Tiara Claxton joined the OWA after some initial apprehension, but once she got involved, she dove in and made growing awareness within the industry and strengthening the organization a personal mission. “Get Involved, Get Inspired!” How did you initially get involved with the OWA? Ann Englert a longtime friend, supporter, and mentor asked me numerous times to join, but I initially was not a believer in an all-woman only organization. I’m from the Generation X era and grew up in a family of 8 siblings (5 brothers & 2 sisters) where everyone was treated as equals– no exclusion based on gender. In September of 2010, Ann called me from Florida to ask for my help on covering an OWA POWW (Professional Optical Women’s Workshop, now the Connection Series) event at Vision Expo West to take notes for the newsletter, since her flight was delayed, and she would miss it. Writing (on a professional level) was outside of my comfort zone, but out of great respect for Ann, I accepted the task. I was pleasantly surprised at the POWW Vegas event being greeted by Dave Beebe who was the executive director at the time for the OWA. I was happy to see all the familiar faces that I have known throughout my years in the optical industry. The rest is history…as I took notes for Ann, I realized how much I love our industry people and the strong women industry leaders who knew the next generation needed this organization. Ann took my notes from the POWW event and gave me author credit. This is what we do here at the OWA. We bring forward and nurture our next generation women leaders! Check out my first article and OWA experience! I went from my first OWA event in September 2010, to being invited to be on the Communications committee, then to the Events committee, and recognized in 2013 as the OWA Pyxis Award honoree. I was then asked to join the Board of Directors, then to VP, and on to OWA President in 7 years. Time flies when you’re having fun! How did you get involved in a committee? The event article launched me onto the Communications committee.  As I said, writing was outside my comfort zone, but the committee chair, Christie Walker, assured me of her full support on editing and proofing before any articles were published and she and the rest of the committee delivered on their commitment. How many committees did you serve on? Communications and Events – I learned how the OWA Executive Director (based in Dallas, Texas), the dedicated membership, and Board of Directors truly support the volunteerism needed to continue the growth of this organization.  The Events committee was where I felt I could really apply my love for people, the industry, details, and hosting events. During my 3 years on the Events committee, I moved from a “member volunteer” to being the committee chair and invited to serve on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of strong women leaders from all facets of our industry. I found so many wonderful mentors and coaches. I was coached by Dr. Lorie Lippiatt, Jean Sabre, Debbie Myers, and supported by the entire board as they prepared me to take on the Presidency. I currently serve with past presidents on the Nominating committee (NC) where we are diligent in keeping a strong talent pipeline for the OWA Board of Directors to choose new committee leaders. The NC also selects the annual award honorees to present to the Board of Directors and industry for final vote and selection. “Get involved with something you want to learn or bring your talent to demonstrate organic growth of this wonderful organization.” You will be encouraged here at the OWA to share your talent and in turn you will receive it back tenfold. On the Events committee we developed the OWA’s “new look” to our industry. One of our goals was to make our events more inclusive, simply by inviting men to participate. Initial events were smaller scale and only included current members and some industry professionals that knew about the OWA. The Events committee collaborated with the Communications committee with the purpose of marketing our events to both women and men in our industry – member or non-member.  By extending the invitation to all, the attendance grew, and our membership flourished from around 200 to over 1,000 OWA members over the course of a few years. The contribution from all the OWA committees were set with these goals in mind. Our social media presence engaged the optical community with the consistent message. Bravo to all our volunteers and committees for their outstanding efforts! What were your biggest successes on the committees you served on? My success on the Communications committee was having the opportunity to be supported and mentored by women like Christie Walker and Ann Englert. Their support helped me to develop skills that were outside of my prior comfort zone. My success on the Events committee was to elevate our events and take the OWA branding to the next level, being consistent throughout the industry communications, written and verbally showing that our events were for everyone and making sure we portrayed our inclusiveness. Both men and women who attended an event were able to learn more about the OWA and could share their experience and the OWA membership grew in a more organic way. How were you invited to join the Board of Directors? Before being asked to join the Board of Directors, I was thoroughly engaged and impactful at the committee level. I served to enhance the OWA’s mission. “To enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry through networking, education, and peer support.” As a committee member for the events, I was invited to accept a seat on the Board of Directors which allowed me to serve as the Chair of the Events committee (all committee chairs are Board Members). The Board of Directors saw my effort, passion, and event execution. I gladly said YES! What a privilege it was to serve as the Chair of Events and on the OWA Board of Directors. How were you invited to join the executive team board? During my time on the Board of Directors and Chair of the Events committee the NC saw my commitment and passion for the OWA, and they extended an invitation for me to join the Executive team as Vice President. Fairly early in my 2-year term as VP in 2016 the current OWA president left the industry and therefore had to resign. In most cases, the VP moves to serve as President. On a career and professional level, I wasn’t ready to take on the responsibilities, yet. I was making professional moves and still had more to learn from the executive team and Board of Directors. The NC and the Board appointed an interim President, Maureen Cavanaugh, and I was blessed to be supported and mentored by her while finishing my term as Vice President. At Vision Expo West in 2017, I was appointed the position of President of the OWA. A position I was proud to lead through Vision Expo West 2019. I was honored to serve an additional 2-year term as Past President on the executive team and now continue to serve as part of the Nominating committee. How did serving on the OWA committees, board, and as President impact you personally? Honestly this journey has been amazingly wonderful! I learned so much about who I am as a leader, communicator, person, wife, mother, friend, and colleague. I will forever be grateful to everyone who put time into me, so I can put time into you! One of my fondest memories and accomplishments was being taken under the wings of Sue Downs, CEO of MYEYEDR. Sue offered her personal professional media team. I was trained on how to present effectively to large audiences, which was something I never had the opportunity to do. I experienced first-hand how the OWA can take you to the next level personally and professionally. My continued service and learnings here at the OWA are something I will continue to be thankful for and cherish. Thank you to all who believed in my leadership abilities. I will continue my journey here at the OWA connecting, inspiring, and leading our next generation optical women leaders! I found this quote years ago and thought to share with all of you. This is true here at the OWA: Let other women know they are brilliant. Let them know what kind of brilliance you see, and why it’s so special. Call them into greater leadership and action. Let them know that they are ready. Watch out for that subtle, probably unconscious thought, “because I had to struggle and suffer on my way up…they should have to too.” Watch out for thinking this will “take” too much time — when the truth is it always has huge, often unexpected returns. BRILLIANT WOMEN – I’m calling you to greater leadership and action! I believe the unexpected returns are there for all of us who believe in giving back and volunteering their time and talents. Here at the OWA we focus within our industry, worldwide, to make a difference in the optical community. Enjoy the opportunities, friendships, experiences, and your personal and professional growth here at the OWA! Wishing you all great success in 2022! “Get involved, get inspired!” -Tiara Claxton, OWA Past President Tiara can be reached at t.claxton@thelios.com Written by: Yvette Carranza

Congratulations Class of 2022!  The OWA is proud of your hard work and dedication to the optical profession. We look forward to your future successes and being part of the optical industry. Earning your degree is just one part of the career equation. The Optical Women’s Association is here to support you and other women in the optical industry through networking, education, and peer support. Additionally, we encourage OWA members to excel in their chosen way, and by actively welcoming and celebrating diversity and inclusion, we create space for growth and a richer experience for all. “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”-Nora Ephron As you begin your career, you are now in a position to deliberately manage your career and life. Success is up to you and the steps that you take to continually develop your skillset will help set yourself up for success. One important strategy is building a network of successful women in the industry. Your network can help you gain skills and knowledge for how to create the career you have worked so hard to achieve. Invest the time in building relationships with your colleagues and be realistic that it will take time to build trust and your professional reputation. You will also need to develop your plan for lifelong learning to continue your growth and development as the profession rapidly evolves. OWA members work diligently to create visibility throughout the eye care community in an effort to raise the level of awareness of the multi-faceted roles and contributions made by women in our industry. These efforts are supported by the programs offered by our organization, which include networking events, annual award programs, membership directory, virtual member events, webinars, and mentoring tools. Becoming an OWA member opens up opportunities like: Mentorship One-Minute Inspiration Emails – Quick Tips For Growth and Development Professional and Social Networking Job Board Access and Opportunities Invitations to Annual Events In-person and Virtual Networking Events Annual Magazine Subscription and Book Selection (Check out this year’s book selections) Industry Recognition and Awards Opportunity For Serving on Committees We invite you to become members of the Optical Women’s Association and for the rest of 2022 provide you with the student membership rate. At checkout, please use code STU22 for this discount.  Membership in the OWA is open to all women in the optical industry. Congratulations Class of 2022!  We expect great things from you! Written by: Sandra Mohr

Each year, OWA members get to select one book from the curated book selections as part of their membership benefits. Personally, this is one of my favorite OWA member benefits each year because I get to see books that other leaders in the profession are reading and recommending. Often times one or more of the selections become part of the book group discussion called OWA Reads where you can discuss and learn from key areas that others have gained. Balancing your own professional development and growth is important to your continued career success. Just a few of the benefits of making time to read and focusing on your development include learning new ideas, helping spark creativity, expanding your vocabulary, and broadening your perspectives in a variety of areas. This year there are 4 diverse choices that you can select from: The Digital Sales Rep: Find and Close Your Target Clients Online With the 10+10 System By Trudi Charest The Digital Sales Rep is a practical step-by-step guide to prospecting and closing sales online. If you are in outside sales, inside sales, or managing a team of salespeople, you want to read this book. Selling in today’s world has changed. Salespeople need to be part marketer, part social media guru, part digital expert, part copywriter, part graphic designer, and of course, part salesperson. This book will show how you can easily be amazing at all of those tactics. Learn how to mix digital efforts with traditional outreach to connect to 100+ target clients every single day. The days of pounding the pavement on the road as your only source of business acquisition are long gone. The most successful sales reps utilize the power of digital and social channels to effectively network and gain sales opportunities with clients that would otherwise be impossible to reach. These strategies don’t just open doors, they secure welcome invitations to talk about your products and services. Trudi Charest is the co-founder of Marketing4ECPs, a digital marketing agency focused on eyecare. Known for developing, facilitating, and designing innovative training and marketing for the industry, she is an optician, author, speaker, marketer, entrepreneur, and an OWA board member. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know By Adam Grant Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there’s another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people’s minds — and our own; he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he’s right but listen like he’s wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You’ll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don’t have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It’s an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom. Call Us What We Carry: Poems By Amanda Gorman Formerly titled The Hill We Climb and Other Poems, this luminous poetry collection by #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman captures a shipwrecked moment in time and transforms it into a lyric of hope and healing. In Call Us What We Carry, Gorman explores history, language, identity, and erasure through an imaginative and intimate collage. Harnessing the collective grief of a global pandemic, this beautifully designed volume features poems in many inventive styles and structures and shines a light on a moment of reckoning. Call Us What We Carry reveals that Gorman has become our messenger from the past and our voice for the future. It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy By Captain D. Michael Abrashoff When Captain Abrashoff took over as commander of USS Benfold, it was like a business that had all the latest technology but only some of the productivity. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve his own leadership skills before he could improve his ship. Within months, he created a crew of confident and inspired problem-solvers eager to take the initiative and responsibility for their actions. The slogan on board became “It’s your ship,” and Benfold was soon recognized far and wide as a model of naval efficiency. How did Abrashoff do it? Against the backdrop of today’s United States Navy, Abrashoff shares his secrets of successful management including: See the ship through the eyes of the crew. By soliciting a sailor’s suggestions, Abrashoff drastically reduced tedious chores that provided little additional value. Communicate, communicate, communicate. The more Abrashoff communicated the plan, the better the crew’s performance. His crew eventually started calling him “Megaphone Mike,” since they heard from him so often. Create discipline by focusing on purpose. Discipline skyrocketed when Abrashoff’s crew believed that what they were doing was important. Listen aggressively. After learning that many sailors wanted to use the GI Bill, Abrashoff brought a test official aboard the ship and held the SATs forty miles off the Iraqi coast. From achieving amazing cost savings to winning the highest gunnery score in the Pacific Fleet, Captain Abrashoff’s extraordinary campaign sent shock waves through the U.S. Navy. It can help you change the course of your ship, no matter where your business battles are fought. Which book will you be selecting this year? If you have not yet ordered your book, you can do so here. Please make sure you are logged in to your OWA account. Make your selection before Monday, August 15, 2022. If you would like to take part in OWA Reads this summer, the next book discussion will occur: Thursday, July 28, 2022 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM CST The book being discussed is: The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life. This book is not one of this year’s book selections but is also a good resource to consider for your professional development. RSVP to attend here. Written by: Sandra Mohr

Company: PECAA Role: Executive Vice President & General Manager, Strategic Sales Years with the OWA: 9 What does winning the Pyxis award mean to you? I am so honored to receive this award. I feel so inspired and grateful to be surrounded by countless amazing women in the OWA. That itself is such a gift, but to receive an award from these women I so look up to, just means so much. What motivates you at work or on a personal level? I love to help build relationships and support people. Family, friends, team members, and industry connections. I also love to learn and grow and strive to be a better version of myself with each passing year. Also, my Fitbit! I find the reaching the daily step goal set is so satisfying and I so respond to the positive fireworks received when that happens! Making it a game and something measurable really works for me with goal setting in many areas. What is one piece of advice you want women to hear? I love to go back to the OWA “Power of One” campaign to invite one person. One person to join your team or group, be a guest at an event, sit at your table, or make an introduction. The concept is a transferable idea in so many areas of our lives. One phone call, one message, one invitation, one text can change someone’s day. In the world we live in today, the power of kindness and the impact we can each have to make a difference is significant! What’s your favorite hobby outside of work? I love spending time with my husband and two grown daughters every chance I get. I love to travel, cook, enjoy walks with our family dog, read, and I am a huge movie lover. I also enjoyed being part of a rowing team pre-pandemic and hope to get back to that again this summer. The OWA was able to celebrate all of our 2022 award winners at the Champagne Breakfast at Vision Expo East. If you couldn’tmake it, take a look at our photo gallery to relive the memories!

Some of the great benefits of OWA membership include making new connections, exploring fresh opportunities, and expanding your interests. For 2022, the OWA has evolved what originally were the OWA Advisory Groups into the OWA Fireside Chats. OWA Fireside Chats will provide an opportunity to make and grow new connections. These are events designed to gather and network to grow both personally and professionally all while having some fun. Members have expressed interest in having more opportunities to network and chat with other members of the organization. The new Fireside Chat events will be a combination of the Advisory Groups that were offered in 2021, covering various topics and providing an open discussion format versus a speaker presentation, allowing for connecting on a personal level. It’s an opportunity for new members to join a networking group that fits a wide variety of interests. The Connection and Enrichment Committee is hosting the first Fireside Chat on Tuesday, August 9th focusing on the topic of Empowerment for your personal and professional growth. Register Now. Get to Know Your Fireside Chats Leads: Kathy Cruz OWA Member Since: 2019 Company: Cruz Consulting What I Love about The OWA: This group of amazing women has given me the opportunity to collaborate, share, and network in an industry we all love. It has also given me the opportunity to enhance relationships, meet women from different facets of the industry, and meet some great women who I now call friends. I have also enjoyed being part of the Communications and Enrichment Committee, contributing to personal and professional growth of the organization. Karen Michaelson OWA Member Since: 2009 Company: KARE Consulting, LLC What I Love about The OWA: This platform has brought me so many amazing industry relationships and some very special friends I never would have met. My passion to share my eye care background, love for mentoring, and teaching those joining our industry is so much easier with the OWA networking opportunities. Mary Lanning OWA Member Since: 2018 Company: Zyloware What I Love about The OWA: The OWA has changed the narrative among women in our industry. It continues to promote friendship and community between a diverse group of optical professionals of all levels. I have incredible mentors and the pleasure of mentoring others thanks to the OWA. The events, education, and networking opportunities are unique in promoting support, connecting new friendships, and inspiring new ideas. I am so grateful for the Optical Women’s Association. Liz Friedfeld OWA Member Since: 2012 Company: ClearVision Optical What I Love about The OWA: I love meeting, connecting with, and learning from super passionate and bright women with varied perspectives. My personal and professional networks have grown tremendously because of my involvement, and the benefit I receive grows exponentially with what I contribute. I’m thrilled to be a part of the Connections and Enrichment committee which allows me to share my passion for creating new experiences with others. RSVP for the first Fireside Chat on Tuesday, August 9th focusing on the topic of Empowerment for your personal and professional growth.

The culture of overwork thrives today in our society. If you have ever made the choice to work those few extra hours and miss out on a family dinner, a happy hour with friends, or skip that little project you wanted to do for yourself, you are definitely not alone. Trust me, if we had to do a show of hands, mine would be high in the air for this one! For many of us, work fuels our passions to be creative, solve problems, and engage with others. However, this can come at a cost to our personal time and relationships, our health and well-being, and if we really think about it, our ability to truly deliver the value we are capable of to our work. Recently I read a book entitled, Win at work and succeed at life. Five principles to free yourself from the cult of overwork. Being a workaholic at heart, I was immediately drawn to this and for my fellow partners in crime, I highly recommend doing the same. This book provides five principles that will help you mindfully consider how to approach your day and how to consider your definition of success. It will help you determine what work-life balance looks like for you and give you practical tools to achieve what they refer to as the ‘Double Win’ or a work and life partnership. Below is a small takeaway from each principle: 1. Work is only one of many ways to orient your life. The harder we work and the more we achieve as a result can quickly become a vicious cycle. Before we know it there is not enough time to get things done and we are spending our personal time to do it all. Overwork is fueled by a lack of clarity on what matters most. The answer lies within clarifying our non-negotiables on self-care, relationships, and work results or goals. 2. Constraints foster productivity, creativity, and freedom. Instead of just working more hours to get something done, set constraints on your day. This can provide creative new approaches and ways to solve problems. It also frees you from old habits and mindsets and gives you time to rest and rejuvenate. Constraining your work gives you time for your life. 3. Work-life balance is truly possible. Not everything is going to be perfect, nor will you have the final say over what outcomes you achieve. However, you can prioritize your day to focus on what matters to you most. It’s also important to remember the reasons that you start to overwork in the first place and that sometimes you might be out of balance. Don’t forget that you have agency to make change. 4. There is incredible power in non-achievement. To be your best at home and at work, you need to remember to include rest. Give yourself time and space to pause, think, and be creative. Dream, noodle on ideas, and open some whitespace to think outside the box. If you are always on the go, the imagination can fall by the wayside. 5. Rest is the foundation of meaningful productive work. It’s important for us to rethink the value and benefit of sleep. If you deprive yourself of rest, it becomes hard to see what it’s costing you in terms of productivity and focus. No one can be 100% on 100% of the time! The best way to start your day is with a good night’s sleep. There is a lot more detail in this book and personally I found it full of many great tips that caused me to pause and reflect on how I was handling my day and balancing my priorities. If any of this resonates with you, I suggest grabbing your own copy and sharing it with friends. In the meantime, here are three tips to get started: Identify what you want – be clear on your goals. Communicate what you want – having a partner understand your goals keeps you accountable. Arrange your life to get what you want – focus on the things you love and inspire you. I challenge you to win at work and at life! Written by: Angela Gerber

Let’s make something SPARK inside of us this August! Self-care needs to be a priority. As you begin to plan out your month- what motivates you? What reenergizes you? What ignites you? Make a plan, stick to it, and watch yourself transform this month! With the heaviness of the world around every corner my hope is that we start to protect our mind, body, and spirit. This first comes with what media we decide to consume. If your nightly news watching is starting to keep you up at night- maybe switch to the morning or subscribe to a different daily news source. If social media seems to just be a dumping ground – unfollow certain people or groups, no this doesn’t mean ‘unfriend, but rather to engage on your terms. Did you know your phone has screentime limits and social media limits? Go into your setting and make some adjustments. Now more than ever it is so important to be intentional about our social, emotional, and spiritual health. I recently stumbled upon the 8 factors of happiness by Duke University. My hope is that you feel inspired by simply one of these: Let go of suspicion and resentment. Don’t live in the past (focus on what you can do this month) Don’t waste time and energy fighting things you cannot change Stay involved with the living world Resist the urge to withdrawal and become reclusive during stress-fight for your peace Refuse to indulge in self-pity; when life hands you lemons, make lemonade Cultivate old fashioned virtues: Love, Compassion, Humor, & Loyalty Don’t expect too much from yourself – keep realistic goals Find something bigger than yourself to believe in Let me know how your journey is going- I would love to CHEER you on! In this health and wellness corner I like to provide a few tidbits: O-ne minute mindset: a quote to ponder, an encouraging story, or just some words of wisdom. This is meant to be put somewhere in your calendar that you can look back and use it to set the tone of your week! W-alk through your month: ideas in which you can fill your calendar with things that will enrich your physical, spiritual, and emotional health A-im to targets for the month: simple goals to set for your month. Written by Valerie Sink

This year marks Vision Monday’s 20th annual Most Influential Women in Optical report. Over the past two decades they have profiled hundreds of women who have changed the face of optical for the better. This year’s request for nominations was structured to expand the scope of women recognized in the report, who make leadership contributions throughout the ECP, retail, supplier, lab, managed care and association landscapes. Readers were asked to make up to three nominations per the following categories: Above and Beyond, Executive Suite, Rising Stars, Mentors and Innovators. Vision Monday received over 300 nominations from its readers for the 2022 MIW Report. Vision Monday’s editors reviewed all of the submissions and selected the final 46 for the honors this year. Read Femme-tatsic!—VM’s 20-Year Celebration of Women Who Shape the Optical Industry. Check out these OWA members who are included in this year’s Vision Monday Most Influential Women in Optical list: Above and Beyond Women who have led the way in giving back to the industry, their patients, and their communities. Pascale Desroches Head of Marketing – Essilor Canada Montreal, Canada “I always take the perspective of the consumer and client, wondering how to better answer their needs and enhance their experience. Fostering authentic curiosity for projects, research and people is a strong enabler of growth.” Executive Suite Women who hold positions such as President, VP, CEO, CFO, CIO, or COO. Dee Berghuys Vice President Operations – Charmant USA Morris Plains, New Jersey “Remain curious, take inspiration from those around you and maintain a positive outlook. It’s a great industry with a lot of talented people.” Katy Hanson Chief Marketing Officer – Eyemart Express Farmers Branch, Texas “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or share new ideas. Curiosity is the foundation of innovation. Your experiences and perspectives are unique and could result in a new ‘pathway to yes’ that drives incredible results or makes processes more efficient.” Kathy Melita Vice President & Corporate Controller – Marchon Eyewear Melville, New York “As the optical business continues to evolve, be flexible and look for opportunities to add new skills to your professional tool belt. It is important to continue to grow, stay fresh, and be nimble so that you are equipped to deal with the level of change in the industry.” Shondra Pistone Senior Vice President, Operations – Keplr Vision Bloomington, Illinois “I am a firm believer that you learn from every single person you encounter. As a woman in this industry, you can make a huge difference by learning both what to do and what not to do from leaders you encounter. Build your toolbelt with all of your learnings and push yourself at each step along the way. It won’t always be easy but it will be worth it.” Kristen Tischler Vice President, Global Marketing – Advancing Eyecare Jacksonville, Florida “Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Be curious. Ask questions. Say ‘yes’ to opportunities, even if it’s uncomfortable.” Mentors Women who are team builders and developers of talent. Sue Barry Regional Vice President – Walman Optical Minneapolis, Minnesota “The optical industry has been life changing for me. I’ve found you need to be willing to learn, to work on the front line and develop new skills, take management/business courses and be open to stepping outside of your comfort zone to try new things.” Reagan Colpitts OWA Digital Marketing Committee Business Development Manager, Independent Channel, North America, Safilo Montreal, Canada “The sales rep’s role has evolved. It’s no longer about showing up and showing your product. It’s about how you will help your account with their business goals and ensure the product will sell. This involves education, marketing and social media support as well as merchandising.” Lauretta Justin, OD CEO and Founder of Optometry Divas – Millennium Eye Center Orlando, Florida “Before you can be great, you have to be good and before you can be good, you have to start. If you’re waiting until you have everything figured out, you may never start.” Abby Kinder VP, ECP Sales – Essilor Dayton, Ohio “I am inspired daily by our customers and my team. Everyone is united in purpose to help the world see. I am surrounded by a group of incredibly talented people, not only within my organization but also across the industry, all working in their respective ways to impact our customers and ultimately the patients who benefit most from our innovation in products, programs, and services.” Maria Petruccelli Senior Director, U.S. and Canada – Hoya Vision Care Lewisville, Texas “I would give this advice to anyone; focus on the skills you have and don’t worry about what you think is missing. Always get involved and actively contribute. The accumulation of your experiences from getting involved, working with others, making mistakes and scoring some successes will always be a foundation you can draw upon.” Innovators Women who have initiated new products, programs, or ideas marking success. Carissa Dunphy, ABOC Vice Chair – OWA Communications & Website Committee OWA Digital Marketing Committee Founder – Optician Now; Optician – Monroe, Washington “Don’t let a lack of resources slow you down, go out and find them. Whatever you’re needing, it’s out there for you. Join online forums or groups, be a part of associations, and help others. In turn you will be helping yourself—a rising tide raises all ships.” Amanda Rights, OD OWA Digital Marketing Committee Optometrist, Founder and Creative Director – SimplifEYE Social, OptomEyesLife Boone, North Carolina “I have dual backgrounds in both art and optometry, which gives me the unique skills, perspective and experience needed to expertly create eye-catching designs and informative content for the eye-care industry. I love that I get to flex my creativity while also incorporating my passion for eyecare and eyewear.”

I dread back-to-school time, it’s not that I’ll miss my children terribly as much as it is a change of pace in life. The laid-back reprieve of summer is traded for structure and a rigid schedule in our house. It must be this way, or the crazy lineup of back-to-school activities, fall sports, and clubs will swallow my sanity. This time of year also brings the added tasks of ensuring everyone is prepared for school with clothes, supplies, trips to the pediatrician, and the annual eye exam. Every year I say I’ll start this process in July, making sure to get a head start, but that doesn’t happen for whatever reason. This year, a cross-country move got in the way of my best-laid plans. I now find myself in that familiar crush of time making sure the kids are ready for school. With that said, I wanted to share my top 5 tips on how I’ve learned not just to survive but thrive through this busy time of year. 1. Take a deep breath, a beat…just pause for a second I know this sounds counterintuitive to stop when life seems to be moving a million miles an hour, but this step is crucial. As working professionals and caregivers, it seems like our attention is constantly in demand. I find it incredibly important to literally stop what I am doing when I feel overwhelmed. I need a pause, just for a moment. I step out of the room, seeking outside if I can, and take a deep breath. This simple and quick pause helps me reset and I am able to assess, organize, and act on my to-do list. Leave the phone behind when you step away and minimize distractions if you can. This is time to center yourself. Take a few deep breaths, bringing the extra oxygen into your body. I swear by this one brief but impactful movement, especially when I am getting ready to tackle a big task, like back-to-school shopping for two very picky children. I use this technique through the school year too, like when I receive the dreaded call from the school nurse as I am in the middle of preparing a presentation. Pause. Take a few deep breaths. Recenter yourself. Now you’re ready for action. 2. Prioritize by asking, will it matter in 20 years? One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to apply the question, Will this matter in 20 years, when I feel overwhelmed. It is so easy to feel buried with tasks and to-do lists that it can be challenging to know where to start. When I am overwhelmed with my to-do list, I apply my question. Then, I break it down further, will this matter in 10 years, 5 years, next two weeks, etc.? This tip allows me to prioritize what is truly important when it seems like I have a million things to do. It also allows me to organize my most time-sensitive tasks. Most importantly, it enables me to cross off all the little things that might seem important, but when I step back and look at them, they aren’t. See, we are already crossing things off that list! 3. To be the best you, nourish and nurture yourself As a working mom, this one took me some time to learn. However, in speaking to other working moms, this seems to be an area where many of us struggle. Self-care is vital. I think of self-care like the safety speech on an airplane, “put your oxygen mask on before you help others put on theirs.” Self-care is the equivalent of your oxygen mask. Make sure your needs are met so you can help meet the needs of others. Self-care doesn’t have to look like a spa day or a girl’s weekend. It can be as small as grabbing a favorite coffee, stealing ten minutes away with a good book, a brief walk, or soaking in the tub. Do what recharges you, even if you only have 5 minutes at a time to do it. Treating yourself to small pleasures that are just for you, are so crucial, especially when you feel that there isn’t enough time to do it. It helps me see that in the craziness of life, I matter too. Remember to put your oxygen mask on first, and then you are recharged enough to help others. 4. Put it on the calendar Set up a shared family or caregiver calendar online. Doing this changed my life for the better! I used to be old-school with the big paper calendar in the kitchen. A friend introduced me to the shared calendar concept, and it has changed my life! Everyone in my household is responsible for putting their events on the shared calendar. We put important academic things on here as well. No more 9 pm frantic runs to the craft store for supplies for a project due the following day. Share key dates with other caregivers in your house. I also put important school and family events on my work calendar. It may seem redundant, but it is helpful for me to see those key dates repeatedly. It also allows me to work these events into my professional life where I can. The bottom line here is that a calendar entry is like a favor to yourself, girl, get those dates on the calendar! 5. Ask for help Ask for help if you need it. Please read that again, pause, and take it in. Say it aloud if you have to and ask for help if I need it! I will fully admit, I used to be terrible at this piece of advice. It took me a long time to learn this lesson. I’d have such anxiety that things wouldn’t be done the way I wanted, or I’d be seen as less than because I couldn’t do it by myself. Sometimes, it is more important to have the task completed, than done to my exact specifications. Delegate, delegate, delegate! Sometimes complete is better than perfect… sometimes. It is my hope that these few tips help fellow working moms and caregivers out there during this crazy time of year. Our kids are only little for a while, and like all things in life, this season will pass. Even though it is crazy, I wouldn’t trade it for a thing, and I am pretty sure you wouldn’t either. Make sure to stop and enjoy these moments because before we know it the kids will be off to college. Written by: Jacqueline Thomas

Vision Expo West is right around the corner next week in Vegas. The OWA will be in attendance at three events during the show. We welcome everyone to join us at one or more of these events to network with your colleagues and learn more about what the OWA has to offer. Connection Series: Bo Bold. Be Visible. Be Unstoppable. Thursday, September 15, 2022 12:00pm – 1:30pm PST Location: Venetian Level 3 – Murano, Room 3304 Focusing on one of the key messages of her book, The Digital Sales Rep, best-selling author and Co-Founder of Marketing4ECP’s Trudi Charest will inspire and energize you to identify and combine those special skills needed to help you stand out from the crowd. The book is a timely guide for sales and business professionals who realize that times have changed, making a personal online brand and presence crucial in today’s world. Sponsored by VSP Vision, this year’s Connection Series luncheon promises to be an information-packed event. Following her opening presentation, Trudi will welcome a panel of industry executives to share their insights on trends and the future in optical: Dana Schwarzinger, Vice President, VSP Sales Enablement; Sherianne James, Chief Marketing Officer & Sr. Vice President, Wholesale Marketing, EssilorLuxottica North America; and Amy Jantz, Divisional Vice president, West, America’s Best, National Vision. Pre-registration is now closed, some seats may be available at the door. Networking Reception and Raffle Friday, September 16, 2022 5:30pm – 7:00pm PST Location: Venetian Level 3 – Murano, Room 3304 Back again, the OWA will host the annual networking reception and raffle event featuring a wide variety of raffle and silent auction prizes. Prizes range from technology gadgets, fashion accessories, gift cards and so much more. All are welcome to join us to bid on this year’s selection of amazing items. Pre-registration is now closed, some seats may be available at the door. Vision Expo Career Zone Saturday, September 17, 2022 2:15pm – 3:30pm PST The OWA is proud to show their support once again for the Career Zone Student Lounge at Vision Expo West. The Career Zone serves as a hub where optometry students and young professionals can connect with hiring companies and explore career resources while taking part in several dynamic events. Beginning at 2:15pm, OWA member Dr. Beverly Bianes will moderate a panel discussion on “Life, Work, and Balance in Optometry.” Dr. Bianes is an optometrist and owner of Pack & Bianes Vision Care, part of Total Vision. The featured panelists represent major optical retailers. The Passport Sweepstakes Drawing takes place at 3:00pm, offering chances to win exciting prizes; the OWA will be donating a gift bundle that includes a free student membership through 12/31/23 and two books designed to help kickstart your career. At 3:15pm don’t miss the OWA’s champagne toast to students in optical! This is your chance to learn more about the OWA and what it can offer you as a woman about to embark on a new career in the optical industry. For more information on the Career Zone Student Lounge, click here. This is an open event and no RSVP is required in advance. Written by: Janelle Pauli

We’re all back and rested from an eventful Vision Expo West. It was so great to see so many of our members, friends, and sponsor companies at all of the OWA events during the show. The first OWA event of the show took place on Thursday, September 15th, and featured a panel of speakers at the annual Connection Series Luncheon, sponsored by VSP Vision. Streamed live on Facebook, OWA members near and far were able to tune into the Connection Series Luncheon moderated by our very own Trudi Charest, author of The Digital Sales Rep. Joining Trudi on stage was a panel of experts including Amy Jantz, Sherianne James, and Dana Schwarzinger discussing the future of the eyecare industry and building your personal brand. On Friday evening, the OWA was back at it with the annual Networking and Raffle event featuring tons of donated items from our sponsor companies that were put up for the online silent auction as well as the live raffle drawing in Vegas. It was so much fun connecting with all our industry friends and bidding on all the items available at the event. To see more photos from the evens, visit the full album. On Saturday the OWA sponsored the Career Zone Student Lounge, a hub where optometry students and young professionals could connect with hiring companies and explore career resources while taking part in other events. OWA member, Dr. Beverly Bianes moderated a panel of speakers discussing work/life balance. Any students looking to join the OWA can do so at our student member rate of $55/year, and joining now through the end of the year allows your membership to be effective through December 2023! Written by: Janelle Pauli

For the new quarter we have put together a “Practice Series”. This will include advice from doctors, opticians and administrative staff, on common and relevant topics that come with running a practice. Stay tuned for additional contributions each month! How Do you Build Practice Culture? Dr. Sampalis: As a leader in my office, I know my greatest asset is my staff! Three areas I focus on are: Transparency: I always say to my staff be straight forward and honest that way I know what you want so I can make the necessary changes. Transparency goes both ways in my practice. The staff knows where they stand and how I am there to support them. Connections/Relationships: because we are transparent and looking to make it a better environment we are able to have open relationships and work very well together. I usually take the staff out for dinners with industry reps and include them on discussions on practice additions, office remodel and empower them to make decisions. If there is an issue with a patient I usually back up my employees that goes a long way! Recognition: I recognize my staff for good things that they do or handling a difficult situation. They see you appreciate their hard work and dedication to your practice. Rewards aren’t always money, sometimes letting them leave early with pay or buying coffee for the office. People will always remember how you made them feel. Culture is one of the most important aspects of keeping a healthy, happy, and functional team and your patients can tell when there’s a cultural rift. The important elements of building and maintaining a healthy culture stem from the development of trust and vulnerability among your team. This includes Leadership! We all want to do the best work we can, and oftentimes that means giving difficult feedback focusing on what’s not working or where improvement is needed directly to a team member. We’ve implemented Radical Candor© and Traction™, two impressive tools to give feedback (both praise and criticism) and conduct People Analyzers™ for individual team members on a quarterly basis. This communicates how they are actively aligning with the Core Values and Purpose of the organization. And, if your practice does not have a strong set of Core Values and a Purpose for why it exists, I encourage you to start there! We also design a Team Development Day (retreat) once a year for our team to grow and stretch beyond the day-to-day and plan outings and gatherings for our team to connect and enjoy each other outside the office. –Christine Maiello Mollie Tavel: Both regular and spontaneous contests, driven by our team leads and encouraged/cheered on by everyone in our business Planned annual team outing for staff and their family members Annual sales and training meeting for all staff (not just our retail or corporate team members) Read the room: anytime I haven’t seen someone in a while, or a new member joins the team, or achieves a milestone/celebration, I invite team members out for lunch or coffee to share more about what’s going on in their life so they know we care . When hiring, our hiring manager sits down with the applicant and talks to them about our practice, business model, and our work family. Since we spend more time at work than we do at home, it’s very important to us that we can all get along. After the hiring manager talks to the applicant, she will bring the interviewer over to our Optical department and let us interview with them. We find out about their strengths and weaknesses. We then as a group discuss things we loved about the interviewer, things we were concerned about, and if we thought the person is a good fit for our teams. If we don’t feel they will fit within our optical department, we discuss if there is another department they would excel in. Employee engagement is also very important. We meet monthly with an all staff meeting and break up into department meetings. We are all a part of goal setting, and making clear, achievable goals. Being clear on what goals are set for individuals, departments and the company as a whole makes us all feel involved and more engaged at work. Checking in with employees and our managers is also another way we build culture. We have our yearly reviews that we all get, but our administrator makes it a point to check in with each of us throughout the year. We also know that her door is always open if we have questions or concerns. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and suggest solutions if we are unable to find them on our own. Having our administrator who checks in with us on not only a professional level, but a personal level as well. Again, we spend a majority of our time with our co-workers and they become our second family. Making sure that our employees are taken care of mentally and emotionally creates a stronger work team and environment. Our workplace empowers and inspires our employees to do our best work – to communicate, collaborate and solve problems. We deepen our engagement with our employees/co-workers which then spurs productivity and creates a more efficient workplace. –Melissa Rasband Carissa Dunphy, ABOC: Communication: A basic yet key factor. If all members of the team are on the same page and know what is expected in any aspect that affects their work, there should be no surprises and things are more likely to flow smoothly. Even if there are no hiccups, leadership should regularly schedule staff meetings or employee check-ins to make sure everyone feels included and that they are a valuable part of the team. Improvements: If something is not working as well as it should, not at all, or is a thorn in someone’s side, encourage staff to suggest process improvements. Not only will this promote teamwork and problem solving, it will relieve any pain points for staff members. Get past the things that are slowing you down or making you unhappy. Learning: Staff should never feel like they can’t grow. Sometimes this means reimbursing a employees for work-applicable educational experiences, it could mean sharing a unique patient case and care plan, or even what you’ve seen another practice/person do that was innovative. If you don’t have the means for something, at least be a helpful resource or help employees find what they need to succeed. Satisfied employees = employees who stay = amazing team = successful practice How do you build culture within a practice? Let us know in the comments!