Michigan State University Woman of the Year Dr. Cara Anne Poland, MD, MEd, is a recognized expert in addiction medicine with an interest in educating healthcare providers and providers-in-training to improve care for patients with substance use disorders, particularly...

Department of VA, Biden Harris Administration Woman of the Year Zaneta Adams, JD served as Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from June 2019 to December 2022. She was the first woman veteran in Michigan to be appointed to a...

Disher Corp Connector After moving to West Michigan for her first post-college job almost 35 years ago, Aimee VandenElzen was told by her employer she was too abrasive and needed to work on it. Being “abrasive” meant she was an honest and direct communicator, instead...

Wedgwood Christian Services Connector Through her role as Advancement Officer at Wedgwood Christian Services, Kori Thompson, MBA works to develop partnership opportunities to make mental, behavioral, and emotional health services accessible to youth and families who...

Broadway Grand Rapids Connector Jennifer Pascua is a savvy, strategic and collaborative communications professional, currently serving as Marketing Director for Broadway Grand Rapids. A communication person by love and by training, Jennifer has been a passionate...

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Team Player Katie Racey finds managing large live events and attractions to be highly rewarding. Even more rewarding are how these events bring together people of all different backgrounds. Katie watches this unfold in her...

Heron Manor & Heron Woods  Team Player For 33 years, Kim Murphy has added her unique fingerprints to the life journeys of senior adults, an often-marginalized population. She believes her residents don’t live in a facility, but rather she’s a guest in their home,...

SpinDance Team Player Colleen Laskowski is a wife, mom of two kids, an active community member in Holland and the Director of Delivery at SpinDance, an IoT software consulting firm. With a tenacious and level-headed spirit, Colleen has a drive for organization and...

Festival of the Arts Mentor For Missy Summers, community service is at the heart of everything she does. Missy has served on the board of Habitat for Humanity, as treasurer for the Association of Professional Fundraising, and marketing chair for SCORE. She began her...

WhizBang! Retail Training Mentor Susan Negen has helped thousands of independent retailers from Michigan and beyond reach their potential through WhizBang! Retail Training. Getting her start as a senior executive for retail giants like Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Lord...