Recent Profile Articles
The 2024 Brilliance Awards, an annual celebration of the dynamic talent, spirit and intellect of those who tackle issues facing professional women, took place May 9 at the Amway Grand Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. As the West Michigan Woman community gathered once...
As Business Development Officer for Grow and Vice President of Catering for award-winning El Granjero Mexican Grill, Paola Mendivil is passionate about assisting entrepreneurs in accessing responsible capital, finding resources and providing education to run a...
Farah Merhi deeply understands the power of a warm, welcoming and comfortable home. Having been born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Africa to Lebanese parents who previously fled war-torn Lebanon in search of a better life, she knows what it's like...
Dr. Sandra Upton shares eight steps to a long-lasting DEI strategy in new book. A renowned DEI expert, Dr. Sandra Upton, Founder and CEO, Upton Consulting Group, has spent the last 25 years researching, training, speaking and implementing DEI methodologies with...
A driving purpose in Dr. Wendy Falb's life has been a commitment to creating more equitable educational opportunities and a passion for effective community transformation. She served on the GRPS board for 10 years, where she was instrumental in the development of the...
Ashley René Lee has never been one to temper her desire to pursue what's just and right. An optimist with the belief there's always a lesson on the other side of adversity, she centers herself on four guiding principles: her faith, her wellness, being a great mother...
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park welcomes Carol Kendra as its first Chief Operating Officer. A purpose-driven leader, Carol Kendra has dedicated her career to elevating organizations through innovative strategies, effective marketing and meaningful...
St. Cecilia Music Center's Executive and Artistic Director since 2006, Cathy Holbrook has held a leadership role in non-profit arts organizations around the country for over 30 years. No stranger to the music world, Holbrook was also once personal assistant to...
Our lives wouldn't be what they are without the stellar local establishments found around every corner of West Michigan, from the newly founded to the well-established and everything in between. Those local staples are what the West Michigan Woman Readers' Choice...
Robyn Gobbel, MSW is a licensed therapist, author, educator, podcaster and community creator whose 20-year career has been dedicated to serving the families of children with histories of complex trauma. In 2019, Gobbel retired from the therapy office and created The...