Thursday, November 6, 2025

New Vintage Place | 889 Broadway Ave. NW, Grand Rapids

Emcee & Moderators

Jennifer Feuerstein, Emcee

Jennifer Feuerstein-DiVita is a motivational speaker, writer, TV personality, and influencer in positive aging. She is Associate State Director for AARP Michigan and an on-air talent with WOOD TV & ABC 4. She published her debut novel, Not Your Shoe Size, to encourage women to love the skin they’re in no matter what stage of life. She was named one of Crain's “50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan” and is a sought-after speaker using her signature style of humor, heart, and high heels to empower audiences to cultivate their vitality.

Presenters

Michelle Krick, Owner, Michelle Krick Style

"Changing your world, one outfit at a time."

With over 30 years in the fashion industry—including executive buying and leadership roles at Nordstrom, Meijer, and more—Michelle Krick brings deep expertise and contagious energy to her work as a personal stylist and professional speaker. As the founder of Michelle Krick Style, she helps women across the country build wardrobes that reflect their personality, simplify their lives, and boost their confidence. Her personalized in-home and virtual styling services are tailored to each client’s lifestyle and goals.

Known for her high-energy, authentic, and judgment-free approach, Michelle believes that personal style should be fun and expressive—never frustrating. Whether she’s revamping closets, styling client’s outfits, planning looks for travel or shopping with clients, she brings expert guidance, warmth, humor, and practical tools that make style feel effortless.

In addition to one-on-one services, Michelle is a dynamic style speaker. She delivers engaging presentations that help professionals and individuals at every stage of life elevate their image, feel confident, and align their appearance with how they want to show up in the world-both in the workplace and in everyday life.

When she’s not styling or speaking, Michelle is out exploring—hiking with her husband and their three rescue dogs, playing tennis, or traveling the world to discover new cultures, food, fun experiences and fashion inspiration.

Elise Kutt, 2019 Brilliant Social Change Agent Finalist

A multi-passionate artist and entrepreneur, Elise Kutt has spent the last decade running a portrait studio centered around women empowerment and self-expression through art. She received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied art history and photography. Elise has been recognized as a leader of her industry and community as West Michigan’s 2023 Remarkable Woman of the Year. She is a champion of self-love, known for helping women find confidence in front of the camera.

When Elise isn’t traveling the world co-hosting adventure retreats for women, she can be found concocting a brilliant new business idea, drinking green juice, adventuring with her boys, and obsessing over the smell of new school supplies.

Tammy Myers, 2025 Brilliant Social Change Agent

Tammy Myers is a legislative advocate, creative director, and breast cancer survivor who played a pivotal role in modernizing Michigan’s surrogacy laws. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 33, she turned her journey into a movement, creating the Forgotten Fighters campaign to amplify awareness for young women facing breast cancer. Through her blog, My Personal Pink Time, she brought awareness to the often-overlooked struggles of young survivors.

Years later, Tammy and her husband were denied legal rights to their biological twins—born via gestational carrier. Refusing to accept Michigan’s outdated surrogacy laws, she fought relentlessly, working alongside state leaders, legal experts, and advocates to challenge restrictive policies. Through national media coverage, public awareness efforts, and direct legislative action, Tammy helped drive the passage of the Michigan Family Protection Act in 2024. She continues to use her voice for change, lobbying with the National Breast Cancer Coalition and planning to advocate for oncofertility preservation insurance, so young cancer patients can protect their future families.

Kasie Pickart, 2025 Brilliant Emerging Leader

Kasie Pickart is the new Executive Director of i understand love heals, a nonprofit dedicated to providing compassionate comfort, hope, and understanding to those affected by suicide or mental/brain health illness and pain. She brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit behavioral health and project management, focused on expanding access to mental health resources, improving clinical outcomes, and securing critical funding to strengthen services across Michigan. Kasie’s leadership is shaped by lived experience, personal loss, and a deep, unwavering commitment to ensuring no one has to suffer in silence.

Throughout her career, Kasie has trained thousands in evidence-based suicide prevention and mental health trainings, served on the boards of organizations advocating for systemic change in mental health care, and championed efforts to change the conversation around mental health—one story and one life at a time. She is dedicated to lifelong learning, recently earning her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and teaches grant writing at Grand Valley State University. Outside of her professional life, Kasie is a devoted foodie who loves painting, reading captivating books, and cherishing time with her family and friends.

Arlen-Dean Gaddy, 2021 Best Supporting Man

Arlen-Dean Gaddy serves on the Leadership Team as Vice President of Erhardt Construction, a leading Commercial General Contractor with offices in Ada and Muskegon. Arlen holds a bachelor’s degree in operations and production management from The Ohio State University.

A lifelong resident of West Michigan, Arlen has been married to LaSandra Gaddy for over 32 years. Together, they are proud parents of three adult children and six grandchildren.

With a strong commitment to community, he currently serves on several boards, committees, and councils, including: City of Grand Rapids Planning Commission; Kappa Alpha Psi - Grand Rapids Alumni Chapter (President); Muskegon Rotary Club (Board Member); Ferris State University Foundation Board (Chair); Broadway Grand Rapids (Board Member); and Muskegon Chamber of Commerce (Government Affairs Committee).

Arlen's leadership and community advocacy have been recognized through awards such as: Office of the President of the United States – Community Service Award during the Obama Administration; Crain's Grand Rapids Notable Black Leaders; GIANTS - Phyllis Scott Activist Award; and West Michigan Woman’s 2021 Brilliant Best Supporting Man.

Catherine Ripley, 2025 Woman of the Year

Catherine Ripley is a trailblazing entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate for women in technology and business. Overcoming immense personal challenges, including homelessness as a young mother, she built a thriving career and founded Symplicity Communications at age 39—without prior entrepreneurial experience. Under her leadership, the company has grown exponentially, securing landmark deals in the technology sector and nearly doubling revenue in the past year alone. A defining moment in Catherine’s journey is moving Symplicity Communications into the iconic space at 60 Monroe Center, a milestone that cements her company’s deep commitment to Grand Rapids’ business community. Having the building bear the Symplicity Communications name marks a new era of growth and influence for both her company and the city.

Carrie Holland, MD, CPT, 2025 Brilliant Mentor

Dr. Carrie Holland is a board-certified family physician with additional certifications in personal training, health coaching, and life coaching. As the CEO of her full-time life coach practice, Carrie specializes in helping smart women build strong habits: Eating, Moving, and Thinking. She addresses the impact of women’s responsibilities at work and at home on their wellness. Using habit psychology, mindset management tools, and expertise in nutrition and exercise, Carrie helps overstretched, high-level working women prioritize their own well-being. She is also the host of the weekly podcast, Strong is a Mindset.