Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Brilliant Emerging Leader
Yadira Garza-Malone is the daughter of two immigrant parents and mother to her 6-year-old son, Kamil. Yadira lives by the values instilled by her parents: work hard even if no one is watching, honor your family, value education, take pride in your roots and be authentic. Yadira started her professional career as a banker and was driven to support small businesses. It is her passion and performance that led to an opportunity to work at the Grand Rapids Chamber, where she started as a Membership Engagement Manager and now leads a team as the Director of Membership. Her goal in this position is to oversee how Chamber members, especially diverse businesses, tap into resources. Yadira attributes this honor to her recently deceased dad from whom she learned, “the importance of treating the people you lead with humility and respect.” Yadira remarks, “... he would always tell me to treat everyone equally … and that as a leader, people will follow and trust you based on how you make them feel.”
Yadira Garza-Malone
- Details
- Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2022
Yadira Garza-Malone
From this issue
For nine years, Mimi Fritz, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, worked as the director of the city of Holland Principal Shopping District. Included in that role was the creation, management and marketing of many seasonal events and programs, among them organizing the annual Kerstmarkt, an outdoor, European-style market with holiday items, delicious food and artisan demonstrations.
Our lives wouldn't be what they are without the stellar local establishments found around every corner of West Michigan, from the newly founded to the well-established and everything in between. Those local staples are what the West Michigan Woman Readers' Choice Awards are all about.
Many women know just how debilitating a migraine attack can be. Aside from the pain, they make functioning in our day to day lives feel close to impossible. And did you know women are much more susceptible to this delightful type of headache?
Looking for something different to do this holiday season and beyond?
There are plenty of options in greater West Michigan that may not be on your radar. Here, we've gathered some lesser-known attractions for you to explore—from galleries to performance venues to shops.