{"id":736,"date":"2026-10-15T18:24:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T18:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/?page_id=736"},"modified":"2026-10-15T18:24:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T18:24:33","slug":"2017-finalists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westmichiganwoman.com\/brilliance-awards\/2017-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2017 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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Dr. Judy L. Smith, M.D.<\/h4>

Chief, Spectrum Health Cancer Center<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Karen Scarpino<\/h4>

President, Owner, Promotional Impact DBA Green Giftz<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Monique Salinas<\/h4>

Executive Director, Mind Meets Music<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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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Amy Knape<\/h4>

Development and Communications Manager, West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Deb Kay<\/h4>

Board Chair, West Michigan Sports Commission<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Hannah Acosta<\/h4>

Purple Community Event Coordinator, Van Andel Institute<\/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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Adrienne Wallace<\/h4>

Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Kathy Crosby<\/h4>

President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Veverly Austin<\/h4>

Leadership & Development Training Executive, Girl, Get Your Fight Back, Rock the Runway, Confident Woman<\/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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Emma Garcia<\/h4>

Co-Executive Director, Access of West Michigan<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Megan Feenstra Wall<\/h4>

Architect, Mathison Mathison Architects<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Elizabeth Kramb<\/h4>

Supervisor, Brickley DeLong P.C.<\/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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Cindy Brown<\/h4>

Executive Director, Hello West Michigan<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Christa Bird<\/h4>

Chief People Officer, Custom Profile<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Elissa Hillary<\/h4>

Executive Director, Local First<\/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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Christina Rosloniec<\/h4>

Community Volunteer<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Brandi Huyser<\/h4>

Director - XS & Next Gen Strategy, Amway Corporation<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BRILLIANT INSPIRATION <\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Helen Zeerip<\/h4>

President, Founder, Board President, Teddy's Transport & Grant Me Hope<\/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, Still I Run<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

Founder, Creative Director, Cancer Survivor, Forgotten Fighters<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BRILLIANT MESSENGER <\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Lydia VanHoven<\/h4>

Founder, Grand Rapids Film Festival<\/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 Pascua<\/h4>

Co-Host of My West Michigan, WZZM TV13<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Shelley Irwin<\/h4>

Producer, Host, WGVU<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BRILLIANT REINVENTION <\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Top Honoree<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Karen M. Smoots<\/h4>

CEO, President, Inventor, KMS Designs Inc.<\/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 Burkett<\/h4>

Owner, Real Food Wellness<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Janay Brower<\/h4>

Owner, Public Thread<\/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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Randy Zylstra<\/h4>

CEO, President | Wedgwood Christian Services<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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David Quade<\/h4>

Market President, Grand Rapids Horizon Bank<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finalist<\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Brian Pangle<\/h4>

President, CEO, Clark Retirement Community<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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