The 2020 West Michigan Woman People's Choice Brilliance Award
Voting is now closed! The West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards is entering its 4th year of celebrating the unique talents of women and men in our community. For the second year, the public will select one honoree from the finalists for the People's Choice Brilliance Award. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards where they will receive their award and recognition.
• To vote, please provide your first and last name and email address • You may only vote 1x for one person • Voting opens March 2nd and closes at 5pm on March 18th
Enjoy reading the bio snippets below that were written from the nominators' and finalists' submissions.
President/CEO Inspire Me! Home Decor Brilliant Entrepreneur
Farah started Inspire Me! Home Decor In 2012 and has subsequently grown the brand to include 5.7 million followers, appearances on QVC, and features on Forbes and House Beautiful, and to be the most-followed home décor page on Instagram. She has designed a home décor collection exclusively designed for QVC and designed and launched her own furniture and rug line on Wayfair.com. Her brand has expanded to the successful inspiremehomedecor.com online business. In 2019, she wrote a book that was a No. 1 best seller on Amazon. In the wake of her success online, Farah will open a retail space in Grand Rapids this year.
Owner Mosley School of Cosmetology Brilliant Tenacity
Early life came with challenges, including learning and a teenage pregnancy, yet Theresa was determined to overcome them. After graduating high school, she obtained her Bachelor's in Business Management and later her cosmetology license. A mother of six, she is proud to say she beat the odds by opening Mosley School of Cosmetology. Theresa has created an avenue for people of all ethnicities and economic standing to pursue their dreams. She has assisted non-English speaking students with community resources to help complete classwork and ESL courses. She also founded Hair for Hope, a hands-on class that teaches foster and adoptive parents how to do hair for the children of color they’re raising.
Senior Vice President of Traditional Undergraduate Academics Cornerstone University Brilliant Team Player
Shawn has been instrumental in ideating and executing the implementation of several key initiatives at Cornerstone that have helped the university gain a competitive edge in the higher education market. In addition, she shows great concern for and investment in those with whom she works, which in turn inspires them to do their best work.
Company Member Grand Rapids Ballet Brilliant Tenacity
Currently in her ninth year with Grand Rapids Ballet, Yuka has overcome injuries, personal losses, language barriers, culture shock and professional disappointments to become the prima ballerina of Michigan's only professional ballet company. Despite challenges she initially faced, she persisted, using dance as a way to connect across these barriers. In recent years Yuka dealt with the death of two close family members, making the long trip home to Japan to pay her respects. Never one to rest on her laurels, she finds ways to push herself by expanding her steps, finding new coaching for her roles, taking on new responsibilities like choreographing and teaching, and always searching for the route to further improvement.
Vice President, Corporate & Member Engagement Inforum Michigan Brilliant Connector
Becky has worked tirelessly for Inforum Michigan for the past several years, revamping programming to better meet the needs of West Michigan professionals while playing connector to countless women. The leadership programs, networking events, dinners, and more are met with rave reviews and are sold out time and time again.
Voting is now closed! The West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards is entering its 4th year of celebrating the unique talents of women and men in our community. For the second year, the public will select one honoree from the finalists for the People's Choice Brilliance Award. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards where they will receive their award and recognition.
