{"id":556,"date":"2026-10-13T14:06:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T14:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/?page_id=556"},"modified":"2026-10-13T14:11:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T14:11:53","slug":"2021-finalists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2021-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 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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Valencia Agnew, Ph.D., LLPhD, DBTC<\/h4>

Owner, Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services<\/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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Lisa Anderson<\/h4>

Executive Director, Grace's Table<\/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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Nicole Gregory<\/h4>

CEO\/Founder, Urban You<\/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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Ashley Ward<\/h4>

Founder and CEO, Hire for Hope<\/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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Sara Lachman<\/h4>

Managing Member, Lachman Stuart PLC<\/span><\/p>\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Michelle Pe\u00f1a, MSN, RN, NEA-BC<\/h4>

Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy Health Saint Mary's<\/p>\n

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BRILLIANT TEAM PLAYER<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Gretchen Johnson<\/h4>

CNE DNP, MSN, RN-BC, Pine Rest<\/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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Christine Kelso<\/h4>

Executive Producer, WOOD TV8<\/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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Brina Tiemeyer<\/h4>

Clinician, Wedgwood Christian Services<\/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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Latesha Lipscomb<\/h4>

Director of Community Engagement, Amplify GR<\/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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Zoe Bruyn<\/h4>

Owner, Stir it Up (Bakery)<\/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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Evelyn Esparza<\/h4>

Executive Director, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/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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Iryonna Hogan<\/h4>

CEO\/President, Meaning In Colors<\/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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Jennifer Greenop<\/h4>

Partner, Ernst & Young<\/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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Jean Holthaus, LISW, LMSW<\/h4>

Manager of the Telehealth Clinic, Hastings Clinic and the Pine Rest Outpatient Regional Director, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health<\/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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Elsa Vos<\/h4>

Founder\/CEO, Pieces of Me<\/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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Aleka Thrash<\/h4>

Owner, ACTPhotoMedia<\/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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Julie Lough<\/h4>

President, Micro Visions, Inc.<\/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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Megan Persons<\/h4>

School Improvement Facilitator, Grand Rapids Public Schools - Westwood Middle School<\/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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Kelly Brown<\/h4>

Director of Marketing & Operations, Green Giftz<\/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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Stephanie Snowden<\/h4>

Project & Marketing Manager, Snowden Builders LLC, and President, Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) of Greater Grand Rapids<\/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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Lisa Knight<\/h4>

Chief Operating Officer, Public Thread<\/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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Annamarie Buller<\/h4>

Manager of Neighborhood Experience, DGRI - Downtown Grand Rapids Inc<\/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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Melody Woods<\/h4>

Director, Community Impact, The Bridge<\/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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Brandi McBride<\/h4>

Chair of the Board of Directors, West Michigan Veterans Coalition<\/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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Julie Dankovich<\/h4>

CEO\/Founder, Designed Future<\/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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Vivian TerMaat<\/h4>

CEO, Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore<\/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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Arlen-Dean Gaddy<\/h4>

Director of Market Strategy, Erhardt Construction<\/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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Shatawn Brigham<\/h4>

Co-owner, GRNoir Wine & Jazz<\/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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Chuck Saur<\/h4>

Conductive Learning Center\/Olivia's Gift<\/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><\/div>\n\n
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Nicole Gregory<\/h4>

CEO\/Founder, Urban You<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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