Marge Axelrad was hired in May of 1988 as the editor-in-chief of Vision Monday, a year after its launch. At Vision Monday, originally a print newsmagazine when it started in 1987, Marge and the team she created redefined and shaped news coverage of the optical business as the industry was expanding significantly in all sectors.
In 1998, Vision Monday inaugurated VMAIL, a weekly digital newsletter. VMAIL is now published daily and has become the primary delivery vehicle for news developments with readership throughout the U.S. and international optical communities.
Marge also oversaw the launch of VisionMonday.com, which complemented and enhanced the distribution of Vision Monday's print edition and VMAIL; in 2007, she played an instrumental role in the launch of the Vision Monday Leadership Summit, which is now regarded as a key and influential gathering of the industry's leading decision makers.
Marge is a founding board member of the Optical Women's Association (OWA) (1997), served as co-president of the group (2000-2002), and is currently on the OWA Nominating Committee. She was honored by the OWA in 2013 as a Pleiades Award recipient.
In 2017, she was recognized as the Prevent Blindness "Person of Vision". She served on the national board of Prevent Blindness America (2009–2013) and continues to help its development committee. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the SUNY College of Optometry Foundation. In 2008, Marge was recognized by the Accessories Council with its "Hall of Fame" award and in 2011 was honored by SUNY's Optometric Foundation.
2024 OWA Lifetime Achievement Award — Marge Axelrad
2013 OWA Lifetime Achievement Award — Grady Culbreth