2007 OWA Pleiades Honoree
Deborah Malakoff, Vice President of Show Operations
Vision Council of America
With over 20 years of experience in the optical industry, Deborah Malakoff serves as vice president of Trade Shows for the Vision Council of America, a non-profit trade association representing eyewear manufacturers. In her role, Malakoff works closely with Reed Exhibitions, the VCA Show and Exhibitor Advisory Committees to establish and direct the long range strategic goals and objectives of the International Vision Expo family of tradeshows.
Recruited from college into an Executive training program piloted by RCA records Malakoff started her career working in the art department designing album covers.
She transitioned into the optical industry in 1984 as marketing and visual merchandising manager for Eyelab, a Division of Quaker Oats, where she administered the marketing and media budget and led a team of visual merchandisers in the expansion from four stores to a chain of thirty-eight optical superstores. She later joined Bob Hillman in his next retail endeavor Hillman/Kohan Eyes, where she served as director of creative services. Here she was part of a senior management team responsible for executing a new retail concept that evolved into 10 fashion eyewear superstores.
Malakoff served on the Board of Directors for the Major American Tradeshow Organizers and is a member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the Optical Women's Association and the American Society of Association Executives.
She holds both a bachelor's degree in Advertising Design and Marketing from the University of Maryland. In her spare time, Malakoff enjoys skiing, golfing, and traveling.
The Pleiades Award spotlights an individual who has shown a commitment to the mission of the OWA by fostering the growth of women in the industry. The Pleiades Award is named for the star cluster Pleiades in the Taurus constellation. The Pleiades is also known as the "Seven Sisters" referring to the seven brightest stars in the cluster.
The invitation to attend this event is extended to both OWA members and non-members. Guests are asked to RSVP by Feb 28 via email to
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