{"id":650,"date":"2026-10-14T13:49:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T13:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/?page_id=650"},"modified":"2026-10-14T13:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T13:49:43","slug":"2019-finalists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT WOMAN OF THE YEAR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Meredith Bronk<\/h4>

CEO & President, OST<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Christy Buck<\/h4>

Executive Director, Mental Health Foundation of WM<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Peaches McCahill<\/h4>

Founder, The McCahill Group<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT TENACITY<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Sandy Dettmann MD, DABAM<\/h4>

Founder & Addiction Medicine Specialist, The Dettmann Center P.C.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Emily Richett<\/h4>

Founder and Lead Publicist, Happy PR<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Raquel Guzman<\/h4>

Raquel GuzmanCo-Founder and Managing Member, Avanti Law Group<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT TEAM PLAYER<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Mary O\u2019Neill<\/h4>

Vice President, Atomic Object<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Leslie Pelkey MD, FACP<\/h4>

Chief Medical Officer\/Internal Medicine, Cherry Health<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Meredith TerHaar<\/h4>

AM Content Director & Anchor, WZZM13<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT SOCIAL CHANGE AGENT<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Amy Acton<\/h4>

Executive Director, Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Beca Velazquez-Publes<\/h4>

Director, Urban Core Collective<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Elise Kutt<\/h4>

Founder and Photographer, Mod Bettie Portrait Boutique<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT MENTOR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Liz Murphy<\/h4>

Vice President Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer, Trinity Health - Mercy Health Saint Mary\u2019s<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Amanda Wildman<\/h4>

Owner, TruMedia<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Karen Tracey<\/h4>

Principal & Creative Director, The Image Shoppe<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT ENTREPRENEUR <\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Sandi Frost Steensma<\/h4>

President & CEO, Kennari Consulting<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Maria Erazo<\/h4>

Founder & Chief Brand Officer, Maria Erazo Enterprises<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Shelby Reno<\/h4>

Owner, CKO Kickboxing<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT EMERGING LEADER<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Daniela Rojas-Cortes<\/h4>

Fund Development & Communications, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Emily Babson<\/h4>

Director of Organizational Development & Leadership Training, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Sara Sherry-Knoester<\/h4>

President, Mixed Staffing & Recruiting<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT CONNECTOR<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Shannon Cohen<\/h4>

Founder and CEO, Shannon Cohen Inc.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Anna Baeten<\/h4>

Executive Director, Scratch Branding and Funky Buddha Yoga<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Ann Noe<\/h4>

Inclusiveness & Diversity Sr. Program Manager Corporate Inclusiveness & Diversity, Herman Miller<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT CHAMPION OF SERVICE<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Jennifer Hunt<\/h4>

Director of Public Policy, Alzheimer\u2019s Association<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Bridget Clark Whitney<\/h4>

Founding CEO & Executive Director, Kids' Food Basket<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Elizabeth McEwen<\/h4>

Communications and Development Coordinator, Girls on the Run Kent and Muskegon counties<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

BRILLIANT BEST SUPPORTING MAN<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Michael Cazer<\/h4>

COO, Amway<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Bill Jack<\/h4>

Shareholder, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge<\/p>\n

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

\n

Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Mike Guswiler<\/h4>

President, West Michigan Sports Commission<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n\n

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n
\n

Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
<\/span><\/div>

Emily Babson<\/h4>

Director of Organizational Development & Leadership Training, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital<\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
<\/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-650","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n2019 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\/2019-finalists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2019 Finalists - Brilliance Awards\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-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\\\/2019-finalists\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/2019-finalists\\\/\",\"name\":\"2019 Finalists - Brilliance Awards\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T13:49:43+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/2019-finalists\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/2019-finalists\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/2019-finalists\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"2019 Finalists\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/\",\"name\":\"Brilliance Awards\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/westmichiganwoman.com\\\/brilliance-awards\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"2019 Finalists - Brilliance Awards","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"2019 Finalists - Brilliance Awards","og_url":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/","og_site_name":"Brilliance Awards","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/","url":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/","name":"2019 Finalists - Brilliance Awards","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-10-14T13:49:43+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2019-finalists\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"2019 Finalists"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/#website","url":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/","name":"Brilliance Awards","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=650"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":687,"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/650\/revisions\/687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}