(L to R) Kate Renwick-Espinosa, Lorie Lippiatt, OD, and Corrine McCormack.

DALLAS, Texas—The Optical Women’s Association (OWA), which will celebrate its 20th year in 2017, will honor Kate Renwick-Espinosa, president, VSP Vision Care, as the 2017 Pleiades award recipient and Lorie Lippiatt, OD, and president, Salem Eyecare Center, has been selected as its 2017 Pyxis award recipient. In addition, the 20th anniversary honoree and recipient of the organization's new Pinnacle Award will be Corrine McCormack, vice president and fashion director, FGXI, according to an announcement from the OWA.

The three women will be honored at two special events in 2017—the OWA Champagne Breakfast on the morning of Thursday, March 30, and the OWA Annual Star Award Ceremony & Networking Event taking place on Saturday, April 1. Venues for both events will be announced soon.

VSP Vision Care’s Renwick-Espinosa leads efforts to provide high quality eyecare and eyewear services to 77 million members worldwide, supporting VSP’s mission to help people see. She has worked for VSP for more than 23 years and previously served as VSP Global’s first chief marketing officer.

Renwick-Espinosa has been instrumental in the development of a broad corporate social responsibility and charity program which has provided millions of dollars in free eye care and eyewear to hundreds of thousands of people in need around the world. She was named one of Vision Monday’s “Most Influential Women in Optical” in 2005 and was a 2013 recipient of the “Most Powerful and Influential Women Award” from the California Diversity Council.

Maureen Cavanagh, OWA president said, “The positive response to Kate’s nomination for the Pleiades Award was as expected—overwhelming. This award honors an individual for showing exceptional support in advancing the leadership role of women, and we are honored to provide this prestigious award to such an inspiring leader.”

Lorie Lippiatt, OD, heads up the Salem Eyecare Center, Inc., a comprehensive optometric center she founded in 1989. Lippiatt has been instrumental in the development of electronic medical records for optometrists and technology integration. She has served as a consultant for OfficeMate, VisionWeb, and Marco.

An OWA member since 2004, Dr. Lippiatt has served as co-chair of the Professional Development Fund on the board of the OWA for the past three years. Cavanagh said, “The Pyxis award recognizes someone who contributes to the OWA’s growth by actively participating in the organization and promoting it throughout the industry. Lorie’s commitment and dedication to the OWA have led to many accomplishments over the years. We are very grateful to have such a spirited, talented, professional so actively involved in our association.”

In addition to the two annual awards and in honor of its 20th Anniversary celebration, the OWA will honor FGXI’s McCormack with an inaugural anniversary award. This new award will recognize recipients for inspiring others to reach aspirational heights and career advancement and will be given on OWA milestone or anniversary years.

McCormack exemplifies commitment to the OWA and has a track record of dedication and service to the association that spans the years. Throughout her career in fashion and in optical, she has crafted her own unique brand of leadership, Cavanagh noted.

Upon entering the industry, she joined the OWA and has been an ardent promoter of the OWA since. She’s the founder and independent business owner of an accessories company; continues to thrive in a leadership position and develop new creations even as her company has been acquired by an industry conglomerate.

McCormack has served as a director of the board, a former president of the OWA, and has chaired multiple committees.