Recent Profile Articles
Paola Mendivil, born in Mexico City, enjoyed growing up near family—playing with cousins, participating in huge New Year's Eve parties, having fun. Living in three Mexican states and attending several schools gave her different perspectives. Her exposure to how big...
West Michigan Woman, host of the annual breast cancer charity event Wine & Wig, is pleased to announce that the first ever "Valiant Victor Award" was presented at the event on October 3, 2019. With the event in its seventh year, it seems appropriate to acknowledge...
Bonnie Nawara, an entrepreneur herself, came on board Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women as CEO nine years ago. Nawara reflects on GROW's impact in West Michigan as it celebrates 30 years. What does GROW's 30th anniversary mean to Grand Rapids?This milestone equates...
Sandy Ward tells a story: When her late husband, Cedric, was in the fourth grade, his teacher invited him to be part of a local theater production. African American children were needed for roles and Cedric enthusiastically accepted the invitation. Being a part of...
"I grew up in pretty humble circumstances, learning to swim at the local YMCA, playing in nearby parks and staying pretty close to home." West Michigan-born and raised Carol Van Andel, the daughter of a minister and a homemaker, grew up on Grand Rapids' West Side, was...
Mira Krishnan, Ph.D., never really thought she'd stay in Michigan. Her parents, chemists by trade, arrived from India before their only child was born, believing in the American dream. They moved around the Detroit area, living in Sterling Heights until Mira was in...
When she's not eating or sleeping, Rebecca Cruttenden is swimming, biking, and running to train for her yearly Ironman triathalon—basically, taking on the world. But that's not all. She's also baking and delivering cookies, speaking, and coordinating volunteers for...
West Michigan Woman sat down with newly appointed Grand Valley State University president Dr. Philomena V. Mantella to get her take on the future of higher education, her goals for GVSU as its first female president, why she's excited to live and work in West...
The first time I met Madison Massara she was a 16-year-old, spinning around effortlessly in a humid, crowded ballet class at Grand Rapids Ballet School. I watched her fouetté at the end of class, rotating multiple times with the endurance and poise of a prima...
"There is a brighter future ahead." Jeanne Eyde, D.O., board-certified ENT, Facial Plastic Surgeon practicing Aesthetic Medicine at Grand Pearl Spa, a division of Plastic Surgery Associates, and Medical & Wellness Director at Urban You – Beauty Bar, segued her...