PYXIS is a constellation in the southern sky known as "The Compass". The PYXIS Award is presented to a member of the OWA who actively participates in the organization and promotes the OWA throughout the optical industry, contributing to OWA's continuing growth.
The recipient of the PYXIS Award is exceptional in her commitment to support and develop the OWA. She helps set direction of the organization by her actions and inspires by her leadership.
Trudi Charest is the Co-Founder of Marketing4ecps, a digital marketing agency focused on building digital advertising for the eyecare industry, and President of Total Focus Consulting. She doesn't just "talk" the digital marketing talk, she walks it every day in her own social and digital efforts. With over 10,000 followers on LinkedIn, she is known as a LinkedIn guru by her peers. She also heads up the Digital Marketing Committee for the Optical Women's Association, leading a team of 17 women volunteers who create the social media strategy for the OWA. Charest is well known for designing, developing, and facilitating sales training and marketing programs across North America.
Charest is a licensed optician with over 25 years of extensive eyecare experience, and also holds a Human Resource Management certificate from the University of Calgary. Before starting her marketing agency, Marketing4ECPs, in 2015, her experience included corporate training in retail optical, territory management for Bausch & Lomb, clinical consulting with Optos, and the role of Vice President of Marketing and Training for Eye Recommend, one of Canada's leading optometric buying groups.
She is an "Amazon Best Selling" author of the book, The Digital Sales Rep, a literary guide to social and digital sales techniques and the art of personal online branding.
Charest was one of Vision Monday's Most Influential Women in the optical industry and is currently a very active OWA board member, co-chairing their Digital Marketing Committee. She is an international speaker, author, industry consultant, and business innovator.
Click on the honorees' names to see more information about the Pyxis Award recipient.
2024 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Trudi Charest
2023 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Dr. Beverly Bianes
2022 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Laura Dorris
2021 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Debbie Myres
2020 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Jean Sabre
2019 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Laura Lewis
2018 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Deb Bulken
2017 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Lorie Lippiatt, OD
2016 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Ann Englert
2015 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Amy Spiezio
2013 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Tiara Claxton
15th Anniversary Celebration and Award Event
2010 OWA Pyxis Honoree — Lorinda Fraboni
2010 Awards Cocktail Reception and Presentation