Trattoria Italiana<\/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><\/div>\n\n
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Yeli Romero<\/h4>

Founder & Co-Owner, Acceso VIP<\/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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Sasha Wolff<\/h4>

Founder, Executive Director, Still I Run
Learn more<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-373","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n2024 Finalists - Brilliance Awards<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2024-finalists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2024 Finalists - Brilliance Awards\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2024-finalists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Brilliance Awards\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/2024-finalists\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/2024-finalists\\\/\",\"name\":\"2024 Finalists - 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