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WMW BrillianceAwards Logo

 

The finalists of the 2023 Brilliance Awards are:

FlameIconBrilliant Woman of the Year


Zaneta Adams, JD
 | CEO & Owner | River Acres Development LLC 

Cara Anne Poland, MD, MEd, FACP, DFASAM | Michigan State University

Megan Schmidt | Senior Vice President of Employer Solutions | Priority Health

  

   

FlameIconBrilliant Tenacity


Henrietta Hadley 
| Founder & CEO | Infinite Solutions Consulting Group

Alma Ross | Personal Lines Account Executive | Koop & Burr Insurance

Amanda Villarreal | Owner | AVWELLNESS
 

 

  

 

FlameIconBrilliant Team Player


Colleen Laskowski 
| Director of Delivery | SpinDance

Katie Racey | Guest Experience Manager | Frederik Meijer Gardens

Kim Murphy | Activity Director | Heron Manor & Heron Woods 

  

  

FlameIconBrilliant Social Change Agent


Vanessa Greene 
| CEO | Michigan African American Health Institute

Jessica Johns | Co-Founder & Executive Director | The Community StoreHouse

Vonnie Woodrick | Founder | I Understand

 

 

FlameIconBrilliant Mentor


Salina Bishop 
| Assistant Vice President of Development | Grand Rapids Symphony

Susan Negen | Co-Founder | WhizBang! Retail Training

Missy Summers | Executive Director | Festival of the Arts

   

 

FlameIconBrilliant Entrepreneur


Robyn Gobbel, LCSW 
| Founder & CEO | Robyn Gobbel

Meredith Kent, MS, PA-C | Master Injector, Clinical Educator, Owner | Skin CoLAB

Rachel VanBuskirk, LMSW | Clinical Director & Owner | Portal Point Counseling

 

 

 

FlameIconBrilliant Emerging Leader


Stormie Drake
| Executive Director | READ Ottawa

Lindsay MacMillan | Head of Community Engagement | Sleeping Giant Capital

Caylie Peet, MS, CTA | Minority Business Program Manager | Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

 

  

FlameIconBrilliant Connector


Jennifer Pascua 
| Marketing Director | Broadway Grand Rapids

Kori Thompson, MBA | Advancement Officer | Wedgwood Christian Services

Amiee VandenElzen | Aread Lead for Business Development | Disher Corp

  

 

FlameIconBrilliant Champion of Service


Rev. Joanna Bailey 
| Manager of Spiritual Care | Trinity Health Grand Rapids

Kristin A. Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-F | Co-Founder, Director of Training and Therapeutic Programs, Owner & Director | Camp Shout Out Inc./Chmela Communication Center

Nicholette Driggs | Development Director | Comprehensive Therapy

  

  

FlameIconBrilliant Best Supporting Man


Craig Clark 
| Owner, Senior Counselor | Clark Communications

Omar Cuevas | Vice President of Investor Relations | Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

Carlos Sanchez, MAD | Executive Director | Davenport University - Casa Latina

 

 

  

 

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