April 2016 Newsletter

Heather Smith, OWA President

It's Time to Celebrate

I always look forward to Vision Expo East. It was there that I was officially introduced to the OWA, and that introduction brought new meaning to my career in this industry. I always feel a surge of excitement because of the events that the OWA hosts in New York. While it's easy to get caught up in the "fun" part of these events, I always remember that they provide new opportunities for the women in our industry, and that is positively thrilling!

Experiencing those connections and seeing them come to life in such a fantastic way that is something I really enjoy. Especially when we are able to provide that opportunity, while also celebrating our Pleiades and Pyxis honorees Sue Downes and Ann E. Englert. Each of these women have made such tremendous contributions and we look forward to acknowledging their many accomplishments.

Last year, we brought our Champagne Breakfast back to life as part of our event series in New York. This was the first format that the OWA used for its original award celebration and it was an absolute hit in its reimagined format. The Champagne Breakfast will feature Sherianne James, Vice President of Marketing for Transitions Optical, sitting down for an intimate conversation with Christie Walker, Editor of LabTalk and Past President of the OWA. This is sure to be a thought-provoking, meaningful conversation that will benefit all who attend.

On top of the events taking place in New York, we will also be bringing this content to you electronically. Video of the breakfast and all of the speaking content will be made available online after the show so that those who don't attend can still experience the benefits of these programs.

We've got a lot in store for the OWA this year, I hope you are as excited as I am!

Heather Smith
OWA President

2016 Pleiades and Pyxis Awards
Please join us in congratulating the Optical Women's Association's 2016 Pleiades and Pyxis Award honorees.
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Sue Downes — 2016 Pleiades Award Recipient
Sharon Chin, Communications Committee Member
The Optical Women's Association is pleased to announce that Sue Downes, CEO of MyEyeDr. is the recipient of this year's Pleiades Awards. In this blog post, you'll get to know a little more about her amazing work, her contribution to the optical industry, and how she continues to inspire OWA members!
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Ann E. Englert — 2016 Pyxis Award Recipient
All who know Ann E. Englert recognize she is a force to be reckoned with, having a proven track record of inspiring others to leadership. Her selection as the 2016 Pyxis honoree is apropos in light of the distinguished roles she has held within the OWA since becoming an active member in 2001.
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Raising a Glass to Champagne Breakfast Keynote Speaker, Sherianne James
Carrie Chambers, Communications Committee Member
An intimate conversation with Sherianne James of Transitions Optical will be featured at this year's OWA Champagne Breakfast, facilitated by Christie Walker, Editor of LabTalk. The conversation and Q&A session will offer breakfast participants an opportunity to discuss challenges and successes, and to leave the breakfast feeling inspired and energized.
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The OWA Welcomes Robyn Crimmins to the Board of Directors
Robyn Crimmins, Senior Director of Marketing and Commercial Operations for the VSP Optics Group, Sacramento, California, was elected to the OWA board at the March 2016 board meeting.
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Welcome New OWA Members!
Michelle Schroeder, OWA Associate Executive Director
The OWA membership continues to grow! We are happy to welcome these 17 new members since the January 2016 newsletter.
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