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.
FitKids360 Director Health Net of West Michigan Brilliant Social Change Agent
Keyuana is a community activist, author, poet, change agent, and nonprofit professional who believes in community-building, equity in all spaces, and creating changes and legacies that future generations would benefit from. She is credited with helping develop Health Net’s first equity team and providing historical context to support the organization’s equity efforts and also developed the FitKids en español program, which allows monolingual Spanish-speaking families access to participate in the program.
Director of Specialty Services Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan, PC Brilliant Emerging Leader
Tanya gained this upper leadership position through experience, skillset, positivity, collaboration, and vision for change to continually improve the care delivered within the organization. She has worked as a health care professional in oncology for over six years. Her positive attitude and leadership motivate her staff on a daily basis. She has also successfully spearheaded huge initiatives and changes. Her vision for an effective organization and her servant attitude toward others make her a role model for everyone.
Owner Sanchez Income Tax & Translation Services Brilliant Entrepreneur
Zoraida runs a thriving business for tax preparation, translations and other services. She also teaches tax preparation classes, is a special guest of many local and state activities, and serves as a consultant to several agencies interested in serving Hispanics. Zoraida has received many recognitions at the local, state, and federal levels for her community services and activism and for her business. From inspiring other women, to serving as a role model, to having excellent business practices, to using her voice for the benefit of the community, she is persistent and doesn’t stop until she finds the solution she seeks.
Senior Director of Leadership Giving Make-A-Wish Michigan Brilliant Champion of Service
Ellie carries the torch for many fundraising initiatives that have grown to be record-breaking under her leadership. These funds are vital to Make-A-Wish’s mission and without the steadfast efforts under Ellie’s leadership, transformational wishes wouldn’t be possible for Michigan kids. Through a tough three-year battle with leukemia as a teenager, Ellie realized philanthropy was her passion. Ellie has been a Patient Mentor for the P.O.R.T program at Spectrum Health where she mentors young women going through their cancer journey. Ellie also volunteers her time as an AFP mentor to young women entering the non-profit world in fundraising.
President and Founder Reagan Marketing + Design, LLC Brilliant Entrepreneur
Nearly 30 years ago, Mary set out to take charge of her professional life, launching Reagan Marketing + Design, LLC (RM+D) as a one-woman business. Today, she continues to lead a successful agency that has grown to a team of 28 talented individuals. Over the years, she’s been most proud of her ability to bring stakeholders together and help clients develop strategies for what’s next in their business—whether it’s manufacturing, health care, small business, nonprofit, innovation, digital media or otherwise. What Mary is most proud of, perhaps, is her team’s commitment to local organizations that serve our community.
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.
