The 2021 West Michigan Woman People's Choice Brilliance Award
Voting is now open! The West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards is entering its 5th year of celebrating the unique talents of women and men in our community. For the third year, the public will select one honoree from the finalists for the People's Choice Brilliance Award. The winner will be announced on August 31, 2021 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 one time for one person • Voting opens June 1, 2021 and closes at 5pm on June 25, 2021
!All finalists, along with snippets from their bios, have been placed in alphabetical order below. Enjoy learning about each of them and thank you for voting!
Chair of the Board of Directors West Michigan Veterans Coalition Brilliant Champion of Service
Brandi McBride is a Talent Acquisition Consultant for SpartanNash, recruiting for military distribution roles. She leads the company’s military outreach and hiring efforts and Chairs the company resource group for veterans. Brandi, herself, is a decorated combat veteran, winning Officer of the Year five times during her 8 years in the Air Force. She completed an overseas tour in the United Arab Emirates in 2004 and a combat tour in Iraq in 2005. Here in Grand Rapids, Brandi founded the local chapter of Team Red, White and Blue, taking the chapter from 4 members to now over 700. Additionally, Brandi serves on multiple committees to serve veterans throughout the state.
President Micro Visions, Inc. Brilliant Entrepreneur
Julie Lough founded Micro Visions, Inc. in 1989, and since then, has overseen the growth of the company into a team of dedicated network engineers, technology specialists and support staff. Julie says, "True brilliance is in the people you hire and surround yourself with." Micro Visions offers fully managed IT services, consulting and project management, network engineering and much more. Most recently the company was nominated for the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch with Michigan Celebrates Small Business. In 2020 and 2021, Micro Visions has had a seat on the Cabinet Committee for the Special Olympics “Building Champions” Campaign. Julie, herself, is a regular volunteer for Kids’ Food Basket and at Trinitas Classical School.
Director of Community Engagement Amplify GR Brilliant Social Change Agent
Latesha Lipscomb knows firsthand that there is “absolutely no limit to what everyday people can achieve when they are supported by a champion,” and it is as the Director of Engagement for Amplify GR that she is that champion. It is her responsibility to think critically about upstream solutions, do grassroots work, have bold and courage grass-tops conversations and play a supporting role in helping neighbors improve quality of life for themselves. When asked why she pours her heart into her work, she said, “because I desire to see the world change in favor of the future generations to come.”
Managing Member Lachman Stuart PLC Brilliant Tenacity
Sara Lachman is an award-winning real estate attorney and Managing Partner of Lachman Stuart PLC and Owner of Lunar Cycle, a boutique cycling gym. Not only did Sara open Lunar Cycle in January 2020, but the day after the shelter-in-place order issued, she made moves to walk away from her equity partner position at a large firm to build her current law practice. Between the two, Sara worked 18-hour days building one business and innovating ways to allow the other to survive the widespread gym closures. “I never gave up and never backed down,” said Sara. “I look at an obstacle as an opportunity to innovate my business models with bold, brave moves.”
Chief Operating Officer Public Thread Brilliant Connector
“We may all be one person away from the greatest opportunity in our lives and just need that break or push in the right direction,” says Lisa Knight, Chief Operating Officer of Public Thread, a community-based upcycling company working to divert scrap and surplus textiles from our landfills, create living wage jobs, and support a growing creative economy. Every day, Lisa utilizes her skills in community leadership and activism to develop strategic partnerships for impact. Lisa understands that when you form relationships with people who are hurting or have been marginalized, you help build pathways to meet their needs.
Voting is now open! The West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards is entering its 5th year of celebrating the unique talents of women and men in our community. For the third year, the public will select one honoree from the finalists for the People's Choice Brilliance Award. The winner will be announced on August 31, 2021 at the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards where they will receive their award and recognition.
