The OWA is pleased to highlight three of our new 2015 sponsors in this issue: VisionWest, BluTech, and Walman. The OWA welcomes you and thanks you for your support!
Walman supports the Optical Women's Association, with our 44 members along with our Friend Sponsorship each year, because we want to demonstrate that we believe in the contribution the OWA makes to the optical industry. From leadership to mentoring to networking and recognition of accomplishments, the OWA is a great organization for optical women. Plus, the OWA does an amazing job bringing both women and men together at the International Vision Expos — networking at its finest!
The OWA is a strong advocate for supporting the advancement of women into leadership positions. Through their Pleiades and Pyxis recognition awards, talented women are brought into the spotlight each year. There are so many powerful women I've met through the OWA in the last 18 years. Each time I attend an event or work with them on a committee, I am impressed with the knowledge and skill they bring to the table. This industry benefits from these women. Belonging to the OWA gives women the opportunity to meet and enjoy life-long friendships with other talented women.
Walman believes the OWA is a great organization for women of all ages, from the millennials to the Baby Boomers, to mentor and understand each other's generation. This is helpful as this is the first time in history four generations are in the work force at one time. The OWA will have a discussion panel on this topic at Vision Expo West 2015.
In line with the OWA, Walman also supports the advancement of women into leadership positions as is evident in the 44 women in management that are members of the Optical Women's Association. We hope this will encourage other companies to take the initiative and support their women by funding their membership in the OWA.
About Walman: We are a family of optical companies with a 100-year history of excellent relationships built on enduring trust and added value. Each of our businesses is guided by the same core principles and single vision: to be the most trusted business partner in the industry. Please visit our website for more information.
BluTech Lenses is a company on a mission. A mission to protect and preserve sight and overall health and well-being.
Greg Naes, the founder, and President, is the product of three grand parents who suffered from Age Related Macular Degeneration. Greg has experienced first-hand the devastating effects of this silent killer of vision.
Valerie Manso, Vice President of Sales and Education, is one of the founding members of the Optical Women's Association. Valerie also had three grandparents and her Father, experience loss of sight from Glaucoma, AMD and early onset Cataracts.
BluTech Lenses employs a unique process of imbedding a unique ratio of our bodies' naturally occurring protection against blue light, Ocular Lens Pigment, into lens materials (indoor and outdoor) to protect and improve the wearers' vision. Science and patient feedback supports the benefits of BluTech lenses.
The OWA has the Mission to enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry. Over 50% of the BluTech team are women. Additionally, women are most often the guiding hand in matters of their families' health and vision. BluTech Lenses and the OWA are a natural fit!
The OWA uses networking, education and peer support to accomplish its core Mission. BluTech Lenses and all other companies in the blue light protection space must network with optical professionals and educate both professionals and lay persons about the damaging effects of blue light.
We look forward to a long and rewarding partnership with the Optical Women's Association. To start protecting your patients today please email us at .
For many years various Vision West staff have attended OWA Networking events and found them to be invaluable. OWA works diligently to promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry, and their networking events are always very well attended by key industry personnel. The peer support garnered through this organization is empowering and helpful to our business.
It was a logical next step for Vision West to become a sponsor to an organization that we feel aligned with in vision and passion for our industry. We are proud to be a Silver sponsor to an organization that is so well supported and thought of by this industry that we all work so hard to uplift.
Vision West is a nation-wide membership based eyecare business group founded in 1988 by the California Optometric Association. We have helped service and support the independent eyecare professional for almost 30 years, providing members with competitive discounts and programs with more than 250 vendor partners. Passing on the full-negotiated discount to members, Vision West does not charge a membership fee or require a minimum purchase volume.
We are a predominantly female staffed company with over 80% of our work force being women. And while we at Vision West are consistently encouraged and given the opportunity to grow and excel in our positions, we recognize this isn't always the case outside our walls. This, again, is why we feel so strongly about partnering with an organization such as OWA who works tirelessly to promote, and achieve, workforce equality and relevance for all individuals.
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