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The 2022 West Michigan Woman People's Choice Brilliance Award

BAPCA19 Social1 UPDATE

People’s Choice Award voting is now open! The top honoree will be announced on May 12 at the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards. Tickets can be purchased here.

Please keep in mind that each of the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards finalists were selected for a reason. All exude a contagious spirit and broad skill set that in one facet or another, betters the West Michigan community. This is an opportunity for you to get to know them. Read through their bios, resonate with their challenges and triumphs, and vote for the person whose story speaks to you most. The People’s Choice Award is not a popularity contest; it’s a way of introducing brilliant individuals to the community and making connections that may not have otherwise existed.

Of the 30 Brilliance Awards Finalists, who most inspires you? Who would you like to see further recognized? Whose story should be told in a big way to West Michigan? Vote for that person. 

• To vote, please provide your first and last name and email address.
• You may only vote one time for one person.
• Voting opens March 28, 2022 and closes at 5pm on April 15, 2022.

 

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Finalists

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Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2022

Crossroads Eldercare Options
Brilliant Tenacity

In 2012, as a single parent, Elizabeth Eardley started her company after resigning from a national corporation that no longer aligned with her values. This year, Elizabeth is celebrating Crossroads Eldercare Option’s 10-year anniversary. Crossroads is a small company of only 5 women, but they are mighty, having assisted over 1,200 families this year alone. Elizabeth’s team of advisors consult with and provide guidance and referrals for eldercare options in the West Michigan community, all at no cost. In the last decade, they have helped over 10,000 people. Families are often confused and stressed as they navigate the senior care maze for their loved ones, and Crossroads offers support, education and information during this difficult time. When asked about her tenacious spirit, Elizabeth said, “I [have] learned that you could accomplish your dreams one step at a time if you just persevere.”

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Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2022

Huntington National Bank
Brilliant Woman of the Year

Krista Flynn has more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry and has recently become the first woman to hold the position of Regional President at Huntington Bank in West Michigan. Krista is on the boards of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Grand Action 2.0, The Right Place, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, West Michigan CEO Council, K-Connect, Talent 2025, Armed Forces Thanksgiving, and Opportunity for All. Krista’s involvement in the community is driven by passion, passion for personal development, opportunities for women and the continued fight against inequities in the community. Krista says, “Being ingrained in the community has taught me so much about myself that I could never have experienced in my daily bubble. By giving my time and energy, I receive tenfold in return, and I can share my learnings with others.” Krista holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Finance from Walsh College. She and her husband, Paul, live in Ada and have two sons.

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Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2022

Harbor Humane Society
Brilliant Emerging Leader

Allyson is a passionate fund development professional who has a heart for giving a voice to the voiceless—especially those with fur and four legs! In the last three years, Harbor Humane Society’s fund development has consistently expanded under Allyson’s leadership efforts in building new standards for the department. Those efforts have come to fruition through direct mail campaigns and sponsored partnerships that have tripled growth in monthly giving and signature event revenue—all to better serve our community’s homeless pets. Allyson applies her detail oriented, results-driven nature to creating meaningful experiences that help foster connections to Harbor Humane's mission. When it comes to leadership, Allyson says, “it should be of utmost priority to take care of your people (and yourself)!  Ensuring your team’s needs are met, means everyone has the opportunity to succeed. … the phrase ‘you cannot pour from an empty cup’ has always resonated with me.” Native to West Michigan, Allyson received her bachelor’s degree in community leadership from Aquinas College in 2017.

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Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2022

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.”

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Category: Brilliance Awards Finalists 2022

100 Shades of Diverse Abilities L3C
Brilliant Champion of Service 

As an honorably discharged Navy Veteran, Dr. Kimberly Kennedy-Barrington suffers from military-related PTSD. She has faced the hardships of homelessness, domestic abuse, five head surgeries, thyroid cancer and a stroke, which made her a wheelchair user nine years ago. Kimberly had two surgeries requiring removal of her teeth and part of her jaw bones due to a rare bone disorder and she is visually and hearing impaired. These experiences have been the catalyst to her greatest achievement: her will to live beyond human conditions so that she may advocate systemically to improve the quality of life for persons within her sphere of influence. Kimberly has changed the lives of many through random acts of kindness, such as, “paying a person's grocery bill … ; giving new shoes to someone who had holes in theirs; paying people’s rent; … and creating and providing more than 1,000 Personal Protection Kits for small business owners and churches during the pandemic.” Kimberly says, “I believe when you agree to make decisions based on the most excluded, you have included everyone.”

  1. Jennifer Kimball James
  2. Kate Landis
  3. Colleen Lane, MD
  4. Nisha McKenzie

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