GRBJ's Breakfast Series: Newsmakers of the Year Awards

The Grand Rapids Business Journal has determined the top news stories of 2021 — and the people behind the headlines. On January 26, 2022, GRBJ will host a breakfast event and award 16 "Newsmakers" from the categories below. One of the winners will also be elevated to the 2021 Newsmaker of the Year!

Arts/entertainment

Cynthia Hagedorn, The Property

David Hooker, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Sal Semola, Gun Lake Casino

Beverages

Larry Bell, Bell’s Brewery

Nadia and Shatawn Brigham, GRNoir Wine & Jazz

Tom Borisch, Jason Post and Zack Van Dyke, Wise Men Distillery

Economic development

Ed Garner, Michigan Small Business Development Center West Michigan Region

Jennifer Owens, Lakeshore Advantage

Randy Thelen, The Right Place

Education

Patricia Harris, Kuyper College

Philomena Mantella, Grand Valley State University

Dr. Richard Pappas, Davenport University

Finance

Eric Foster, Rende Progress Capital

Martin Stein, Blackford Capital

Renee Tabben, Bank of America

Food

Andrea Bumstead, Gaia House Cafe

Alita Kelly and Khara DeWit, South East Market

Rich Wolowski, Gordon Food Service/Square Roots

Health care

Nathan Baar, HealthBar

Tina Freese Decker, Spectrum Health

Peter Hahn, University of Michigan Health-West

Law

Tracey Brame, Cooley Law/Innocence Project

Judge Amanda Sterkenburg, 62-B District Court Kentwood

Stephen van Stempvoort, Miller Johnson

Manufacturing

Jim Dillard, Perrigo

Mike Larsson, Dematic

Andi Owen, MillerKnoll

Nonprofits/philanthropy

Wendy Falb, Literacy Center of West Michigan

Carly MacDonald, Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids

Ryan VerWys, Inner City Christian Federation

Real estate/construction

Mike Novakoski, EV Construction

Tim Schowalter, Pioneer Construction

Mike VanGessel, Rockford Construction

Retail

John Green, Revolution Farms

Eion Jackson, Eion Jackson Apparel

Tony Sarsam, SpartanNash

Sports

Mike Guswiler, West Michigan Sports Commission

Steve Jbara, Grand Rapids Gold

David Marquardt, Indian Trails Golf Course (Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation)

Startups

Sarah Laman and Arick Davis, Last Mile Cafe

Jeff Lambert, TiiCKER

Kevin McLeod, C2Dx

Sustainability

Luis Chen Aguilera, Wormies

Janay Brower and Lisa Knight, Public Thread

Chad Howell, Forever Great

Technology

Ashlea Souffrou, SxanPro

John Sorensen, Student Achievement Systems/Pulse

Jeff Boore, Anjoy

Thank you to our sponsors!

GOLD

Spectrum Health

University of Michigan Health West

SILVER

EV Construction

VENUE

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

MEDIA

616Media

FLORAL

Simplicity Floral Design & Events

Questions about the event?

Please contact Marketing and Events Manager Melissa Novak at [email protected].

Interested in sponsorship opportunities?

Please contact Advertising Director Jenn Maksimowski at [email protected].

Event Venue

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 East Beltline Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, United States