Shannon Cohen
Founder & CEO Shannon Cohen, Inc.
Shannon Cohen is the founder and CEO of Shannon Cohen, Inc. — a boutique firm with a mighty imprint and reputation for excellence. Shannon specializes in developing customized emotional intelligence, equity, and wellness colloquia for organizations across diverse sectors and industries. Clients include Electronic Arts [EA], Perrigo, Procter & Gamble, Meijer, Steelcase, Henry Ford Health System, Steelcase, The University of Michigan, Gentex Corporation, Urban Core Collective, and Bissell.
Achievement and Courage Award Recipient
A Detroit native, Shannon relocated to West Michigan September of 2001. As a first-generation college graduate and young professional, Shannon struggled to find connection and community as a transplant. Over the past two decades she has worked to create the network of support she needed and recognizes other women, especially women of color need too. She has built and scaled multiple regional and global movements to advance the aspirations, ambition, and wellness of women who lead. Shannon is a Hope dealer and universe builder.
Shannon won Michigan Women Forward’s Pitch Competition in 2018. The $10,000 first place prize was the seed money she needed to attend her first product trade show in New York. That trade show led to a licensing agreement with American Greetings. Her inspirational greeting cards and stationery have been featured at Target, Meijer, and West Elm and her Tough Skin, Soft Heart podcast is available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher with subscribers spanning 12 countries.
Leadership | Shannon excels in engaging change agents in transparent conversations about the unspoken truths of leadership and self-care to nurture longevity in leadership. She is passionate about placemaking and sparking movements for change. Shannon is respected and renowned for empowering organizations to integrate innovation, research, emerging trends, and creativity to cultivate continuous improvement and spur ongoing learning. She leads with purpose and hope. Shannon has co-authored two regional workplace climate studies entitled: “Invisible Walls, Ceilings, and Floors: Championing the Voices and Inclusion of Female Leaders of Color in West Michigan” and “From Knowing Better to Doing Better: Closing the Opportunity Gap for Women of Color in the Workplace through Transformed Systems Behavior.”
Shannon doesn’t just ‘speak’ to leaders; she speaks ‘into’ the lives of leaders. Shannon is the Founder of the global Rockstar Woman Brunch Movement, serving thousands of women throughout the U.S. and Canada annually. In 2022, Shannon was named “Brilliant Woman of the Year” by West Michigan Woman. For multiple years, Shannon has been named one of the 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan and recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal.
Community | Shannon serves on several boards including the Corewell Health [formerly Spectrum Health] Foundation Board, GROW Board, and Project GREEN Board. Shannon is also a member of the Greater Grand Rapids chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Shannon is an alumnus of the prestigious W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellowship and previously served as an adjunct professor in the Grand Valley State University College of Community and Public Service. Shannon has authored two books, “It’s Normal to Shake as You Soar” and “Tough Skin, Soft Heart: A Leadership Guide to Growing Stronger, Better, and Wiser.”
Tina Freese Decker
President and CEO Corewell Health™
Tina Freese Decker is President & CEO of Corewell Health™, a leading integrated health system that strives to provide simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional care and coverage to millions of Michigan residents.
Achievement and Courage Award Recipient
Leadership | Known for her vision and drive, Tina was a key architect of the 2022 integration of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health, which are now unified under the Corewell Health brand. Determined to tackle the health field’s greatest challenges, she inspires through innovation and collaboration to make health better for all. She leads from her heart in advancing a culture and developing people to their fullest potential.
Tina’s career journey started in the admitting department of a community hospital in Iowa, continued with an administrative fellowship at Spectrum Health in 2002, and went on to include a variety of roles at Spectrum Health, including president of the system hospital group, chief strategy officer and chief operating officer. She was named President & CEO of Spectrum Health in 2018. She continues to drive significant, transformational change as President & CEO of Corewell Health.
Community | Tina influences and shapes health policy, engages in advocacy, and builds strong relationships with decision makers across Michigan and beyond. She is a board member of the American Hospital Association, Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Regional Partnership, The Gerald R. Ford Foundation, Healthcare Executives Study Society, Healthcare Institute and West Michigan Policy Forum; board chair of The Right Place; and past board chair of The Grand Rapids Economic Club and Michigan Health & Hospital Association. Her most recent recognition includes Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and Top 25 Women Leaders in Healthcare, Crain’s Detroit Business’ Top Newsmakers of the Year, MLive’s Women Who Shape the State and Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan.
Join MWF In Honoring Shannon and Tina
Location: JW Marriott
Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm